Oh, this kind of thing makes me very sad. Here are two links to different entries on the Free Range Kids blog about the crazed nature of Stranger Danger parenting.
The first talks about how two different men felt they cannot help a lost/hurting child because of what could be said or done to them by people who think any man in a child's life is a pervert. This, in the midst of the tragic lack of responsible, loving father figures amongst American kids.
Check out these statistics, in particular, scroll down to the part about boys and their fathers...or
these stats on boys growing up without father figures. We need men in our children's lives, and we need to acknowledge that not all men whom we do not yet know have slimy intentions.
The first piece.
This other piece is from a woman's perspective, but it shows how some parents can go overboard in their fear-based parenting. I don't understand this thinking because I value, I mean, really value community. I want to know my neighbors. I want people to smile at my son at the park or the grocery store. I want him to learn to be open and polite, to treat people with dignity and respect...not fear and rudeness. I believe, as the guest blogger in this piece shares, that it is indeed possible to teach a child safety without instilling fear and the tendency to overreact.
The second piece.
Your thoughts?
