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Original poster

Neighbours kids keep looking over our fence

459 replies

lilybit2025 · 07/04/2026 11:18

As the title suggests. Young girl around 5-6 keeps looking over at our fence. Did it a handful of times yesterday until I turned around and said 'hello can I help you?' And she's doing it again today. It sets our dog off and drives her insane yet she still does it.
I find it incredibly intrusive and I don't know if our neighbours know she's doing it and she's only a child but we do not have children and aren't particularly fond of them either.

OP posts:
IWaffleAlot · 07/04/2026 16:01

Put something spiky there.

Ohhhthedrama · 07/04/2026 16:00

put the dog inside for a while and ignore her? (Ignore the kid).
The Little boy next door to me does similar. I have a little chat with him, admire his cars or whatever he's showing me. Then I say ok I've got to go and make dinner or whatever. He stays there for a while then gets bored and wonders off.

RunningJo · 07/04/2026 15:56

Sorry completely missed that she’d already spoken to the parents.

Then I’d go with the higher fence

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 07/04/2026 15:55

hazelberry · 07/04/2026 15:45

As long as they don't go on parenting topics. After all that's not relevant to them.

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Wta says who exactly? Even the child free [it's not a crime by the way] can have young relatives and therefore have an opinion on kids. I had a large family now grown up, just don't particularly like other peoples kids, but I'm still postering on a parenting website.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 07/04/2026 15:53

Tortephant · 07/04/2026 12:26

Young children are curious about things, and this should be encouraged.
At her age she isn't being intrusive, there is obviously something she finds fascinating or interesting. Perhaps your dog? Or intrigued by her grumpy neighbour.

It's a bit like animals, often going to people who are indifferent to them. I am amused by it. I'd go and have a chat with her, she's probably just very bored and likes dogs.

Babyboomtastic · 07/04/2026 15:53

She could be repeatedly asking you for to send a ball back, huge amounts of noise in the garden, put very early in the morning, repeatedly kicking a ball against the fence. Using the garden to practice recorder playing. All sorts of annoying things kids doing in gardens. Peering over the fence quietly might be annoying, but it's also on the mild end. Yes, she could do with respecting your privacy more and no I wouldn't be allowing her behaviour of it upset you, but I equally think you're being OTT.

What's going to happen if (probably when...) she gets a trampoline. Is your dog going to go nuts at every bounce? Or if she likes to sit high on a climbing frame, gets a tree house etc. Kids are naturally curious and watching the world is a natural way for them to learn. Who knows, she may watch you out of her bedroom window, and that's entirely her call.

If you want to ensure privacy, then the answer is to either move somewhere not overlooked or screen your garden more.

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 07/04/2026 15:50

Our neighbour [user name] was told in no uncertain terms to do one, after polite requests fell on deaf ears and he didn't
He hasn't peered around his door into our garden since, knot holes in the fence have been securely covered too.
Life is bliss in our garden now.

CocoaTea · 07/04/2026 15:49

Tortephant · 07/04/2026 12:32

I'm not a child person like OP but I would far rather live next to and engage with a curious friendly one than have loud inconsiderate grown ups

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It’s not a race to the bottom.

hazelberry · 07/04/2026 15:45

ilovesooty · 07/04/2026 15:40

Why? Should the childfree not be allowed to access topics interesting and relevant to them?

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As long as they don't go on parenting topics. After all that's not relevant to them.

hazelberry · 07/04/2026 15:44

Growlybear83 · 07/04/2026 15:42

I have children but in general I can’t stand other people’s children. Am I allowed to use Mumsnet?

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Just as long as you know some people can't stand your children.

Growlybear83 · 07/04/2026 15:42

Fabfabfab · 07/04/2026 15:06

Why are you on Mumsnet if you don't have children, and you don't like them?

I have children but in general I can’t stand other people’s children. Am I allowed to use Mumsnet?

ilovesooty · 07/04/2026 15:40

PartQualifiedAcca · 07/04/2026 15:33

And that is where it went wrong

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Why? Should the childfree not be allowed to access topics interesting and relevant to them?

Delphiniumandlupins · 07/04/2026 15:39

Garden sprinkler. Is it possible to get a motion-detector activated garden sprinkler?

PartQualifiedAcca · 07/04/2026 15:33

ilovesooty · 07/04/2026 15:27

The site is available to everyone.

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And that is where it went wrong

PartQualifiedAcca · 07/04/2026 15:31

Do you have plants that need watering and a good aim ?

ilovesooty · 07/04/2026 15:31

RunningJo · 07/04/2026 15:27

Some bizarre suggestions, go and speak to her parents, they probably don’t even realise she’s doing it, or that she’s standing on a table.
Worst case and that doesn’t make any difference, add some trellis & grow some dense plants, or add some slats along the top, just make sure she then can’t peer through the gaps.

I’d find it annoying too OP. I’m fine saying hi, but I don’t want someone watching me every time I’m out there

ps/ if it doesn’t work mention to the parents that you’re naturists 🤣

She's spoken to the parents and they denied it.

Just tell her sternly to stop doing it. At least if she complains about that to her parents they'll have to acknowledge it's happening.

StripyGirl · 07/04/2026 15:29

Growlybear83 · 07/04/2026 15:21

I agree, although I might use slightly stronger language to deter the little brat. 🤣🤣

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So would I! I was being polite 🤣

Bumcake · 07/04/2026 15:28

Get a water pistol. When she goes in crying to her mum you can say you couldn’t have sprayed her as she doesn’t look over.

ilovesooty · 07/04/2026 15:27

Fabfabfab · 07/04/2026 15:06

Why are you on Mumsnet if you don't have children, and you don't like them?

The site is available to everyone.

RunningJo · 07/04/2026 15:27

Some bizarre suggestions, go and speak to her parents, they probably don’t even realise she’s doing it, or that she’s standing on a table.
Worst case and that doesn’t make any difference, add some trellis & grow some dense plants, or add some slats along the top, just make sure she then can’t peer through the gaps.

I’d find it annoying too OP. I’m fine saying hi, but I don’t want someone watching me every time I’m out there

ps/ if it doesn’t work mention to the parents that you’re naturists 🤣

Dappy777 · 07/04/2026 15:26

rubyslippers · 07/04/2026 11:21

When she pops up just say please don’t do that as it makes my dog bark a lot which isnt nice - keep it light
if it carries on just speak kindly to your neighbours about it

Edited

Yes, that’s very good advice. Make out you are worried about the little girl as well. Tell her you are worried the dog will bite her or something.

I haven’t read the replies, but no doubt someone has put something like “She’s just being friendly. You sound like a misery” etc. 🙄Ignore them. You are 100% entitled to privacy. The girl’s parents should apologise to you and tell their daughter not to peer over the fence, that it is rude, etc. If they don’t, then they are bad parents who aren’t raising their child properly.

Agapornis · 07/04/2026 15:25

Fabfabfab · 07/04/2026 15:06

Why are you on Mumsnet if you don't have children, and you don't like them?

There are plenty of people without kids on MN. A lot of the content has nothing to do with children. Even if she were a parent, we don't have to like other people's children.

Growlybear83 · 07/04/2026 15:21

StripyGirl · 07/04/2026 15:15

I’d just tell her to piss off every time. If her parents don’t want her repeating your swearing, they’ll have to stop her peering over.

I agree, although I might use slightly stronger language to deter the little brat. 🤣🤣

DontEatTheMushies · 07/04/2026 15:19

Sprinklers....heard of people having them to deter pooping cats...might work on peering kids.

And yes I have kids - they need to learn consequences,.

onlygeese · 07/04/2026 15:18

Throwing water over the kid would be a very stupid thing to do because it would place you firmly in the wrong and dramatically escalate the situation.
In some situations it might even be considered common assault.