Do you have a balcony? And if so, do you let your children play on it and shout hi to passers-by?

[getreadywillyou]

Weird question I know. I have a balcony (been here 17 years).
My eldest didn't go on it when growing up. Couldn't care less to go out there.
Yet my 11 and 3 year old always want to go on it and shout and wave at people going past.
I don't know why but I don't like this and try to discourage them but then I've just thought well what is my problem with it?!? (apart from it breaking and falling and them hurting themselves)

Just wondering if anyone else has felt the same

Mine used to like watching and waving at the bin lorry.

Never went on it the rest of the time. No real rule, but generally didn't go in our bedroom where the balcony was.

I wouldn’t like my children shouting at people from it in the same way I wouldn’t like them shouting at passing people out of the window. Not sure why either now you mention it other than it just being annoying!!!

Yet my 11 and 3 year old always want to go on it and shout and wave at people going past.

I'd find that incredibly obnoxious.

@ohxmastreeohxmastree hahaha exactly. Especially because they say HI continuously instead of just once 🤦🏽‍♀️

I think it's cute when the 3 year old wants to do it but odd that the 11 year old wants to do it.

@ClaraThePigeon to be clear they don't shout horrible things. Just hi or hello

Is that what you find obnoxious?

@OhComeOnFFS he's not a mature 11. Still quite babyish but that's a whole other thread lol

No I would not be encouraging them to shout at people in the street. It's annoying for neighbours and passers by and dare I say it, common.

No I don't want to be yelled at. It's intimidating and you shouldn't be allowing them to do it. How will you teach them not to catcall women when they are older?

Especially because they say HI continuously instead of just once 🤦🏽‍♀️

This would be incredibly annoying for me. Between the repetition and my sensory issues. One hi from a toddler can be cute but neither are toddlers and it'd be like being heckled from above. Plus do you have neighbours? It could be very annoying for them if so.

I assume when you are saying shouting you mean they are waving and saying hello at people. I think that is kind of sweet and it would brighten my day.

A neighbour child used to sit on their front step or at their gateway in the mornings and wave at all the neighbours going to work. He always beamed when you waved back.

I don't see why it would be a problem, tbh, maybe just encourage them to say 'hi' once per person? We drove past a group of people the other day standing at the side of the road, little girl was waving at passers by until the mum slapped her hand down to stop her. I felt really sad for her (I had waved back).

Your children would make me smile and wave back.

I would find it cute!

I've never had a balcony but I would have let the kids do this if we had. 🤷 it's only hello - how fragile are people if they can't tolerate kids being friendly?

Alternatively, train them up to heckle pedestrians like the two grumpy muppets on the muppet show

Nope. Don't like it either

Obnoxious, common, intimidating. Seriously? 🤣

Mumsnet is mental sometimes.

Ha ha we used to do this - wave at people - it was harmless and friendly. I think it is sweet but if they are too noisy or persistent it needs toning down a bit!!

@BackToOklahoma right! I didn't think I would get answers with those words in them lol

I don't think it screams "well-brought-up" to let your children shout off balconies. Anywhere where they're demanding attention of people who just want to mind their own business, they're going to annoy people.

I think people are making this extremely clear with words you don't like because it's really obvious to most people not to let your children do this and maybe people aren't sure why you'd even consider allowing it.

Additionally, it sounds like you're letting a 3-year-old on a balcony only supervised by a "young for his age" 11-year-old? What if the 11 year old held the 3 year old up to see better and dropped him off the side by accident?

Aside from that, what would you do if some creepy weirdo said "hi" back, and starts talking to them? Don't you teach your children not to talk to random strangers?

Why does any of this need spelling out to someone old enough to have kids?

Again I DISCOURAGE it and today is the second time they have been out there for about 20 mins

But also like I said I don't particularly like them out there so I won't let them anymore.

@BackToOklahoma
At least nobody has said it’s vile or grim. Yet!

The 3 year old it's cute. 11 is getting to the age where they need to stop. Are there any special needs going on there as its a bit weird for a child to be doing this much past 6 or 7?

Someone might think they are calling for help!