A man approached three children who were walking along Schanck Drive about 1.45pm on Saturday.

Police said the man, who was driving a vehicle at the time, approached a 10-year-old girl, her eight-year-old brother and their eight-year-old friend.

The man asked the girl to get into his vehicle, but she refused and the man left the scene.

The girl immediately told her mother about the incident and her mother called Maitland police.

Investigators are calling for people to contact them if they have information about a Caucasian man with a white beard driving in the Schanck Drive area on Saturday.

The key message of the safe people, safe places campaign is that children should never get into a car with someone they do not know.

If grabbed by a stranger, children should yell: “Go away, I don’t know you” and call triple-0 if possible.

Children should make sure their parents or another responsible adult knows where they are at all times.

Families should teach children where safe places are, such as shops, service stations, police stations, libraries or schools.

Police said it was also important for families to teach children about which responsible adults, such as police officers or teachers, they could talk to if they needed help.

Children should always walk straight home or to their destination and walk near busy roads and streets or use paths where there are lots of other people.

If a car stops on the side of the road and a child doesn’t know the person inside, they should not stop to speak to them, police said.

Anyone with information about the attempted abduction on Saturday is asked to call Maitland police on 4934 0200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.