My daughter and I play a “game” called “what if?” In this game, I come up with scenarios “what if a woman you don’t know came up to you and said she has a really cute baby in her car and if you could with her you can see it?” ( I often use things I know are her weak spots as well as the usual “lost puppy” type of stuff) Kaia really likes the game, and often asks to play it in the car, or when she’s bored. I say options that are okay too– “what if Andrea (a friend of ours) comes to pick you up from school? is that okay?” We go over everything from what to do if someone grabs her to how to respond to a friend wanting her to do something she’s not supposed to do. I know I haven’t covered everything, but I hope the “game” will help her to make the right decision if she ever finds herself in a confusing situation.

I don’t have a solution, because I’m in the throes of the same kind of worries. I recently found out that a new friend’s four year old boy knows about the birds and the bees. Suddenly having Emma play with him takes on a huge amount of scariness.

I guess the only way to prevent complete chaos is to keep the lines of communication open. Actually listen to what our kids have to say and answer their questions, no matter how repetitive, boring, or ill timed.