@ROMARY I agree, to a point! Actually, it's after a point! I guess I think it's good to "scare 'em silly" once they are old enough that you can no longer expect them to stay close to you or hold your hand out in public. Once they are old enough to go into the bathroom alone it's time to explain to that no one except a parent and the nurse and Doctor , only when a parent is present, can touch you where your bathing suit covers. As they get older, I believe in adding new dangers to the talk! The thing to be careful of, tho, is not to give so many things to fear that they stop hearing them! It's an intricate dance and one I'm glad I'm no longer in charge of! (Although, I still worry about my adult children! My dd and some ladies went away on a birthday weekend for one of the lady's 40th birthday! I tried to remind my dd about things to remember as a woman in a hotel room, like if there is someone at the door saying he is there to fix something in the room, she should call the front desk and ask if someone was sent by them! This is a trick many women of all ages fall for and end up raped and maybe even murdered! I remind my ds not to be out late around bars where drunk men might try to "start" something with him just for fun! My ds is a big guy, but knows nothing about fighting and would not even think about the fact that he could be jumped by a group of drunk guys! That's the one caveat to rearing good, trusting children! They just won't see the bad in others! So, yes, scare 'em to smithereens, but only once you are no longer able to protect them yourself!
PS My dh was Officer McGruff for years. The biggest mistake parents make is letting their children wear items with their names on them! Shirts , book bags, hair bands, etc. that come with full names written on them only help abducters get your kids. A child may not trust someone who doesn't know her name. But, when someone says, " Judy! Hey, Judy, wait! It's me, Uncle Fred! Remember me? I'm your mom's cousin! I met you last summer! Mom's car broke down and I'm the only one who could come get you. She wants me to take you to the garage where her car is being fixed. Here, I'll take your bag for you! So, if you're hungry, mom said I can stop and get you a snack first! If you don't tell, we can get ice cream! I don't want your mom telling me again I ruined your dinner! If we hurry up, we can get it before I have to meet mom!" Now, it would be harder for a child to believe someone who calls her, "little girl"! It's tempting to buy those cute items and kids love them. I only use monograms on items, or just a single letter. It gives kids almost the same feeling but is much safer. Someone would have to be a good guesses to know that a B stands for Bibi! After a few wrong guesses, I'd hope a child would run screaming from the pervert!
Never underestimate the power of kindness.
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