Are You Wary Of Men On Playgrounds?

Are You Wary of Men on Playgrounds?

November 12, 2008

While I was at the park the other day, I got to chatting with a stay-at-home dad about playground politics. He said he doesn't reach out to help children get off the jungle gym or spot them on the monkey bars because he feels like most of the moms keep an eye on him thinking he's some sort of a predator. I told him I thought he was being self-conscious as my own husband frequents the park and hasn't experienced this. But, it got me thinking, are you more wary of men on the playground?

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22 Comments

Witchy Ways 4 years 27 weeks

Of course not, men should be encouraged to visit playgrounds with their children. But seriously? Even if the guy is in a park and without children - don't you think it's more than just a bit prejudices to "watch him closely" more than you would a woman who was just standing there, maybe enjoying the day, without carrying around a child? It's a public place after all, it ridiculous to think that a man being there on his own is potentially dangerous unlike a woman, who in this case isn't? So if god forbid, the child happens to disappear for a second, do you immediately look for the lonely man who was standing there before? Jeez.

Witchy Ways 4 years 27 weeks

Of course not, men should be encouraged to visit playgrounds with their children.But seriously? Even if the guy is in a park and without children - don't you think it's more than just a bit prejudices to "watch him closely" more than you would a woman who was just standing there, maybe enjoying the day, without carrying around a child? It's a public place after all, it ridiculous to think that a man being there on his own is potentially dangerous unlike a woman, who in this case isn't? So if god forbid, the child happens to disappear for a second, do you immediately look for the lonely man who was standing there before? Jeez.

Greggie 4 years 27 weeks

Pedophilia isn't the only risk when it comes to children.

Jessiebanana 4 years 27 weeks

The sad thing is that I can go to a park and sit on the benches around a play structure and read and never even get a look. In fact I've had mothers come up and talk to me about my life and school and if I want to be a mother. I don't think a 20 year old man would ever get the same treatment at a park. Unfortunately I don't think they should, it is pure statistics. True pedophilia (sexual attraction to prepubescent children) is almost non existent in women.

mhg 4 years 27 weeks

i'm not wary of a dad, by any means. but as everyone else has said, if he has no children, then duh, of course i'd watch him like a hawk. before i had kids, i was riding my bike through a park in one of our city's major parks, which is huge. and i saw a man sitting by himself, watching mothers and children at the playground part of the park. and guess what he was doing with himself? i called the police and rode off. i still wonder if i should've rode over to the mothers to tell them, but the guy scared me. scary.

mhg 4 years 27 weeks

momma tikita 4 years 27 weeks

where are*

momma tikita 4 years 27 weeks

where are*

momma tikita 4 years 27 weeks

where the 69 that said yes? I would like to read what they think...

Greggie 4 years 27 weeks

I don't think he's being oversensitive to not touch the other kids. I think it's common sense if you don't know the other family, whether you're a male or female. Unless it's an emergency situation, I wouldn't touch another child at the park either. It's too easy to be accused of something.

JennyJen 4 years 27 weeks

If it is a dad with his kids why would anyone have any additional fears of him say vs a mom being there with her kids? I think the SAHD you were talking to was just being overly sensitive.

JennyJen 4 years 27 weeks

If it is a dad with his kids why would anyone have any additional fears of him say vs a mom being there with her kids?I think the SAHD you were talking to was just being overly sensitive.

gigimama 4 years 27 weeks

If he wasn't with kids, then yes. Creepy.But if he is there with his own kids, I fail to see what is creepy about it. Men should be congratulated for being good, involved dads---not treated like potential child molesters.

gigimama 4 years 27 weeks

If he wasn't with kids, then yes. Creepy. But if he is there with his own kids, I fail to see what is creepy about it. Men should be congratulated for being good, involved dads---not treated like potential child molesters.

skigurl 4 years 27 weeks

if he wasn't there with kids, yes probably i would be a little weirded out a man there with his children who doesn't look extra creepy would only get as much attention as anyone else there with their children, be it female nannies or mothers etc.

skigurl 4 years 27 weeks

if he wasn't there with kids, yes probably i would be a little weirded outa man there with his children who doesn't look extra creepy would only get as much attention as anyone else there with their children, be it female nannies or mothers etc.

meandtheo 4 years 27 weeks

in my experience if you go to the park on a saturday or sunday morning you will find the men(dads). all the men(dads) there with their newspapers and coffee...and i love that they are there with the their kids. i often check out the dad because it is not as often that you see them at the park with their kids as you would the mom. but it is not because i am wary of them, it is because i just love they way they interact with kids. men tend to have a different cadence when speaking to children and just play differently then women, i find it all very endearing.

meandtheo 4 years 27 weeks

Greggie 4 years 27 weeks

Not at all, since my husband is actually the one who usually takes the kids to the park. Like Rosa though, I'd keep at least a casual eye on anyone there. I'd be wary of anyone alone near the play area.

RosaDilia 4 years 27 weeks

I would keep my eye on everyone.

momma tikita 4 years 27 weeks

If the man is at the park with a child of course not! I will say that I keep an eye on everyone..woman and man! You never know these days but I dont watch men closer then women. The parks I go to have dads and if they help my child when I cant I wont be thinking of anything other than a "thank you". Now a man without a child at the park yes. I know in New York they have a law that no person can be in a playground area without a child (man or woman). I think thats great because honestly..who goes there without kids? I had an incident this summer where me and some other mommies were at a playground and some cooky lady was just sitting at the table minding her business. All of a sudden she started yelling all sorts of crazy things! Cursing and slowly but surely walking up to where we were. We grabbed the kids and left while calling the police. They came and took her away but imagine if she would have just snatched one of the kids instead of yelling? It was really scary. So the point to THAT story is basically dont trust anyone..man, woman, young, old.

momma tikita 4 years 27 weeks

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