I was watching Kodomo no Omocha, reading too much into things, when something occured to me. What if the Babbit is actually a subtle stab at traditional conservative values? If you've got as much time on your hands as I do, take a moment to consider the facts:
The primary purpose of the Babbit is narrative. That is, he exists to tell things about the story that would be too awkward or tedious to relate through conventional exposition (or that the writers were too lazy to work into the plot). The Babbit is also the show's moral compass, reminding children everywhere to wash their hands, brush their teeth, and most importantly, especially in a show with so many croquet-related mishaps, not to try this at home.
This is all well and good, but consider now how the other characters treat the Babbit. The Babbit is so thoroughly ignored that new fans of the series are often led to believe that he is invisible. Despite his constant attempts to become involved in the lives of the other characters and improve their personal hygiene, he invariably fades into the background, becoming the nagging voice of your mom, your teacher, and your school librarian all rolled into one. In short, he is the definition of irrelevant. Could this be what the author is trying to say about all who hold these values and would share them with others?
