Hi everyone - Starting a new thread early because I want to be sure everyone gets to read this. I too spent Friday just in shock over the news on Carlie. I have 2 daughters and my oldest is very shy. We actually purchased the following "game" - which was developed by an investigator. It freaks her out when we take out the box - but going a little at a time has really helped her to start being more aware of her surroundings. Here is the link to the product.
http://www.situationsthegame.com/index.html
It is called "Situations The Game" and it truly has opened my husband and my eyes to all of the dangers that do lie out there. We do not let our kids off our property - our house is the one in the neighborhood that all the kids flock to and we leave our 120lb dog outside at all times with the kids. He will bark like crazy if any stranger even comes near our driveway which is 200 feet from the street.
Hope this game could be helpful to some more parents here - you just need to take it slow because they do feel a little scared to put themselves in those positions - but I really believe it is SO IMPORTANT!
Other than that - I've been sick this whole weel but doing good with my carb intake. Not stepping on the scale until Valentine's Day though just trying to learn to stop playing the scale game in my head!
Have a great weekend all....
Kim