Safe and Sound: Protecting Your Child in an Unpredictable World

Ochs, a journalist who specializes in child development and family-related topics, writes a direct and sympathetic guide for parents who are ``no longer sure how to draw the thin line between sane caution and overprotection.'' After her own injury in a car accident precipitated a bout of extreme overprotection of her children, Ochs determined to examine the rational and irrational reasons behind parental overprotection. The bulk of the book is devoted to chapters arranged by stages of a child's life, starting with pre-birth. In each, Ochs outlines the typical protective decisions facing parents and provides sensible tips on knowing when to let go. She suggests a strategy, modeled on traffic lights, for assessing typical anxiety-provoking situations--``an easy green'' is leaving a child with a grandparent, while a ``red light'' is a teenager's request to go to a party where drinking is likely. The final chapter takes an insightful and poignant look at family protection talismans and rituals--from wearing St. Christopher medals to once-a-week phone conversations--and how they give a sense of security to parents and offspring of all ages. (Aug.)