Neighbors kids

[Dave L]

Well, with the onset of nicer weather, it has officially begun. The kids next door which are a similar age to my own have been “released”. 7 and 5 year old boys are typically going to be rambunctious but its made even worse when they are more or less ignored and allowed to run amuck by themselves.

Last year I had to knock on the door holding the broken arm of the oldest one. He was climbing the fence trying to get at the latch and fell back on to a concrete patio stone. Coming home today they found something new to climb…cars. They were climbing up the hood over the roof then down the back window, what great fun!! Luckily, this was on their own car.

I know this isnt the biggest probelm in the world but its annoying.

[911Rob]

Children. Watch them, learn from them, they have LIFE figured out!
Sounds like you've got some great kids there!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

Children. Watch them, learn from them, they have LIFE figured out!
Sounds like you've got some great kids there!

To a certain age, which is getting younger and younger. Then they become corrupt. Climbing on cars is not acceptable to me.

[jeffgrant]

You mean you saw kids, OUTSIDE, PLAYING!?!?!?

What the hell is the world coming to? I thought they were all kept inside watching TV or playing video games.

[ikarcuaso]

Originally Posted by Dave L

...they are more or less ignored and allowed to run amuck by themselves.

Bingo. Not an easy thing to do, but at some point, someone needs to clue these parents in. Since they live next door, and this behavior impacts you, you are a possible candidate.

Have your kids asked "but so-and-so next door get to do [whatever is unacceptable]?", yet?

[Dave L]

I grew up outside and my kids are outside all the time, just not climbing on cars and not unsupervised. They are 4 and 6 so I like to keep an eye on them and I typically spend time with them as well. I purposly bought a house near bike trails and a 10 minute ride to the beach so the kids could have a really cool time growing up. I dont mind the bike trails either

I guess its just different attitudes, they (next door neigbours) have a disposable attitude towards things. They have been through a few Walmart bikes as the kids crash them and generally abuse them. My kids got Trek's from a real bike store and taught them to take care of them.

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by ikarcuaso

...at some point, someone needs to clue these parents in. Since they live next door, and this behavior impacts you, you are a possible candidate.

great I agree but it probably wont go well. When they first moved in we were all outside playing. I was around the garage and saw the neigbour kids wailling on my sons golf club breaking it, The dad picked up the golf club looked at it trying to put it back together. At this point I was kind of around the corner and saw most of this out of the side of my eye (ie he didnt see me). I kind of expected that SOMEONE adult would let me know what happened but instead when I came back a minute latter I found the broken club lieing in the grass. It was a cheap plastic toy so no big deal but at least saying something would have been appropriate.

Originally Posted by ikarcuaso

Have your kids asked "but so-and-so next door get to do [whatever is unacceptable]?", yet?

No not yet, they are still young. I try to tell them why they cant do things though. When I saw the kids sliding down the car I told my kids that they are never allowed to do somthing like that because it could dent the car and they could hurt themselves if they fell off.

[slow&rusty]

Probably because Barrie has such terribly long winters, after being indoors for 6months those kids are aching to be set free and rediscover the outdoors?!

Yasin

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by Dave L

I grew up outside and my kids are outside all the time, just not climbing on cars and not unsupervised. They are 4 and 6 so I like to keep an eye on them and I typically spend time with them as well. I purposly bought a house near bike trails and a 10 minute ride to the beach so the kids could have a really cool time growing up. I dont mind the bike trails either

I guess its just different attitudes, they (next door neigbours) have a disposable attitude towards things. They have been through a few Walmart bikes as the kids crash them and generally abuse them. My kids got Trek's from a real bike store and taught them to take care of them.

Trek bikes are now made in CHINA, just like the bikes at WALLY MART.

[Dave L]

And yet the trek is built well has straight wheels, has good brakes and is assembled well.

[ikarcuaso]

Originally Posted by Dave L

great I agree but it probably wont go well.

I realize those types of conversations can be a tricky thing. Maybe putting it from the perspective that you are concerned about the safety of all kids at your place might take the edge off.

I'm all for kids playing. I have two young boys myself. It's just the unsupervised part at such a young age that troubles me.

[sammyg2]

GET OFF MY LAWN!
j/k

[Brother]

I've got two sets of these kids on my cul-de-sac. I just have to watch my kids around them. I don't think they are inherently bad, but their parents have given up/never tried. My mildly autistic son is just too impressionable to be with a prolonged bad example.