Actually, people tend to look at the past with rose-colored glasses. The world never was safe; 50 years ago, kids were being kidnapped and murdered just as they are today. But then and now, they are rare events. You teach your kids to be careful. Teach them to stay away from strangers. You can never make them 100% safe.
In the 1960s, I was running around the neighborhood alone by the age of 4. On three separate occasions, someone tried to kidnap me (I don't know how I got so lucky), but I knew to stay away from strangers. And when I got old enough to be a mom, I let my kid run around the neighborhood, just as I did.
I certainly know which one I can actually do, and don't fool myself that I can make the world safe for children.
I like the way you were raised. It helped make you a responsible adult.
/johnny
Of course, we didn’t have 24/7 news channel either...so we didn’t hear about kidnapping everyday...
“But then and now, they are rare events. You teach your kids to be careful. Teach them to stay away from strangers. You can never make them 100% safe.”
Those involved in rescuing kidnapped children express the opinion that the child that is in the least danger is the one that has learned awareness and is street wise. How does a child learn this? By interacting with the world free of parent suffocation!