to send my kids off to our local police station

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which is a 5 minute walk away, to report dd's bike as stolen? She very carelessly left it in the school playground (has done this several times before) and forgot abaout it for 24 hours and now its gone. Its new, although second hand and my dad recently spent hours doing it up for her. She didn't seem unduly bothered about it being stolen and I am so pissed off with her off-hand attitude. So I have sent her to the police station to report it and to explain what happened. I think it has to be reported to stand a chance of claiming it on the insurance. She has gone with her 12 year old brother and she is 9. Unreasonable?

I can understand your crossness but in your shoes I would have gone with them to make sure that it was properly dealt with, even if I let her do the talking. Unless you have no excess, claiming is going to probably cost you as much as replacing sadly. Maybe you need to try and get her to understand that you are upset that all your dad's time has been wasted. Children don't understand these things in the same way as we do and sometimes that is a good thing, sometimes we want them to understand and appreciate more.

Sounds like a good idea - was she worried about going? Might make her a bit more responsible.

I know what you mean Robinpud, but I just felt that she should have to take complete responsibility for dealing with the theft. I know if I went, I would end up doing the explaining etc. Mega, she was quite worried about going - I think she's realised that she's in trouble! I'll probably get a call from the police station now, asking why I send two kids on their own

No, very reasonable IMO. The off-hand attitude to lost things winds me right up. Everyone loses things - that's fair enough. But to be so blase about it, as my oldest DS is, is irritating beyond belief! (Let's not even talk about last weekend's scout camp and the half empty rucksack that he came home with. )

i think you're right, but I'd be more pissed off at the little shit that lifted it in the first place. your daughter has been careless and the bike should have been looked after a little bit better, but I'd be more worried if i'd raised the sort of person that would take the bike in the first place. unlocked bike is not an open invitation to take it away.

I wouldn't claim it on the insurance straight away either - doesn't that let her know that she can be careless and things will get replaced?

well they've just got back from the police station with forms for me to fill in. They said the lady was very nice (shame!) but that they had to do the whole conversation in Dutch as she wouldn't speak English to them (serves my dd right!). EVERYONE in Holland rides a bike so she will soon feel out of place - you're right Persephone about letting her go without for a while.

Well ...... its turned up! My ds and his mate just went up to the playground and came running back saying 2 older kids had dd's bike! They were too scared to say anything themselves so I went up and sure enough it was my daughter's! The two boys didn't even try to pretend it was theirs when I said that it looked v like my daughter's which was stolen from the same school playground 2 days ago! Anyway, she is suitably abashed I think and v relieved.

Glad the bike has been found!

On the subject of teaching responsibility - my nephew has just had his cricket bat nicked from his (private) school, largely because he left it lying about instead of bringing it home with him - his attitude when it was gone was, well, never mind, mum & dad will just buy me a new one.

Boy, was he shocked when they made him take £50 out of his savings to get another!

I got so fed up with DS loosing/ breaking his glasses I told Him I would take £10 out of his bank account ever time I had to get him a new pair. It worked!

YANBU. She needs to learn that it was her fault and her responsibility to look for it. They will probably tell her not to leave her stuff lying about so it might teach her a lesson