#13: Stranger Danger
Most people who grew up between the 1970s and 90s immediately recognize the phrase “stranger danger.” It is a social campaign that encourages parents and children to be wary of suspicious strangers trolling the streets for someone to abduct. While it’s always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and teach your kids basic safety, some people feel that it’s gotten out of hand.
Honestly, most of us probably assume there’s some creep in a van driving around every neighborhood in the US looking to lure kids in with candy. While this does happen, it’s not as widespread as stranger danger campaigns would have us think. In fact, most child abductions are done by someone the child knows, like a parent or relative. Any kind of abduction is obviously a very scary and dark thing, so it’s a touchy topic. But teaching kids basic social awareness and safety rules can definitely help.