Protecting The Gift
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All parents face the same challenges when it comes to their children's safety: whom to trust, whom to distrust, what to believe, what to doubt, what to fear, and what not to fear. De Becker helps parents find some certainty about parents' highest-stakes questions:
- How can I know a baby-sitter won't turn out to be someone who harms my child?
- What should I ask child-care professionals when I interview them?
- what's the best way to prepare my child for walking to school alone?
- how can my child be safer at school?
- How can I spot sexual predators?
- What should I do if my child is lost in public?
- How can I teach my child about risk without causing too much fear?
- what must my teenage daughter know in order to be safe?
- what must my teenage son know in order to be safe?
- And finally, in the face of all these questions, how can I reduce the worrying?
What this book actually does is teach you how to listen to your intuition and stop living in denial. DeBecker found that many instances of child abuse by neighbors, babysitters, and dare care providers were preventable if the parents had just paid attention to the little signals.
For example what if the old man nextdoor starts giving your young daughter candy, but only if she'll kiss him on the cheek first. You say to yourself, "he's just lonely, it's harmless". But if you have to rationalize a behavior, that means you see something wrong! It's a real eye-opener and something I would highly recommend for all parents.
Tags: Books, Gift of Fear, Personal Security, RPS, Security