It scares me and angers me that as a parent one of our duties is to teach our children this. Stranger Danger...But now a days, it may not be a stranger. Other than leashing my children, god forbid, I used to drill them. Scenarios like, "Can you help me find my dog?" etc....I always told my children, "No adult needs any help from you or any child, EVER!" They don't need help finding streets, pets, etc. I also used to talk about inappropriate touching...I said to my kids, which I thank my mom for telling me, "If anyone ever touches you where your bathing suit covers you, you need to tell me." I let them know that they can tell me anything or god forbid anyone who did something. I say this all with the biggest knot in my stomach and throat. I make them aware of such things until I hear, "I know, Mom!" Drill baby drill.....be a friend, but most importantly a parent first!!!

Growing up in an overly protective Italian home, I was never allowed outside alone. Never. My grandmother in her heavy accent would say "some-a-one could-a just take-eh you and thrrrrrow-eh you in da car." Fear was always their method of getting through to me. I prefer to keep an ongoing dialogue with my kids, constantly reviewing the rules, certain scenarios, what-ifs, and of course, throwing in just a healthy dose of fear. We talk about people who might want to hurt them or take them away from us. We talk about things that might entice a child to go with someone they don't know, like puppies, candy, or even other kids that try to lead them away from where they are supposed to be. Unfortunately people that would hurt a child are crafty. Sometimes they're women, sometimes they use other children to lure them away, but most of the time, it's someone they already know, which is why, like Donna, we have extensively reviewed appropriate v. inappropriate touch, games, conversations, etc.. Fortunately, my children are pretty stand-off-ish with most people. They know that they are NEVER to even reply to a strange adult that might approach them if they are outside playing. They are to immediately run into the house and find myself, my husband or whomever is watching them at the time. They are NEVER to go off with ANYONE (friends, friends' parents, neighbors, etc) unless I give my permission. Constant work reminding them, too. The lessons NEVER end!