9781422280577

10

Crime and Terrorism

Still, most of us will go our whole lives without being kidnapped, shot at, or blown up. And the vast majority of adults would never hurt a child. In fact, not only are most “strangers” not dangerous, but many of them—such as police officers, teachers, and so on— are the exact people kids should trust. Parents have to walk a careful line between teaching kids good habits and making them scared for no reason. And we all— kids and grown-ups alike—need to figure out how to be safe without being constantly afraid. Defining Threats Before we get too far into discussing what to do about these fears, it’s important to define our terms. When we talk about crime and terrorism, what exactly do we mean?

A rule almost every kid has heard is: “Don’t take candy from strangers.”