Are children too protected today?

When I was growing up, we walked home from school and sometimes on my own. Parents collect their children from school and other activities in case of danger today. I feel stupid because it reminds how easy it would have been for me to go missing and get abducted and not know what sex really was etc. I really do feel stupid sometimes that I used to walk to school in woodlands instead of the main road, but even then that could of been dangerous; could of been picked up by strangers and dragged into a car.