Just found out dd2(13yrs) has been playing ding dong ditch(knock down ginger/knockadoor run) after school when walking home with her friends

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

I am fuming, I thought she had more sense and was trusting her to walk home. We have spoken to her and said we are not happy with her and that if there are any more incidents that we hear about she will not be allowed to walk home or go out with these friends until we feel we can trust her.

We found out when she told her older sister this evening and are wondering if she told her because she was uneasy about it

[VanessaShanessaJenkins]

Who didn't play this as a kid?
It's only fun for a short time.
Does it really matter 🤷‍♀️

[Woodlandwitch]

I came to say the same as pp

Didn’t we all?

Along with random phone calls to directory enquiries

[CremeEggThief]

Lighten up, OP. We've all done it.

[AuchAyeTheNo]

Geez OP really?!?

It’s a kids game that everybody has played. It’s not like she’s harassing elderly/disabled neighbours or stealing stuff

[iwantavuvezela]

Have to agree with the others, I think most children at some point have or will play this

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

It might be fun for the kids, it's not for the recipients, apparently they've been doing it repeatedly and up where one of the friend lives there's a lot of elderly/disabled people.

They're old enough to know better.

[colditz]

Is this a boasting post? "Normal child does normal childish thing shock"??

Seriously, are you not just a tiny bit grateful she isn't shoplifting and getting drunk?

[GooseFeather]

It’s not like she’s harassing elderly/disabled neighbours

Ringing doorbells and running off is harassing them. How do you know she is not doing it to elderly or disabled residents? I would be raging if I found my child has been doing this to people. It can be extremely frightening and intimidating.

Also, bear in mind the increase in the number of people with video doorbells. She risks getting caught out and I am pretty sure that if she is in uniform, and it gets reported to the school, they would take a pretty dim view on the image she is presenting of their pupils.

[SpiderCharlotte]

Well I was about to say we've all done it etc etc., but if she's doing it repeatedly to elderly/disabled people I'd hand her her arse on a plate. That can be really distressing for a very elderly person.

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

That's what I'm concerned about goose, it's not a one-off, they're doing it repeatedly and I guess we're more sensitive because mil was harrassed by kids who were doing this when she was living alone and getting frail.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

Show her the twitter account for Ring (a video doorbell system).

It’s not exactly crime of the century- but still annoying and a bit rotten of its old folks.

[GooseFeather]

Was she aware of her grandmother getting hassled like that? I would ask her to remember how it felt to know that someone was upsetting her grandmother and did she want to be putting other people's grandmothers (or grandfathers) through the same thing. Point out to her how distressing it was. Hopefully, she is suitably contrite and that is the end of it.

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

Seriously some of you fall over yourself to look so right on and down with the kids.

You done right to have words with her OP

I was persecuted for years by certain brats where I lived , drove me to a breakdown and a whole host of other shit I still live with .
Sure we all done it but not constantly and not at the same doors.

[100PercentThatBitch]

I smiled when I saw your title - that the old games are still going.

I wouldn't be fuming but would certainly give and I'm very disappointed speech

Whilst inwardly going all nostalgic

"Awww Knock A Door Run is still going"

[DNAwrangler]

I'm with you OP. At 13 years old I'd expect her to understand that some people struggle to the door/feel scared.

Good point re video door bells and school uniform. She'll be identifiable.

Definitely needs stopping. What did her older sister say to her?

[gleegeek]

I'm amazed how many people think this is fine! Her dd is 13, not 8/9 IMO she's old enough to know better. OP I think you're right to be disappointed.
Our window was egged at the weekend by a group of year 9s from the local school. For us it was mildly irritating but for an elderly person it could be really upsetting.
Children need to learn to think of others a bit more and develop a bit of social awareness.

[katewhinesalot]

We called it cherry door knocking.

[Beveren]

Didn’t we all?

Nope.

When I was on crutches with a broken ankle, answering the door was a major undertaking. I would struggle to smile indulgently at this supposedly normal "game".

[Username12348]

Have a good chat about it and leave it at that

[Drabarni]

Knock and run, I remember it well. She'll grow out of silly games soon, I was about 9 when I did this.
We also tied string to letterboxes along a street, hid behind a bush and let rip with the string. I don't think I ever ran so fast.
It's not acceptable of course and she should be told how it could worry someone. But quite normal behaviour.

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

She was too young to remember mil being harassed. Found out it's just her and one friend who were doing it, unfortunately his mother probably won't be bothered

[ConfCall]

13 seems quite old to be doing this. I thought it was more of a primary school age thing. Tell her she’s acting like a 9 year old - that should work. No teenager wants to be considered puerile.

[BlockedandDeleted]

I think 13 is too old for this tbh and you're right to be concerned.

[thequeenoftarts]

Is her Granny still alive? Maybe get her to chat with dgc about how Granny felt when it was happening to her

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

No, unfortunately dmil died a few years ago, she's still much missed