Reply to: How do I answer this?

[BrilloPad]

Personally I don't believe the McCann's kid was snatched.

But hey maybe that's just me.

There were more child abductions in the 70s than now, and the stranger abductor is very very very rare. Most children who are snatched are done so by someone known to them.

Add to that the McCanns did the child in themselves (you know it's true)

I dont see how they could be scrutinized so closely and get away with it.

And where did they dispose of the body?

[Bagpuss]

There were more child abductions in the 70s than now, and the stranger abductor is very very very rare. Most children who are snatched are done so by someone known to them.

Add to that the McCanns did the child in themselves (you know it's true)

[BrowneIssue]

Children can scream at an unbelievable pitch and volume. Unbearably so to an adult's ears.

I assumed this was an evolutionary defence mechanism.

Therein lies a clue.

Scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream. If she's lucky, she'll then puke on the bugger too.

"I can you know".

[d000hg]

Go for the eyes and or knackers.

I appreciate this is a 10 yo we're talking about here but a couple of kids (year 10s I think) from Mrs MMs school have been pounced on by the serial rapist in & around Richmond / Twickenham at the moment.

They both got away by screaming, lashing out and running.

How do you know it was the rapist if they got away? Could just have been a deranged lunatic.

To the OP: I think biting and screaming "help, that's not my mum/dad" is best bet.
Although I'm more the thoughtful type so I might decide not to struggle much so they think they don't need to tie me up, letting me jump out the car at a traffic light etc.

[zara_backdog]

Daughter knows all about the shouting and kicking bit ( has younger brother to practice on) and knows not to go with anyone she does not know, and to answer Thunderlizard - yes she knows how to fire a handgun ( open day at local gun club).

But this was a serious question about what to do in-case she does get abducted. Following links to the McCann stories - she has realised how often this thing happens and it has really spooked her.

She has never been left a lone and never will, but she is starting to go down the road on her own to post a letter, or be it taking one of the dogs with her.

I have decided to concentrate on advising her how to avoid NOT getting in to this situation and not on what she should do if she ever did.

[DaveB]

Bite, hard.

Biting is one thing a child can do that will really hurt an adult. Any bare flesh they can reach, as hard as they can for as long as they can.

Kicking and punching is all very well but most kids arn't strong enough / good enough at it to make it count.

[OwlHoot]

You could also tell her to try and drop a couple of items, such as a hat or glove, better still throw them over a garden fence to where the perp can't easily retrieve them, especially something that could identify her, at the same time as shouting to attract attention, in the hope that someone will notice the incident and report them.

That way there's a chance the police will find out promptly, and then know when and where she was snatched, which helps with searching CCTV footage and finding witnesses.

P.S. Also, even if she hasn't been able to do anything like that, she could lie to the perp by saying she has.

I'd also point out that the best way is to be prepared, e.g. carry a sound alarm and a mobile phone that reports location to agreed phones on demand (I think one can get these now), tell people where she is going, and obviously take steps to avoid danger in the first place.

Edit: Oh and mention that not all abductors are guys. Women are sometimes involved, believe it or not, because they don't seem so threatening. Also, they aren't always stereotypical DOMs in a raincoat. It's more likely to be some maladjusted teenage boy.

[thunderlizard]

Clearly she's imagining some kind of leaping-out-of-the bushes-and-grabbing scenario, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang style. That isn't the normal child-abductor's modus operandi at all because it's a tad too obvious. They're more likely to convince the child to come willingly, so you're best just carrying on reassuring her that she'll be OK if she just doesn't go with strangers.

I suppose if she does get grabbed, maximum shouting and kicking is the best option. Also pass on the standard SAS advice that the sooner you attempt an escape the more likely it is to succeed.

But if she's pushing 10 she ought to be "packing" a "shank" for her own protection anyway, what what?

[NotAllThere]

If there are any other people within hearing, shout "I don't know you!" repeatedly. Otherwise many people would think it was a family squabble and pass on by.

That's what one my mates did when he was 7. Thing was, she was his mother. But she has a strong French accent, and he growing up in England, with an English dad, didn't.

Evil little scrote that he was.

[Board Game Geek]

Go for the eyes, Boo. Go for the eyes !

[Churchill]

Personally I don't believe the McCann's kid was snatched.

But hey maybe that's just me.

[expat]

Bite, scream and kick - in short, do anything to make the sickos life difficult.

If there are any other people within hearing, shout "I don't know you!" repeatedly. Otherwise many people would think it was a family squabble and pass on by.

[EternalOptimist]

Jeez, when my daughter was ten she asked me if Ken and Barbie were really married or if it was just pretend.
I guess they are growing up quicker these days.

[Board Game Geek]

I'd tell her that "Assume the worst, and the person is going to kill you. Now direct that fear in to hurting them and causing as much trouble as you can, because it's the only chance you have left. Use it."

[Cyberman]

You should tell her to aim to kick or knee the guy in the goollies as hard as possible. Perhaps she could test her technique on your hubby.