Kids playing football in the street/cars

Person_one

notanewuser wrote: »

My name's Liz?? :huh:

Nevermind then, night night Liz.

notanewuser

Person_one wrote: »

Nevermind then, night night Liz.

Night, strange person.

coolcait

Does part of the problem lie in the fact that there seem to be too many cars in too small a space?

The ongoing development of your story doesn't really surprise me, OP, for reasons already given. And I'm surprised that you should have invited me to tea given the number of cars already parked in your quiet cul de sac. For many reasons, I decline the invitation.

Going back to the young boy with the 'condition' which restricts the amount of physical activity he can safely undertake.

Are his parents aware that the other children's reckless disregard for other's property is causing upset to the neighbours? Is the young lad actually getting the chance to exercise, given the number of other boys who are taking part in these games? Is he getting too much exercise/excitement, given the number of other boys who are taking part in htese games?

Part of the problem seems to be the fact that the other boys are playing in this garden even when the little boy with a condition isn't there (your post no 38). Are his parents aware of this? Plus the fact that the actions of these children is causing problems for the neighbours?

Maybe they should be given the chance to decide how to deal with the problem. Which might include moving the goal indoors, or round the back garden - with warnings given to the children and their parents about not going in there when the dogs are there.

There are a lot of options for dealing with the problem you present. They involve making the boy's parents aware of your concerns.

I look forward to hearing all of the reasons why they won't work.

barbarawright

newgirly wrote: »

I am quite surprised at some of people's opinions on here, I have 3 children, including 12 yr old twin boys and I would be mortified if they damaged a neighbours property.

Re-reading the first post, there's no suggestion that property actually has been damaged yet, just that the OP is worried it *might* be

coinxoperated

I have to say, your situation would drive me potty.

All these 'kids will be kids' excuses... I would be absolutely fuming, not at the children, but at the parents.

When I was younger, we were always kept in the garden to play. No our garden wasn't picturesque, but it was a place for us to play safely and without disturbing neighbours.

A family across the road always let at least 5 at any one time of their children play in the street. They had no respect for other people's things, and by would they? Because their parents didnt teach them right and wrong.

I would have 4 steps to sorting this problem out:

1: talk to the parents of the ill child, explain what's happening and that your property is in danger of being damaged. Ask politely if they could remove the goal posts from the cul de sac and as you have such an understanding of their situation, you would appreciate if they could understand where you are coming from without you having to go down any official lines.

Doesn't work? Step 2: buy a cheap CCTV camera and place it viewing your car / front lawn along with a big clear sign saying 'smile!! Your on CCTV'. Let your neighbours know you have to do this, as damage will occur shortly and you want evidence to be able to show to the police should you need to.

Neighbours will HATE the CCTV sign (makes it look like a dodgy estate!) an therefore, will also resent the kids for playing in the street even more.

Still nothing done?

Step 3: report to EH and local police and explain what's happening.

Assuming you give your neighbours an opportunity to understand by you will have to take it further and that you really don't want to, I see no other route than an official one.

It's 2013 - most houses have gardens. Those who wish for their kids to run around excitedly without care for anyone else's property should keep their kids in their own garden.

One of the MAIN reasons my parents never let my sister and I out into the street to play was safety. It takes all of 3 seconds for a car to zip down, grab a kid and drive off. The parents of these children won't know their neighbours that well - how do they know their kids are safe?!!?

Good luck, and I hope it's resolved for you X

notanewuser

coolcait wrote: »

Does part of the problem lie in the fact that there seem to be too many cars in too small a space?

The ongoing development of your story doesn't really surprise me, OP, for reasons already given. And I'm surprised that you should have invited me to tea given the number of cars already parked in your quiet cul de sac. For many reasons, I decline the invitation.

Going back to the young boy with the 'condition' which restricts the amount of physical activity he can safely undertake.

Are his parents aware that the other children's reckless disregard for other's property is causing upset to the neighbours? Is the young lad actually getting the chance to exercise, given the number of other boys who are taking part in these games? Is he getting too much exercise/excitement, given the number of other boys who are taking part in htese games?

Part of the problem seems to be the fact that the other boys are playing in this garden even when the little boy with a condition isn't there (your post no 38). Are his parents aware of this? Plus the fact that the actions of these children is causing problems for the neighbours?

Maybe they should be given the chance to decide how to deal with the problem. Which might include moving the goal indoors, or round the back garden - with warnings given to the children and their parents about not going in there when the dogs are there.

There are a lot of options for dealing with the problem you present. They involve making the boy's parents aware of your concerns.

I look forward to hearing all of the reasons why they won't work.

I think there are too many cars, yes. From a quick tot up there are 11 houses with (discounting garages) 15 driveway spaces. There are 24 vehicles. We're the only people that ever keep a car in a garage, so there are cars all over the place. And as the teenagers get older its only getting worse as they pass their tests and get cars.

I will have a word with the mum over the road next time I see that she's about. I know that she doesn't really like her son hanging around one or two of the boys (even the son doesn't much like one of them!).

I think if they move the footballs at night it will stop the other kids playing when her son isn't there.

I think it's them moving the goal off the front lawn into the road that causes the issue. It moves them closer to the cars for one, and gives them more space to make bigger kicks!!

notanewuser

barbarawright wrote: »

Re-reading the first post, there's no suggestion that property actually has been damaged yet, just that the OP is worried it *might* be

Flowers and lawns have been damaged and while I didn't see the ball hit my car, there were some scuffs that I don't see could have been caused by other things. I don't think any windows etc have been broken.

Now that my car has been restored to A1 condition, I'd like to maintain that!!

notanewuser

coinxoperated wrote: »

I have to say, your situation would drive me potty.

All these 'kids will be kids' excuses... I would be absolutely fuming, not at the children, but at the parents.

When I was younger, we were always kept in the garden to play. No our garden wasn't picturesque, but it was a place for us to play safely and without disturbing neighbours.

A family across the road always let at least 5 at any one time of their children play in the street. They had no respect for other people's things, and by would they? Because their parents didnt teach them right and wrong.

I would have 4 steps to sorting this problem out:

1: talk to the parents of the ill child, explain what's happening and that your property is in danger of being damaged. Ask politely if they could remove the goal posts from the cul de sac and as you have such an understanding of their situation, you would appreciate if they could understand where you are coming from without you having to go down any official lines.

Doesn't work? Step 2: buy a cheap CCTV camera and place it viewing your car / front lawn along with a big clear sign saying 'smile!! Your on CCTV'. Let your neighbours know you have to do this, as damage will occur shortly and you want evidence to be able to show to the police should you need to.

Neighbours will HATE the CCTV sign (makes it look like a dodgy estate!) an therefore, will also resent the kids for playing in the street even more.

Still nothing done?

Step 3: report to EH and local police and explain what's happening.

Assuming you give your neighbours an opportunity to understand by you will have to take it further and that you really don't want to, I see no other route than an official one.

It's 2013 - most houses have gardens. Those who wish for their kids to run around excitedly without care for anyone else's property should keep their kids in their own garden.

One of the MAIN reasons my parents never let my sister and I out into the street to play was safety. It takes all of 3 seconds for a car to zip down, grab a kid and drive off. The parents of these children won't know their neighbours that well - how do they know their kids are safe?!!?

Good luck, and I hope it's resolved for you X

Gosh. I don't want to open a can of whoopass on them! I'll see what my neighbour thinks first. I'm not going to be putting up CCTV or getting environmental health involved! :rotfl:

dizziblonde

It's one reason I would never buy a house in one of these open play type cul-de-sacs - because not every parent is, or brings their child up to be, considerate toward other people.

As for cars being damaged - I love the perception if you've got an old banger it's somewhat ok. Our car is, to put it bluntly, a functional pile of dents... yet still I got (and was fully entitled to get) blooming peed off when a kid down the road who is pretty much allowed to run feral and do what she likes as long as she's not home, or in front of her own house bothering her mother, decided to swing off the door handle on the passenger side while chatting to her mate and pulled it so much that it would no longer open and close from the outside - and of course it was muggins who had to pay the repair bill - which I wouldn't have had to do if the child in question had a modicum of respect for other people's belongings and property.

Thankfully I can see the "to let" board's just gone up outside their house as I was dreading the summer with her and all her mates congregating outside our house (we've got the only "sittable" front garden wall we can't afford to get replaced at present).

As for the football and steep hills comment - we managed as kids (without damaging cars) we either learnt to kick the ball straight, or got very good at running down the hill to intercept it before it got up a good load of speed and we had to climb the entire hill again after retrieving it. Mainly we just decided football was too much like bother though.

valk_scot

I still say if you live in an area where cars are likely to get damaged and you've got a double garage then keep the cars in the garage. That's what garages are for, yes? I agree, kids shouldn't be kicking footballs at cars but you can't control every single thing that happens on the street outside your house after all and you can't expect your neighbours to be locking their kids up 24/7 on the offchance that your car may get damaged. There's got to be a bit of give and take. Yes, have a chat with the parents of the sick child to see if you can work out a solution re the goalposts. For example, you can get pop-up goalposts that come down easily when not in use. But even if the goalposts come down, the other kids will still be out there playing and chances are they'll be playing with footballs at times. So if you want your cars protected, put them in the garage.