Small children and sharing toys with neighbours children

[Icantrememebrtheartist]

I don’t know what I should be doing, when do I get involved and when should I let children sort it out?

I have two children aged 5 and 2 and I’ve moved in to a house with a very small fence. Next door neighbour has two children aged 6 and 7.

Next door neighbours children keep asking my children if they can “look” at their toys. My children keep passing toys over the fence and neighbours children then refuse to give them back and say they’re playing with them etc. Their parents are never in the garden so don’t see any of this.

I’ve told my children to stop passing the toys over the fence.

Should I ask for the toys back or should I let my children learn the hard way and have to wait for the toys to come back If they pass the over?

Should I ask for the toys back? Which is what I end up doing?

5 and 2 is very young. If the older children say no, there is nothing else your children can do. So yes you should get them back from them, as soon as they ask really.

Thanks blue that’s what I’ve been doing.

I felt quite annoyed having them both say no to me so I told them that isn’t how it works, if someone asks for their toy back you give it back. They did.

House number and postcode.. Dd had a doll's pram that was claimed by ndn once. Started using marker pen on stuff that went in the garden!

Oh god Windy! I could imagine these children doing that.

In this situation I would just say to the NDN DC loudly. Oh that’s DD’s green ball, chuck it back please! Oh, I can see you’ve got her dolly too. Oh and that’s our teacup. Yes that’s right just pass them over. Thank you! If this doesn’t work you have to knock on the door and speak to the parents.

Get out that pen op!!

Gosh sorry just reread you were already asking for them back! They are very cheeky.

I think you are right to tell your children not to hand any more over! I can see it's awkward/annoying, but it's important for your children to see that you're on their side when they are being treated unfairly, and to learn how to stand up for themselves. But your 5 year old will hopefully just say no next time they're asked.

Think I would be planning on getting a bigger fence.

Tell the neighbours that you're concerned that their children are asking to use your kids' toys, because covid. So can they have a word.

I'd start supervising them in the garden, get a bigger fence and most importantly- go and ask.for the toys back!

Yes ask for the toys back. Have the kids actually said no to you when you’ve asked for the toys back?