To ask neighbours child not to play nicknacks on our door...

[Starzinhereyes]

I caught my neighbours kids red handed ringing our doorbell & running off to hide behind a car to hide... I went out to them & called them by name, straight away the dad was out watching me, I asked them not to do it again as I was in the middle of making dinner. Then the mom came out watching, their big son explained what they did but the parents didn't even react.... I just said hi, lovely evening & went back indoors...
I don't leave my dc out as theres always some type of low level mischief & poor behaviour/language & that's not what I want for them. They are happy playing in the garden anyways...
Was i being unreasonable? I know people will say kids are kids etc but I don't feel I have to tolerate it...

I think there's a certain culture on the road.. Its a lovely new estate so it's pretty much all young families but there seems to be a silent understanding that one never tells off the kids if you know what I mean... The same kids have called to the door asking me to give them my dc's toys to play with on the drive way as their mummies don't let them bring toys out to share...

Do they not have back gardens?

All have back gardens but the road seems more convenient for the parents😬 especially when so many are now working from home...

@DarkMatterA2Z

I've had this before. Particularly annoying when it happens during bathtime and you think it's something important because they ring repeatedly so you have to carry a naked, dripping toddler to the front door only to find it's a hoax.

That's it, I have a young baby as well & I just wanted to stop the carry on before it started...

you should put landmines in your garden. That will teach them!!

Knock Door Bunk where I’m from! If the kids are being a nuisance to people other than their own family, then they’re not ‘playing out’.... they are being a nuisance!!
This is how I was brought up - you were given 2 choices - either pack it in - or come in!
You did fine, op. I often used to go out and tell my ds he was being a bloody nuisance (and the 2 choices were given)

Chap door runaway it was called when I was a child. Wasn't acceptable then either.
Parents sound worse than useless.

Chickenelly! No idea why!
You were in the right though, bloody annoying.

Knock down ginger (no idea why?!)

Definitely Knock Down Ginger

Knocky knocky nine doors here and was considered very naughty when I was a child.

Both parents came out to stare at you?!

Yep both parents out gaping... I don't know what to think.. If it was my dc I would have called around with the in tow to apologise but no child left continuing shout & roar on road with no reprimanding.. I do suffer from terrible anxiety & I am genuinely worried I crossed the line with the ndn's...

Get the weirdo parents to deal with their precious miracles, as they gawp, gormlessly, ring their door and ask what their kid wanted. When they say nothing, say ‘yeah, get them to not harass me, cheers.’ Stupid fuckers need told. Your property is not a community entertainment hub for unsupervised kids. Woman up.

have a jug of water at the ready, or a water pistol. in case they try it again, nasty little buggers.

OP...I would have done exactly as you did & asked them mot to do it again. No harm done by you saying that. I get they think it is fun...but now they' ve been caught & know you don't like it...they should not do it again hopefully. If they do, I'd go to parents next time asking they stop! I was the strict one amongst my kid's friends' parent group. Not like crazy strict but I was strict about manners, respecting others, being reliable & trustworthy. .if we agreed you'll be home by X time that's when you are home by X time, homework first & then play, meet parents before agreeing to playdates.....that type of stuff. Did my kids no harm...they are great adults now & have manners, are respectful, reliable & trustworthy & lots more besides. Nothing wrong with having boundaries in my book. And asking that they are respected.

@PixieLaLa

Knock down ginger (no idea why?!)

Supposedly because Council house doors were red. No idea if that's true.

That's what we called it.

id swap out my doorbell for the day
with an electric shock one....

or answer the door naked

both sure to stop them lol

@Monicuddle

I had neighbours whose kids did this. Every single time I’d go and ring their bell and say, all innocence “little Janie just rang my bell - did you want something?”

Such a good idea.

I've opened the door and yelled at their parents.

Knocky eye doors!

Kids are full of bad ideas. At least this one's traditional. Sounds like you handled it well. If your kid did it to me I'd think you were pretty OTT if you came around to apologise and disturbed me again. Save that for when they've actually done some permanent damage.

@violetmonster

Not helpful but I've never heard it called nicknacks, ding dong ditch or chappy where I'm from!

We used to call it Thunder & lightning

'Knock down ginger' when I was a child but I never did it, nor knew anyone who did. It hasn't happened to me either. However kids do get up to mischief at times and it's up to parents to reprimand them.

Tap door, run! Where I am. YANBU but what’s wrong with kids playing out front? @jessstan2