We all worry for our kids. Sometimes it seems like there is so much around us that could hurt them that it can be difficult not to lock them in a sanitized bubble in a heavily guarded paddock. While there are some things you have every reason to be concerned about, and there is nothing wrong with a little caution, there are a few concerns that are far fetched enough to put out of your mind.

• Kidnapping

It is every parent’s worst nightmare: you turn their back for one second, and when you look around your child is gone. We have all had that experience in a shopping mall, or had a second of panic when we couldn’t see them on the playground. But it almost always ends with a split second later finding them safe and sound.

We internalize our worries and immediately come up with the worst case scenario. But kidnappings are actually relatively rare, speaking from a statistical point of view, and you can be almost positive that your child will not be one of those annual cases. Even if they are, most kidnappings are done by a close family member, such as a parent.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions, but just know it isn’t something to lay awake at night thinking about.

• School Shootings

Sensationalized in the media, school shootings are occasionally made to sound like an epidemic of violence sweeping the country. But they are actually very rare, and the reason you hear about so many lock downs due to shooter threats is because schools are on high alert whenever one does happen somewhere in the world, not because there is really a gun on campus.

Again, this doesn’t mean it absolutely isn’t a risk, just that chances are you will not have to worry. If you hear a rumor about a classmate of your child bringing a weapon to school, threatening to bring a weapon, or even just being badly bullied or bullying others, you should tell someone immediately. But otherwise you can take a deep breath and relax.

• Terrorism

Just when the fear of terrorist attacks fades an attempt is announced, such as the Time Square car bomb, or the man who lit himself on fire on his way to Detroit when explosives in his underwear failed to properly detonate. It feels like extremists are on every corner, waiting to kill our kids and ruin our way of life.

But your chances of being killed by a terrorist in the West is pretty much 0%. Your child is probably not at risk, and they would have to best insurmountable odds to die at the hands of an attack. Just look at the number of years between terrorist attacks in the country, versus the deaths and the ages of those killed. Your child is more likely to get mauled by a bear – which is also unlikely!

So, what should be done? According to Christie Barnes of The Paranoid Parents Guide, make them wear seat belts and helmets, and try not to hover over them.  They will be OK.

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