kids playing football-what do i do??

ghawn

Barriejohn69, you sound like the kind of father we have living in our cul de sac. One that calls himself a parent, but has no idea of how to parent.
Yes we played football outside, yes we went off and played tig till all hours.
Did we ever run all over our neighbours gardens to retrieve anything?, Did we ever think of swearing at any of our neighbours if they told us to stop doing something?. We wouldn't have dreamt of playing footie, if the football had any chance of hitting our neighbours cars!!!!!The answer is no!!!

The reason, because I had proper parents, who, although we played outdoors a lot, taught me manners and respect. If anything ever went into our neighbours garden, we were told to knock on their door and ask for it back. We were not middle class either, this was a council cul de sac. We all respected each other.
'Guardians' nowadays think it is a god given right to be called a 'parent'. There really should be parenting classes. Anyone that says if you haven't had kids you shouldn't comment, has never watched supernanny. Even though I do have kids, watching this programme makes you see things you may overlook as a parent, and makes you realise what people see on the outside looking in. Manners and respect cost nothing, but guardians just can't be bothered!!!

andygb

barriejohn69 wrote: »

I'm certain I'd rather my kids be out playing. If their ball goes into a neighbour's garden I'll lift them over the fence to get it. Nothing ever gets damaged and they don't cheel people. If they did they'd be marched round there to apologise.

How about knocking on the door and asking for the ball back, because if you simply helped one of your kids into my garden without asking, then you would be on the end of a few choice words and maybe more if you pushed your luck.
I am sick of parents who think their children can do no wrong, or who have the attitude that they are the only ones allowed to tell their children off or what to do.
Once you start taking liberties with other people's property then you have to take the consequences.
When I was young, and I kicked the ball into a neighbour's garden I would sheepishly go around there and ask for it politely. If it happened a second time, I would leave it there until it was thrown back - usually the next day.
If you want the kids to get exercise then take them to a park - you know, those places with a fair expanse of green stuff called grass, great for running around and playing ball games.

George88.

Hi Vikki.

How are things with you now then. Have you made any progress with the council to get them to stop playing?

I know exactry how you feel! I have read your previous posts and really do feel for you!

Edwardia

Install CCTV. Great deterrent.

vicki488

Hi George!

The councillor said he would speak to the Police Community Support Officer and get them to do extra patrols to move them on. I then rang the support officer myself as nothing was changing and she said he hadn't spoken to her and that she would do the extra patrols and also get her colleagues to do them as well. I does seem to have quietened down but it sometimes does this and then before you know it they are back again. We don't know whether they have been told by the police to move on or not to be honest. I am just going to keep banging on and on about it to the community support officers. They will get sick of me constantly ringing them and the kids will get sick of them constantly telling them to go and play on the fields around. It has made me feel much better coming on here and seeing that we aren't the only people going through this. You feel like you are the only people in the world sometimes.

migu

HI there,
I am a new member of the forum - joined becouse I have execly the same problem with parents letting kids do whatever they wish without any control whatsoever. (I my opinion kids themselves are not to blame especially when they are about 10). I moved in to what was supposed to be a dream house in proffesional estate. unfortunately it turned out that few houses were a gift for housing association so our dream changed to nightmare. i am trying to "fight" but it looks like nobady wants to take care of it. council says that I need to report to police, police refers me to council, noise pollution said it is not theirs (?!) problem and so on.
so I'm saving to get a gun

mind there are nice parks and football pitches in the area but futty parents are to lazy to get their a... and get their kids to proper places. whenever I ask them to consider other neighbours I am being called names by parents!

and just one more comment - I don't get the argument that I should tolerate the play and noises becouse I was a kid, my past is my business and nobady knows what I was like as a kid, and I do not agree with parents saing that once I have kids I will understand their point of view, ect as we are talking about the present situation , not 20 years ago or imaginary future.
Vicky488 I keep my fingers crossed and hope you will eventually get it all sorted,
barriejohn69 - most probably you will not see this post but I hope you will get in trouble for taking part in tresspasing.

and one more piece of advice for everyone who has to put up with ball being constantly kicked into your own garden. NEVER TOLERATE THE TRESPASSING!!! raport it every time and take the full right to get as far as you can with that. otherwise, kids (especially if accompanied by barriejohn69 will ignore you competely). in may case after over 6 month of asking kids and parents of being more considerate to other neithbours, i startes to puncture every singe ball caming to my garden and throw it back...thought. and it works!!!!! all I am fighting for right now (and it is a fight - no more asking, conversation ect) is to get the council and the police to ban the kids playing ball in the area.
if you want to have your kid playing football let it pay in your own living room or take responsibility and take care of it the way it deserve!
because of my kid-loving neigbours now I more then certain not to have any kids and try to move to the area with only pensioners...
no hard feeling to onybady but after two years of not being able to open a window and have normal conversation I am sick and tired of paying with my time and mind peace for every lasy so called "parents".

Gigglepig

If you are worried about the car getting dented, would it be possible to park down the road, away from the area where the kids play?

migu

hi Gigglepig, sorry for cutting in,
will just say my subjective opinion about the subject.
I think that people should not be "forced" to parking away from they places just becouse of kids having fun. another issue would be that ball game may move to the place where you have just parked.
the true is that there are way to few playgrounds around and children are trying to play whereever possible.
I have lived in Germany for almost a year adn in the US - about two years. in Germany almost every estate would have "assigned" park or play groung in the vinsinity to allow kids to play safetly without being insomebody's way. and that is brilliant solution and remedy for all the problems we have here. it is more or less the same in the US (depending on the state and the city).
But I would like to underline parents responsibility for theirs kids - it's their duty to provide children with safe and enjoyable surranding at the same time not dusterbing the third party.

That is my opinion about this matter.

Gigglepig

migu, I wasn't passing judgment on whether or not the kids, their parents or the poster was "right" or "wrong". I was just suggesting a possible practical solution to how to avoid getting the new car dented, which seemed to be a major concern with the OP of this thread.

Other people have suggested a number of other solutions (speak to parents, complain to council, put up CCTV, try to get an ASBO issued.....)

migu

Gigglepig,
I may not have expressed myself clearly - I know you made a sugestion and in some cases it hopefully work.
what I tried to say was that if the situation is persistant (like in my case) this may not be the best solution.
but thanks for the suggestion and sorry for not getting my thoughts more clearer previously.:beer: