AIBU to tell my DDs to move away, Man in park playing with no children.

54 replies

RedDeer · 09/04/2025 16:15

AIBU to tell my DDs to move away.

Today at our local playground lots of children playing. There was a man with no children, driving a childs remote control car around. The play equipment, At one point my DDs started to follow him into the skate park, to watch him. AIBU to have told them to play somewhere else?

Of course he could have been completely fine minding his own business, and there is no law preventing an adult playing in the park with a child's toy car.

OP posts:

onwardsup4 · 09/04/2025 20:10

RobinHeartella · 09/04/2025 16:25

Another chestnut I expect to read on this thread: "but children are more likely to be abused by a man they know". Yeah, that's because it's easier to identify weirdo behaviour in strangers. As op has done

It’s more likely because they have the opportunity

Bikergran · 09/04/2025 21:23

B1indEye · 09/04/2025 19:51

It's not a 1970s public information film, surely no one takes puppies to parks. Where is this happening ?

The OP has under 10 year olds, she's not letting them out on their own or with strangers. He's not going to whisk two children away or anything

No one here can possibly know what the man was doing but it's very unhealthy to assume every situation is dangerous, no wonder young people struggle with everyday life so much nowadays

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When with my family about 2 years ago, in a public park near where I live, there was a man, probably in his mid 30s, smartly dressed, with a small cute labrador puppy. Sitting on a bench within the playground, encouraging children to play with it and chat to him, asking their names. The only adult there without children. I felt uneasy, as did other adults, called our kids away. When he saw we had noticed him, he picked up puppy and left fast. If you had ever known children whose lives have been shattered by paedophiles, you too would be cautious.

KungFuSock · 09/04/2025 21:33

rosemarble · 09/04/2025 17:18

There's a young chap in our village, same age my DS1 (26) with learning difficulties. When DS2 was in Primary, he would often be at the park after school on his go cart or remote control car. Controlling the car around the play equipment is more fun than just running it over the grass.

He would engage with the children and meant no hard. That said, parents/carers would keep an eye - not for predatory behaviour, but more unpredictable or just inappropriate.

He has most definitely benefitted from the "it takes a village" adage as everyone knows him and accommodates his needs.

Edited

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This reminded me of something that happened locally to us. Photos and posts about this adult man in the play area, be cautious etc etc; anyway eventually the family of the young man saw the posts. Turns out he has learning disability, not harmful at all, but unfortunately it upset his elderly father quite a bit.

NC28 · 09/04/2025 21:37

I think the issue with assuming someone must have a LD if they’re an adult hanging about a kids play area is that it creates an idea that people with LD are harmless, trustworthy, no risk to kids etc. Not always the case. I’d be mindful of anyone around my child. Not in a neurotic way, just in an attentive, observatory way. Male, female, dressed well, dressed in rags…makes no difference.

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