How to get other people’s children to go away politely?

[123bumblebee]

I’ve got a 14 month old and am getting a bit fed up because every time we go out somewhere with other children we get harassed by older children wanting to play with her or me/DH.

Yesterday we were having a picnic and 2 older children came over stamping into our picnic, trying to drag her away (I intervened), giving her food, taking her toys to play with. All the while the parents either don’t do anything or make feeble attempts “come on, don’t do that” but don’t intervene.

I don’t want to be mean to children, it’s not their fault it’s the parents. But I don’t want to entertain other people’s children when we are trying to have some rare family time out. How to I politely tell the little blighters to go away? Or do you just act mean so they don’t want to come back?

The last dc to bother us are in our sandwiches....
I think your dps want you. Bye....
Prefer the top one..

This way? What the hell are you talking about?

Big smile and best assertive voice: ''Time for you (all) to go and play somewhere else now please! We're busy here. Bye Bye!''

Honestly just tell them to go away. Say she doesn't want to play, who are you here with? Go back to them

I don’t think she’s being unreasonable at all. Other peoples’ kids are a pain in the neck. Just because she has a child now doesn’t mean she has to put up with random kids spoiling her afternoon out.

The parents of these random kids need to parent effectively rather than let their offspring annoy others. Telling these kids to move on is not being a bully.

tell the children to go away

I just say ok go away and play you lot. But I say that to my own kids too.

Ah, so this is how kids are brought up with no respect for others or boundaries. Only someone very entitled would think it was nasty to expect random strangers to not invade your picnic, hassle your baby or take your stuff.

Lol. And this is why the UK have such problems with family life, because so many people believe this utter British stuffy nonsense. Ask any foreigner?, literally take a pin and put it on any country on the globe, I guarantee you they won't agree with you. The rest of the world can't be wrong!

If you don’t want other kids playing with your little one, just tell them to go away nicely. They will probably reiterate to their parents and they won’t want to go anywhere near you then. I know if my kids came back and told me that I’d be sure to keep them away. Sorted.

I’ve lived in several other countries and in none of them were random children encouraged to grab the baby of a stranger 🤷‍♀️ there’s a big difference between asking to play with a child who is a peer and clearly receptive, and intruding on a picnic of a family who are minding their own business to try and play with their baby like a doll.

Just give a direct firm instruction in a loud clear voice.

" Leave us alone. Go away, and don't come back".

@Betterbear Did you miss the part where the children were trying to drag her away (I intervened), taking her toys? And you’re saying that because she didn’t tolerate that she’s going to turn her baby into a bully?? What a reach.

I wouldn't say this...the 14 month old will be aware and could equally start saying this. She needs to associate not feeling well with feeling ill, not associate with playing alone

Nice.

I suggested a way the OP could encourage the children back to their own families - of course, you’d need to be able to do that in any case. “It’s time for you to go home now kids” etc. My point being, children tend to do what they’re told by other adults - the OP just needs to say it clearly.

My question/suggestion was about letting her child socialise freely.

Not sure how you jumped from the point I was making to talk of orifices but if that’s the way your mind works @Lefteyetwitch, I’ll leave you to it.

I don't mind other dc genuinely wanting to play with my DDs but I get annoyed with those who clearly just want to play with their toys or with me or DH because their own parents won't interact with them. I find it a bit cheeky for other parents to expect us to entertain their dc for free. I tell the kid that DD is playing with her own toys and keep them in hand so they don't take them, and continue playing with DDs without involving the other kids. They always get bored and go away of their own accord.

@Betterbear that’s a lot of accusations you have leapt to there and it reflects worse on you than it does on me.

@Gafeston you have summed it up perfectly. My DD has a lovely little group of “friends”, I have no issues with her playing with them or other babies/toddlers at playgroup. These were bigger children, stomping on our food, trying to pick my baby up and take her away and being a general nuisance while the parent feebly looked on saying the occasional “no, don’t do that”.

I’m also asking for a way to get them to go away so I’m not being mean to young children, so I don’t know how the leap from this is to say that my child is going to grow up to be a bully. But yes, quite frankly it takes enough effort to parent my own child, I don’t want to parent other people’s.

Hahahahahahaha

Unsure what will become of your DD not being allowed to socialise, but that’s another issue

Seriously though what post are you reading where you made this reach?
Because I seriously think there's something wrong with you here.

Ha. Then send them off with a whistle and a sweet packed with E numbers.

Why lie about her health?