Ok, we have some neighbors who ALWAYS leave their two kids to play in our yard and then go inside to watch tv, nap (the mom is notorious for napping), cook, clean, whatever. This leaves me to referee everything that happens in my backyard! The kids are boy 9 and girl 5. Neither listen when I tell them to do/not do anything, and look at me like I'm speaking a language they don't understand! They are both very mouthy, and fight with my boys constantly! We have the fun yard...big tramplonie, swingset, sandbox, pool, etc and rent right now and have no fence. We don't want to put up a fence just to have to take it down when we buy a house next year. I've talked to both parents about this, and now they leave them and stick their head out the door about every half hour to see what they are doing, then back in they go! I'm about to charge admission! I may try hanging a signthat says no one plays on one side and yes we can play on the other, but dh says that would be rude. HELP!
Hey Jen..I understand just how you feel. I had to make a rule because of this very thing:
If the kids come over to play...so do the parents! Unless I specifically invite them over, the parents have to be outside to watch them also. I don't like being responsible for other people's children all the time. This actually has cut down on kids coming over all the time...especially if their parents don't feel like coming out also.
I don't think the sign is rude....I think parents sending their children over all the time for you to deal with so they can get stuff done!!
I don't think it is rude either...I would simply send a letter home with the kids saying you can no longer be responsible for watching other's kids in your yard and that the kids are not allowed to come over unless you invite them yourself or the parent at least stay outside with them while they play.If they don't like it....tough....you aren't a FREE babysitter!!
I live next door to my SIL and there is no fence between us either. Her kids are always over here and my children are forever going over there, but when my kids are there so am I and vice versa. On occasion one of us will have to clean the house, etc....,but we never just send our kids to the other's house without asking. That would be rude!
There is no good way to win this, but since you are unhappy anyway...just lay down the law to them. They should understand. If they don't then maybe they will just keep their kids home.
How old are your children? Do you have to stay outside with them? Maybe if you aren't on duty all the time, they won't be so relaxed.
I am a big fan of fences...those kids playing on your property is a HUGE liability issue!
You will probably have to lay down the law. You might want to check out what the neighbor laws are in your state (should be able to find a library book to help you). Depending on the law, you might need to send a certified letter stating you do not want these kids over unsupervised. I would be fearful of their kids getting hurt and them suing you. In California, I believe a large, unfenced trampline is referred to as an "attractive nuicance"...basically meaning the thing is so attractive to a kid that they cannot help themselves and they play on it, and it is your responsibility if they get hurt.
We recently moved from a house with a pool...we had VERY high liability limits, even though it was fenced, b/c you just never know. A neighbor on the other side of us would let her daughter straddle the fence separating our pool and their yard (wooden fence). My pool enclosure met regulations, but her kid would push chairs and stuff up so she could scale the fence from her side. I was always terrified that I was going to go outside and see this kid drowned in my pool!
People are sue happy. You seriously cannot be too careful.
IF THIS WAS ME I WOULD TELL THE KIDS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEIR OWN YARD--KINDA LIKE SAYING IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO HOME--(MY SON GIVES ME A GUILT TRIP EVERYTIME I TELL HIM THAT HIS COUSIN HAS TO GO HOME, TOLD ME I WAS RUDE--WELL THAT DIDN'T LAST & I TOUGHEND (SP) UP, TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD THINGS TO DO & MIGHT COULD PLAY LATER--OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT ME)--IF YOU TELL THEM THIS, YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NOT TALK TO THEM, ETC..WHEN THEY ARE OUTSIDE B/C THE NEIGHBOR KIDS MIGHT TAKE THIS AS AN INVITATION TO COME BACK OVER---AND THERE IS NO WAY IN THIS WORLD THAT I WOULD LET THEM COME OVER WHEN YOU AREN'T OUTSIDE B/C LIKE SOMEONE HAS ALREADY SAID, IF THEY GET HURT THE PARENTS MIGHT SUE (MOST LIKELY WILL SUE) YOU.
LIKE 4LISA SAID ABOUT LIABILITY, I'M STILL NOT SURE I WOULD LET THEM OVER PERIOD W/ OR W/OUT PARENTS IF I COULDN'T BE OUTSIDE, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOURSELF IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN.
SO I'M W/JENN123 HOW OLD ARE YOUR CHILDREN & DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE W/THEM IF THE NEIGHBORS KIDS AREN'T THERE??? IF THE NEIGHBOR KIDS ARE THERE?
MY SON IS 11 & IF HE INVITES SOMEONE OVER, THE PARENTS KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE OUTSIDE HANGING OUT & I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THEIR EVERY MOVE----BUT WITH MY DAUGHTER (5 YR OLD) IT IS DIFFERENT, I'M WATCHING HER & FRIENDS AT ALL TIMES, SO I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE IF MY DAUGHTER HAS COMPANY LIKE I AM IF MY SON DOES.
EDITED TO SAY:REMEMBER YOUR YARD IS NOT THE PUBLIC PARK OR PLAYGROUND & YOUR POOL IS NOT THE PUBLIC POOLYOU MAY WANT TO PUT THAT SIGN UP YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
My boys are 5 and 3, so they can't be out unsupervised. The rules have been set fot the trampoline and pool already. The kids know...NO PARENTS, NO JUMPING OR SWIMMING! It's not that they are in the pool and on the trampoline, because if their parents aren't standing right there, they aren't. They just won't listen to a thing I tell them and won't go home! I guess I will sit down with the mom AGAIN later and let her know that I'm not the babysitter, and if she wants me to be, so can pay me to be!
it is good to know that you don't have to worry with swimming or jumping--if talking to the mom doesn't work i think that i would just tell them they can't come over and play in your yard & i hate to say this but if the mom(parents) will not listen at all (i don't know how difficult they are) then just post a sign no trespassing & call the law---ooooh that was mean, i'm sorry. (i have a mean sign)
you have rude and uncaring neighbors, the children's conduct and mouthiness is indicative of how much their parents care for them. Do they supervise their kids in their own back yard or are they left alone unsupervised? It maybe against the law in your state for children of that age to be left alone anywhere for any amount of time without parental supervision and that is a reportable offence to your state's child protective services (CPS), it could be done anonymously.
Wouldn't that be considered trespassing?
And also, if one of them were to be injured using your trampoline or swimming pool, you would be completely responsible. I remember when I was a kid, the neighbors would let everyone over on theirs, but you HAD to give them a letter from your parents saying that the people were not responsible for you if you got injured on it while at their house.
I would give CPS a call and say that they never watch their kids. They'll probably go over and give them a big scare.
Let's see...I talked to the dad yesterday, and he just kinda laughed it off like he didn't think I was serious. He asked if his daughter could swim yesterday morning, and I told him AGAIN only if he was going to be out there. He sat with her for a few minutes and told me he was going to the bathroom and would be right back. Well, almost 15 minutes later he wasn't back so I sent her home with her towel! Their kids are so disrespectful, and really do run their house. It isn't the kids fault that they are rude, but still! I told the older one yesterday to stop giving me lip or he can go home! I asked him if what is he supposed to do if an adult tells him not to do something and he reply was "Eat tacos!" and he ran off! Little snot! Like I said earlier, the trampoline and pool are off limits with no parent there, and I send kids home daily because they are alone. These parents just don't get it! I don't mind if they run in to the bathroom or to get a drink, but come back for goodness sake!
wow dont you hate annoying kids. I have an annoying neighborhood kids that comes to play with my older boys. During school it would amaze me that even though this kid and my son were in the same class my kid had homework almost everynight but this child would be knocking at my door with in 5 minutes of my kids getting off the bus. Which meant as soon as he got off the bus at his house he was walking over here. One time he was misbehaving so i sent him home. He came back and said my parents arent home and my doors are locked. WHAT!!!! how can a parent just assume the parents wont mind watching the kid. They never came by to say we need to go to the store is it ok if he stays?? or to come get him. This child is always out riding his bike up and down the streets and taught my kids how to moon people. After that i told my kids who actually like this kid that he is not allowed to come over anymore. I say get rude.... do not allow them to play at your house anymore. when the parents ask why you tell them these are not my kids i will not be responsible for watching them. if you want them to play over here with out you staying outside then you can pay me 20 per child. And let them know that will be for an hour each hour after that will be an extra 20. ALso have them write a letter releasing you from responsibility if one of the kids happens to get injured. You are not a day care center. And also you need to tell the parents their kids have awful manners in which you dont want your kids to pick up on. Either they will finally stay outside or they will stop their kids from coming over. either way you win. I know its hard being rude to your neighbors but the way i see it they are being rude to you.
You had mentioned earlier that you currently rent. If the parents are not willing to listen, you may want to get the landlord involved.
We had neighbor kids that were not well behaved at all, well one of them all the time did not behave and some of them behaved fine. One day my husband yelled really LOUD at the boy that was not being nice to my son and his cousins and his mom never did one thing about it. After that the kid behaved around us because he knew that if he tried something with our son while we were there, he got in trouble from us.
I'm pretty layed back....but I would be mortified if I had a tramp and unsupervised kids coming and going. Check out the laws....put up a sign....and put your rules/requests in writing and give it to the parents. If they don't respond, you have no choice but to contact SRS. This is not to be mean to them...this is to protect YOU.
My problem isn't the neighbor kids....it's the neighbor dogs. I'm planning to put a childrens dose of benadryl pm in some hamburger meat 20 minutes before my next barbeque and slip it thru the fence. I've had it. They howl, bark. bay, and run the fence constantly. THEY (the people) know and they've chosen to ignore. I'm tired. This is the second summer we've been tortured by these dogs........
And save the lecture if you're a dog lover.....I am too. I have a sweet, well-behaved cocker named Josie. She is well behaved because we've taught her to be that way. NEVER, would I allow her to carry on like these dogs do..............................and I certainly wouldn't allow it when I could see there was a party going on!!!!
send them an itemized bill for babysitting services and wear/tear on your play equipment!!!!
Babysitter fee: $25
Use of swing set: $20
Look of horror on neighbor's face when they realize the free childcare train has rolled to a stop: PRICELESS!!!!
There is one little girl that isn't allowed to come over any more, I told the parents that she doesn't listen, is rude and disrespectful, and very mean to other kids. I told them that I don't allow my children to act that way and if they don't like their daughter sitting in timeout as a 9 yr old for not following my rules like a 2 yr old to either change the kid's attitude or keep their brat at home. I have a large age range of children at my house because my girls are 5 yrs apart and I am not going to let one of the angels get hurt. If they don't correct their kid's behavor and she hurts someone, then they will have to explain their daughter's actions to the other parents and cps and it may be in court. I haven't seen the little brat since. Oh and the neighborhood kids and parents all gave me a big thank you.
Harsh I know but you have to stop it one way or another. If you don't, someone is going to get hurt and chances are it's going to be one of your kids.
I should have mentioned this was after she left a bruise on my 2 yr old, taught my 7yr old a few choice words that I washed away with soap, and made my 7 yr old's best friend leave early by being mean and hateful.
My house is once again the safeand fun neighborhood hang out.
edited runaway fingers on keyboard 
I know this is kinda late (after your original post) and I hope things have improved with your situation.
I just wanted to add that we had a little girl that lived 2 houses up that would wander EVERYWHERE while her parents would stay inside...this little girl almost got hit in the middle of the road...she was driving her power wheel and a truck came to a screeching stop and missed her by a few feet.....anyway, she would wander to our house all of the time and I would tell her that she couldn't stay b/c her mom wasn't with her...she'd ignore me and everything too; so ...............
If you have to walk those children home or go & get their parents to come & get them, DO IT NOW and don't wait another second!!!
good luck!
Think their all related? Anyway, they have pretty much been kicked out of everyone's yard at least once. It seems the mother would start to notice that her kids are not welcome anywhere any more.
HAHA Dale! You rea;;y are too much! Yep, they are still hanging around. I've talked to their parents, and nothing seems to change, though my boys are playing with a new kid in the neighborhood a lot more the last couple of weeks instead of the kids next door. The little girl next door hates it when they play with other kids, so stays in her own yard if other kids (and parents) are over.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%
