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.