Spoiler Question Why there was need to ask the child from parents?
The devil/Wizard Linoge when he had the power to influence minds of people and even change his form to different persons ( like he converted himself in to that town manager's mother) why there was need to ask the children from parents. He could very well influence them and made them go with him ( as he was able to make them sleep or sing the same song).
Any particular reason for that?