There is a propensity for people to over-react to a perceived risk.  Their prescribed solution has in many cases had enormous and negative societal consequences that is hard to unwind and, in places, hard to even have a dialogue on.  This is especially true when it comes to children who up to a certain age take what their parents say literally.  Over-reacting to the wide risk factors that can endanger children has a negative impact on their mental health and certainly does not set them up to be happy and robust adults.