Nanny State Bans Nannies: English Town Bars Parents and Nannies from Playgrounds

We previously discussed whether England was becoming a “Nanny State.” Now, it turns out that even the nanny is not welcomed. The city fathers (and mothers) of Watford has solved the danger of strangers bothering children by banning parents from playground areas. Mayor Dorothy Thornhill observes simply, “Sadly, in today’s climate, you can’t have adults walking around unchecked in a children’s playground.”

The truly sad thing, Ms. Thornhill, is the climate of governmental control and the gradual reduction of rights in England, here, here, here, here, here, here.

Parents have been replaced by “play rangers,” public employees who will no doubt bring to childcare what postal employees bring to communication. The logic of this policy beats Bristol’s request that owners not lock their sheds and garages to stop break ins, here.

Of course, this will end the plague of “free-range children” who believe that they can roam and associate with such people as their parents without state approval or supervision.

What concerns me most is that the city council has failed to see the real problem: children. No children, no child abuse or abduction. Alternatively, we may want to consider only having play rangers procreate . . . oh wait, they then could not be play rangers if they are parents (to be known as “breeders” in play ranger parlance). We may have to go to the use of play ranger eunuchs who confine each child to a walled space of constant observation. Oh wait, that has been tried . . .

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