How do you begin to prepare your DC for the nasty, horrible world out there?

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Our boys (8.5 & 6) live in such a 'happy bubble of contentment' right now - we live in a nice town, they have lovely friends, school is great, discipline is good/ no bullies, we have a happy family life etc etc etc

Sometimes I worry that I am not in any way preparing them for coping with 'real life' as they grow up (DS1 particularly) and that they would simply not know how to cope if confronted with a difficult or dangerous situation.

I don't want to teach them to 'trust no-one', but nor do I want them to grow up dangerously naive.

I can't imagine that in 10 years time DS1 would be competent to safely leave home to go to college!

It's a gradual thing, that actually you don't notice happening, when it happens. DD s 12 now and 2 years ago, I wouldn't have dared let her any where alone, but now she just does! I barely see her most weekends, she's off out in the park with her mates or off on the bus into town, it just happens! I remember the first time she and a friend wanted to go to the park. We gave them half and hour, whilst me and the other mum paced and panicked!

Don't worry about it now. Enjoy their innocence. Before you know it DS1 will be n secondary school and off out all the time and you'll wonder how that happened!

Dunno, but the way i see it, keep on looking for the good & good things tend to happen more than bad. Keep appreciating the good things in life. Confident kids are more likely to be able to deal with tough situations.

I did meet a dad once who used to give their child challenges with support. So for example the child (i can't remember he might've been around 10) had to get from A to B, and it was something quite considerable, like London to Scotland, or across London. I don't mean he sent him away deliberately, i mean as opportunities arose in life, he encouraged his child's independence. So he would map out the route for him and then if the kid got stuck he would open one of these little envelopes for the appropriate stage of his journey his dad had sent him away with (this was pre mobile phones) which would give him tips about what to do next.

Also found that children who horse ride tend to be very independent and mature for some reason.

We had a pretty free upbringing. I cycled pretty much anywhere i wanted from age 7 wherever i was. I think that kind of thing is all to the good. Just keep in company & don't talk to strangers.

I think this is why it is important to gradually let them have independence, starting with letting them go to the post box and local shop. School trips, scout camps etc are good, anything they have to do without you being there.
I remember when my DS was 8 and some boys stole his football and he said to me that he didn't know why they bothered because their mother would make them give it back-it was difficult to explain that all mother's were not going to be like me!
They gradually learn these things for themselves but they have to be given opportunities to do things on their own.