Why Do People Over-react?

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're saying. I do think some things are normal that kids go through, and just because they do something that seems a bit bizarre, it doesn't mean something bad happened.

BUT so often you find out children were being sexually abused and no one knew. I have serious trust issues. My dad was sexually abusive to some of us girls, and no one knew. We had signs...they could be signs that you could say is normal for kids to have happen, and no one seemed to think anything of it.

So, for me, no, I don't believe we've gone a bit far. If my kids were to do something inappropriate with their bodies, I would know it's normal...and it could also be a sign that something is wrong. As I mentioned, I have trust issues...and those are mostly with males. No man will ever babysit my children. I don't care who he is and how trustworthy he is. No man will ever watch my children.

I might be veering... I agree in that it's normal for kids to explore their bodies, etc. I wouldn't and don't freak out when that happens. So, I totally agree about that. But at the same time, putting restrictions and rules on what a parent will and will not allow iwth caregivers and things like that, I think most people need to be MORE careful!

In a lot of ways, yes. I agree. In the matter of children doing inappropriate things with their bodies, I do think it should be looked into. I mean, we don't have to go about it like a detective!! I just think, we have to be sure, there is nothing going on. It doesn't have to be pressure filled and an interrogation. Just some simple questions or observations. I would be devastated if I never looked into a child being inappropriate, and they were being abused. In regards to possibly acting out sexually, I think it's best to make sure it's innocent. It's always better to be safe then sorry, In my opinion...in regards to that matter.

I know the private area thing you mentioned is probably normal, but that doesn't mean I'd keep my daughter in the daycare. I wouldn't analyze if it was a sign or not (though I would suggest the provider look into it just in case) but I personally don't want my daughter in a daycare where a child is going to touch her private area, it is probably innocent but I am not going to keep putting her in a place where a child wants to touch her. She is in a daycare now that the kids have never come close to touching her private area as the provider takes it on herself to teach (which I think is good) that certain places aren't touched in case some parents aren't (she does has a few neglectful parents) and stranger danger (businesses knock on the door sometimes at her house) so I believe it is possible to not run into that as long as the situation is handled properly.

I believe we need to be careful and not go over the line, but some of the topics are so serious (sexual molestation) that any sign can't just be ignored because it "seems" normal. I've seen posts on here that the mom said they wished their parents would've asked about them because they were abused by their grandparent/parent. I'm like Teresa and have some trust issues and I, too, will never let a man babysit my child. I just won't, it's my choice. The woman that is leaving the daycare, that is her choice. She may not feel to put her son in an environment where that happened once. Some people won't take chances in those types of situations even if they are innocent. I think with caregivers you have to be really careful because there are great providers and then there are really bad ones that are lazy or abusive. I don't think things should fall through the cracks like they used to and maybe the seeming step up in child protection among parents is just that, making sure things don't fall through the cracks.

Oh my yes! I think we've gone WAY too far! I think it's great that kids are encouraged to tell if anyone does anything inappropriate, but from what I can see, there's an entire parental contingent so into over-analyzing EVERYTHING and being complete helicopters and freaks over absolutely nothing that as a society we've gone too far. People need to breathe and quit freaking out over absolutely normal developmental phases, off-the-cuff remarks and things that really have absolutely NO meaning in the grand scheme of things.

I grew up with little to mostly no supervision and there were ALOT of inappropriate things going on. I have had people cross the line with me as a young child and wished someone was there to protect me or recognize something was wrong. I don't think that we've gone too far, but rather have evolved where it was so desperately needed. We also encourage children to communicate now and not to blame themselves.