AIBU to wonder why my kids can't play without supervision

[mata777]

I left my kids, son (6) and daughter (2 1/2) in the garden on their own for 5 minutes while I got their lunch ready. In that short time they soaked each other with water, poured sand over each other heads and broke a toy.
There are kids my son's age and maybe a bit older than my daughter running around the area (parents from council housing don't check on them all afternoon) and they seem to be OK.
What have I done wrong with mine?

Minute you said council housing in a look down issue I never read the rest of your post .

You sound a proper snob

mannner

I was brought up on a couple council estate and we played out lots but I think a lot of people did then. I live on a "new build" estate now and there are lots of children out in gardens now. I'm amused at the drowning/taps comment though. Maybe I should remove glasses of water from the 7 year old in case she starts water boarding the baby for a laugh.

agree with LorLorr, I took the council comment to mean that there is an estate so the OP has occasion to see other DC playing out, and they seem to be able to manage.
IMO 2 is too young, they are fast and mobile and have absolutely no judgement - not that you couldn't leave them in a walled-in, toddler-proofed garden, but then you can't be surprised if they eat a worm or pour sand on their head. That's because they're 2.
At 6 I wouldn't let mine play out (London) but if they were in a communal garden playing with other DC without access to the roads - yes I'd expect that to entertain mine for 30min-3hours depending on the level of fun and which other DC are out there :) Longer times = more mess and likely consumption of snacks provided by other parents..

How on earth do you know the parents don't check on them? Because you didn't then the lesser council folk must not either?

And as for (Do you leave your kids on their own near taps indoors?) No... Not my toddler...

Oh my goodness, the comments on this have really made me laugh.

In my experience, children of snobs are always the worst behaved.

Mine are outside playing.
I own my own house.
I am ex council though.
probably why

How much attention have you paid to the other children playing unsupervised, to know that they never have any issues? I'd guess that they have plenty of mishaps that you aren't aware of, and you don't know how they're dealt with either.
I've lived in affluent areas and rented in a council housing area and there was 'bad' behaviour from children in all areas. I experienced it as a child myself and as a parent. I don't think passers by would have noticed regardless of location.

Getting sandy and wet doesn't sound unusual, although personally I wouldn't leave a 2 year old unsupervised.

How did you address the situation? these things are opportunities to learn from so it won't hurt. Next summer you'll probably find it better, the nearly 4 year old may annoy the nearly 8 year old but they have more sense and self control to deal with things.

But she could have just said that the kids on the other estate seem to be able to play tidy. Instead she said council which will make people's heckles rise

Um wow. Sorry for the replies you've been getting, it always surprises me which threads get the rude replies.

'Um' they'll normally be the ones where the OP was extremely rude in their opening post...

'Cause the council house kids are left alone outside and heavily neglected, they learn to fend for themselves. Follow the lead of the council house mums! And get a staffy

EdSheeranswife - sorry for using wrong (offensive) word. I am not originally from this country and didn't realize saying "council" on mumsnet is worse than swearing. Obviously I still have lots to learn...

The word council is not swearing. Implying council house,tenants havelock parenting standards than you is what has got people's goat ( 😂)

2014newme, well put!

Nah, we had to save up to buy the coal. I'd rather have had a goat tho'.

To answer the actual question, the 6 yo should be able to play alone for periods of time but I wouldn't necessarily expect the 2 yo to be able to do the same.

You also can't really expect the 6 yo to be responsible for the 2 yo's behaviour.

Get a tap lock if the tap is an issue.

It's not swearing. It's just rude to add parents from council housing don't check on them all afternoon, as though their lack of private housing somehow made be negligent par for the course.

Baffling too, considering you think leaving a 2yr old in the garden with no adult supervision, is ok.

*being negligent

I don't live in a council house but I do let my children roam free. My 4 and 2 year old will play out for a good hour with only minimal amounts of 'STOP HITTING HIM' or 'NOT IN HER EYES!!' yelled from the window.

You must have mollycoddled yours.

Maybe other children's council housed parents were perhaps a bit stricter than you've been and their children know how to play nicely, maybe?

Bit then again I wouldn't leave a 2.5 year old in the garden without an adult anyway.

I wouldn't let my 2 yo without supervision in the garden. When they are older, sometimes they behave, sometimes a bit less, but it's easier to manage. You know your kids, you know what they will do - or not.

There's a reverse snobbery about council houses on this forum, you get slaughtered if you have been stupid enough and never asked for public charity. Just ignore the haters. There's not enough social housing in this country, so even if we all asked for a nice free (or nearly free) house, we wouldn't get it, would we.

Perhaps even the children, of those ages, from the council housing area might throw a bit of sand and water on each other if left unattended with it for a period

There's a reverse snobbery about council houses on this forum, you get slaughtered if you have been stupid enough and never asked for public charity. Just ignore the haters. There's not enough social housing in this country, so even if we all asked for a nice free (or nearly free) house, we wouldn't get it, would we.

You owe me new eyes, they've just rolled out of my head at how fucking stupid that post was.

Spectacularly stupid!