In the UK things have changed and so parents need to be careful. Various high profile cases have resulted in changes to both social services and police processing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Victoria_Climbi%C3%A9...

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2013/nov/11/b...

Does that result in "over reactions" - depends on your point of view.