Luxor4u

Frightening really to see how vulnerable kids can be

I saw a worse one, in my opinion, a couple of years ago. The kids involved were 10-15 year old, and were chatting to a bloke online. He turned up in his van and the girls actually got in the vehicle and allowed him to drive away! They didn't know him from Adam! Fortunately for the girls, their mothers were part of the experiment, but it shocked the parents to the core - as it would most parents!

I don't think its being gullible, adult wise, the problem is, is that when a total stranger approaches you with a nice smile, is clean and well 'turned out', the personal space barriers that folk usually have drop quite quickly, especially in the day time in public spaces. As for kids, they are not vulnerable in the true sense of the term, just plain stupid know it all potential victims that easily confuse potential threats as a ''bit of a laugh.''

It is so hard to teach children about how to trust and who to trust. You don't want them to be frightened of everyone they meet, and you need them to know that if they are in trouble there are people that they can and should trust. I suppose parents have to use their instincts in what and how much they tell their child in the hope that the child will develop better instincts of its own.

I often wonder if the best protection is being a part of a larger group of play friends as they are more likely to have some amongst them who are a bit more savvy and more aware of danger.

I think you are right Horus. Children playing in larger groups also helps them develop the instinct of who they can and can't trust in any given situation.
It was interesting to note that in each of the examples given on that film clip the children seemed to be playing alone, and although the parent or responsible adult was close by they did not intervene. Of course, I understand that for the sake of the experiment they were not meant to intervene but, if the child saw the adult chatting to the man in the first place they probably thought it was OK for them to do so too, although that does no account for why they so easily went off with the man.

Horus wrote:I often wonder if the best protection is being a part of a larger group of play friends as they are more likely to have some amongst them who are a bit more savvy and more aware of danger.

That makes sense. It's usually the lone child who is targetted.

And if one of a group is waylaid, the others can raise the alarm.

A kindly voice and a smile, plus the chance to see some cuddly puppies or kittens? how many little innocent and trusting children would refuse? and sadly that is the kind of guile that these predators would employ.