Britain Bans Parents From Supervising Children on Playground

By Amber Ortega on October 30th, 2009

With so many bad things happening in the world, more and more parents are becoming overprotective. Helicopter parenting is becoming more and more common as the parents are trying to be there and protect their children before they fall, get hurt or anything bad happens to them. You see these parents at the park with their kids and they are following them all over the playground. If the child goes into a tunnel the parent will freak out because they can’t see them, even watching them go into the tunnel. It’s overprotective and really annoying.

In Britain, the Watford Borough Council policy now states that parents are not allowed in playground areas. There will be appointed “play rangers” to look after children in the public parks. The reason for this change? Simple, the parents are not background checked. Just because someone is a mom or dad, that doesn’t make them a good person.

Of course many parents don’t agree with this, while others are claiming it is a joke. Should every parent be considered a potential child abuser? Is it fair that a grandmother can no longer go push her grandson on the swings? Of course parents are outraged at this new law, while many refuse to abide by it. The council simply states that with this day and age we have to take stronger measures to protect our children.

I would have to say this is over-the-top and a government totally going overboard. How can you tell a parent they are not allowed to supervise their child. It is insane. While I’m far from a helicopter parent, I still like to know where my child is. I let them be on the playground and allow them to play by themselves, but I want them to be in my view. I wouldn’t trust someone else, that I don’t even know to watch after my child. What do you think?