Scaring our kids to keep them safe: Is it right or wrong?

Time and time again we, as parents, are warned about the dangers of social media and the importance of teaching our kids how to stay safe when online.

 

However, a recent video, which MummyPages reported on, shows that no matter how often we speak to them about the dangers it doesn’t mean they are actually listening.

 

In the video YouTuber Coby Persin worked with the parents of girls aged 12, 13 and 14 to set them up in a potentially threatening situation and see how they would react.

 

Posing as a 15-year-old boy, he sent friend requests to each of the girls. Shockingly, not only did each girl accept the request, but they went so far as to exchange personal details and even organise dates.

 

Thinking their girls would never go through with the meet, their parents were shocked, angered and no doubt frightened when they did follow through - exactly as most of us mums would be.

 

While the girls were clearly frightened when their parents gave out to them, with one in particular clearly terrified, it begs the question: Is it ok to frighten our kids in order to keep them safe?

 

To a point, yes, I think it absolutely is ok, and in cases like these it’s necessary. What is clear from this video is that no matter how many times they were taught about stranger danger, these girls still went ahead and met up with a boy they only met on Facebook, with one going as far as getting in a car.

 

The scary thing is we never really know how our kids are going to react in certain situations until, in some instances, it is too late.

 

Would I be willing to frighten my child in order to get a very serious point across? Yes, I would. Today’s world is such a frightening place and, as a mum, keeping my daughter safe is my top priority.

 

It’s not just online safety that is a concern – crossing the road, talking to strangers or even walking off with someone they don’t know are constant worries.

 

While I am forever teaching my little one about safety, at the end of the day, nobody knows how their kids will react in certain situations – we just have to trust them.