Every day parents turn on the news or read a newspaper filled with kidnapping, rape, and murder. In a world that is becoming increasingly violent, the need to protect, even overprotect our children is overwhelming. This is the dilemma-where does sane caution end and irrational overprotection begin? A journalist who has done extensive research in child development and has written for such publications as Women's Day, Child, and Newsday, Vanessa Ochs offers suggestions on how to tread the fine line between reasonable precaution and overprotection in her new book, Safe and Sound: Protecting Your Child in an Unpredictable World.

The child of profoundly overprotective parents, Ochs always felt that her sheltered childhood caused her to be incapable of self-protection as an adult. As a result of this experience, Ochs came to believe that while parents feel that they are shielding their children from harm, they are often unaware that they are damaging their children by inhibiting their ability to assess risky situations and make judgments. Safe and Sound is a reassuring guide for parents of children from infancy through the teen years, and it offers practical advice on how to evaluate each age-appropriate situation. Utilizing the red-yellow-green of a stoplight, Ochs has created a useful system for decision making that will help parents come to conclusions about when to protect and when to let go, and also offers comforting advice and strategies to cope with irrational fears. With chapters arranged by age group, Ochs covers such topics as physical and emotional well-being, social situations, and travel. The final chapter provides a poignant look at the rituals we use to protect ourselves and our families, and how they provide us with a sense of security. Safe and Sound is a unique resource that will enable parents to raise self-reliant children who are capable of evaluating risk and looking out for themselves.