It is not a joke. Honestly I don’t remember anymore if we had a code word or not, but it was definitely discussed with parents and school officials; probably in D.A.R.E too. The premise is that a kidnapper might try to trick you with: “Your mom is [working late / in the hospital / etc.], she asked me to pick you up today.” If they don’t have the password, then you don’t go with them and then go get help from a trusted adult. If you can’t get to one, run away and scream.
that is a fucking wild concept lol, in what scenario would a parent ask someone the kid doesn’t know to pick them up? like even if you 100% trust someone, that doesn’t work if the kid has never met them!
I mean, yeah, that makes sense to you and me, but not every child would make that deduction? Some kids are friendly and trusting, and even if the child is wary of strangers and instructed not to go with them, a kidnapper can just say that they are a parent’s coworker, or that they work at the hospital where their sick parent is, or whatever other lie or sounds convincing to a child. Little kids don’t have the context to see through that bullshit yet.
At least that’s the premise.
But, it also applies to people the kid does know, but may not be expecting: an aunt or uncle, a coach, teacher, a friends parent, a parents friend… since we now know (or at least it has been better disseminated) that most kidnappings are done by someone close to the child or family. The kid should still ask for the password if it’s not a pre scheduled “Grandma picks me up Wednesdays and Thursdays” kind of thing.
I’m no child safety expert; that’s just what I remember.
Wait you actually had a code word for when a stranger approached you?
I thought that was a joke
It is not a joke. Honestly I don’t remember anymore if we had a code word or not, but it was definitely discussed with parents and school officials; probably in D.A.R.E too. The premise is that a kidnapper might try to trick you with: “Your mom is [working late / in the hospital / etc.], she asked me to pick you up today.” If they don’t have the password, then you don’t go with them and then go get help from a trusted adult. If you can’t get to one, run away and scream.
that is a fucking wild concept lol, in what scenario would a parent ask someone the kid doesn’t know to pick them up? like even if you 100% trust someone, that doesn’t work if the kid has never met them!
I mean, yeah, that makes sense to you and me, but not every child would make that deduction? Some kids are friendly and trusting, and even if the child is wary of strangers and instructed not to go with them, a kidnapper can just say that they are a parent’s coworker, or that they work at the hospital where their sick parent is, or whatever other lie or sounds convincing to a child. Little kids don’t have the context to see through that bullshit yet.
At least that’s the premise.
But, it also applies to people the kid does know, but may not be expecting: an aunt or uncle, a coach, teacher, a friends parent, a parents friend… since we now know (or at least it has been better disseminated) that most kidnappings are done by someone close to the child or family. The kid should still ask for the password if it’s not a pre scheduled “Grandma picks me up Wednesdays and Thursdays” kind of thing.
I’m no child safety expert; that’s just what I remember.