Is this classed as invasion of privacy?

chesky

It's the summer holidays. The boy is probably bored if all he's got to do is look at you. Personally, I'd rather get on with my neighbours even if they're not my cup of tea, so I'd think very carefully before 'having a word' with their mum - a lot of mothers can get a bit cross when their children are criticised. And do you speak to your neighbour? It might be better to get to know her before you start complaining about her kids. She's a single parent with two kids, perhaps she'd enjoy a chat.

I love my next door neighbour - he's great. But we never have chats over the garden fence, as I've got climbing roses and he's got honeysuckle. Can't even see each other.

PasturesNew

You'll never get permission for a gun turret, so maybe some well placed trellis and something to hang from it will do in the meantime.

It is mind-blowingly annoying how many parents put climbing frames and trampolines as far away from themselves as possible... preferring, instead, to have neighbours bothered by their cherubs and assorted nonsenses as the kids think "mum/dad can't see what I do here as I'm far away".

It's possible the OP has their own issues, e.g. some people on the ASD spectrum "don't like being looked at". I'm one of them. They don't know how to interact/respond to the unexpected .... and/or children ... "have a chat..." isn't any good. "I just want the s0ds gone" is what they want.

PrettyKittyKat

He's a child, he is intrigued. You are probably grown ups who look like they are doing big important grown up things and he wonders what they are! Personally I would give him a little friendly wave whilst chuckling to myself that I was so interesting to him and then close the curtains if I was doing something I didn't want him to see!

Poor_Single_lady

I think if you are 10 the neighbours probably are quite interesting. But he probably hasn't made the connection that he can be seen by you. Compounded by him not being acknowledged.

I personally don't think it's bad parenting. Your house is like a whole other world. Not unlike adults watching a soap opera.

Agree with - If you give him a wave he will be likely to stop.

rach_k

How far away from your window is the trampoline? Are the children actively looking with heads following your movements etc?

I often sit by the window, looking out. Most of the time I'm not actually focusing on anything, I tend to daydream a bit, but I suppose the neighbours across the road might think I'm looking in their bedroom window (I'd guess they're only around 15m away). I try to direct my gormless stare towards the park instead but a daydreaming 10 year old probably wouldn't think to bother. Unless you're doing something particularly interesting, I think it's probably more likely he's just daydreaming with his face pointed towards you.

MysteryMe

It's not something to fall out over TBH, I'd just ignore it and get on with your life. If you do happen to make eye contact given him a smile, costs nothing.

Robisere

Stare back, pull faces.

Mr_Singleton

Margot123 wrote: »

The boy could have a medical condition that you are unaware of that causes him to fixate on certain things.

Well that’s ok then

ska_lover

When me and my brother were about five and six, our neighbour ''caught'' us fleetingly looking over the fence whilst on a swing. (like a literal glace as the swing went up) and the neighbour got so upset about it and threatened to bash us with a yard brush...her OTT reaction caused us to turn it into a bit of a game of DELIBERATELY staring in...which went on for a long time..until we grew out of it

Horrible kids I know..

My point is, if you say something to the kids, you could end up with them making a game of it.

I dont know the answer though

fibonarchie

_shel wrote: »

What do you want to achieve? You want them prosecuted? They're kids !!!!!!. Could understand if it was the parents!

Criminals use children to do their 'spying' for them, if they want to size up a place, because it doesn't look suspicious. People will think they're 'just kids'