Stranger Danger

When teaching your kids about personal safety, "begin at a young age teaching your child that parts of their bodies are private," says Cope, who does not recommend encouraging young children to hug or kiss adults if they don't want to as it suggests to them that their role is to please adults with physical affection. Also be in tune with your kids' instincts: "If a child expresses dislike or discomfort around some adult, you should accept that and encourage them to stay away."

In the end, "it's not that we don't want them to talk to strangers," Dr. Womack says. "It's that we want to be sure that they're talking to them in a context that keeps the kids safe."