My son is 7 years old and a freak of nature. He started standing by himself at 3 months old, he began walking at 8 months, he was talking (fluent full sentences) at 18 months, and reading chapter books before his 3rd birthday. He tutored while in pre-school, was bored while in kindergarden, and skipped the first grade completely.

So, why am I scared? Because he’s 7 and at 7, you’re still a kid. At 7, you don’t know who you are. At 7, you’re a “follower”, and because of articles like these. On May 5, 2006, at Columbia Elementary School, in St. Louis, 12 (count them 12!) 6, 7 and 8 year old boys attacked on an 8-year-old girl on the school playground!

All 12 boys – one 6-year-old, seven 7-year-olds and four 8-year-olds – are expected to be referred to the city’s Family Court on misdemeanor charges of first-degree sexual misconduct and third-degree assault, said assistant court administrator Kathryn Herman.  

This attack happened during school hours. Teachers were on playground duty, but didn’t notice this was going on. How scary is that?

I sat my son (and daughter) down and had a long, serious talk with them. I told them that any game that evolves into the touching of “privates” is wrong, and that they need to be responsible and alert an adult as soon as possible. I told them that even if they don’t participate in this “activity”, but don’t do anything to stop it they are just as responsible. I told them that it is their responsibility to protect those weaker than themselves.

But is that enough? Should I have said more? Less? Something different?