School kids walking on my front garden wall

[Randomo]

Why do parents think its okay to have their kids walk on my front garden wall (2 foot high)....

Whats worse are the kids that sit on the 'pillar' at the entrance to my drive. (A 3 foot high brick pillar with a flat top).

When I was a kid I was taught not to walk or sit on others property. I dont blame the kids so much as the parents. Its drives me nuts. I used to call them out on it, but given up now....too many different/new parents each year.

Or am I the one with a problem?

Plant a blackberry Bush. Fast growing, takes over everything and is extremely hazardous to fall into. They'll only do it once.

One of the joys of childhood. Certainly doesnt bother me when children walk on mine.

I don't mind small children walking on my wall. My neighbour does though and frequently moans to me about it, he likes to moan though, this is just one of many of his "things were better in the old days" moans (as in, children had more respect back then). He is definitely joyless!

For the pp, I definitely don't agree with people, children or not, picking the daffs in the park, I'm in the "it's wrong" camp on that one.

@Levrierssontmeilleurs

I can’t believe so many people think this is ok ?!

It’s your property!

Its because its 2021, kids or parents have little respect towards other people.

When i was growing up and I did it the the owner would tell me off, then tell my dad who'd also give me a bollocking, that wouldnt happen now

A lovely row of thistles / gorse / cacti would sort out the buggers. Tbh, as a kid I always walked and did a balancing act along low walls without thinking. Then when I rented a house outside a bus stop, the entire day was spent with people sitting their arses down on my low wall, so that was karma. I think total prevention (plants / ball ornaments / metal railing spikes) is the only way to stop it.

When did you grow up @VeganVeal? I grew up in the 1970s and it was common then, along with things like scrumping fruit and no one seemed that fussed.

It wouldn’t worry me if it were my wall but as you don’t want your wall walked on; put up a trellis.

Its because its 2021, kids or parents have little respect towards other people.

This is bollocks. Kids today have no less respect than kids did sixty years ago.

I'll tell you another thing that's about the same. Old and middle-aged people - my generation now - banging on about how kids today have got no respect. Older people have been doing that since Socrates, and I expect all the way back to the caves. It's just what older people do, and one has to accept it. Like kids walking on walls.

Cover it in spikes of broken glass!!
Get an aggressive dog

@BarbarianMum

When did you grow up *@VeganVeal*? I grew up in the 1970s and it was common then, along with things like scrumping fruit and no one seemed that fussed.

The 70's, but generally you could expect someone to have a go at you, and you'd except it and hopefully they didnt tell your dad. You'd defiantly get a bollocking if caught scrumping, otherwise what the fun? What kids want some scabby apple without the fear of being caught?

These days it seem if you said to a kids 'get off my wall' you could expect and irate parent have a got at you and little Johnny isnt doing any harm etc.? What does that teach him? Do what you like Johnny its ok.

Everyone different I guess i had more respect for adults and my parents growing up

I would deter kids from doing it primarily as these days if there are loose bricks and a dc hurt themselves you'd be worried about personal liability!

Aww we get groups of teens on ours, it’s right by the school and bus stop. They sit with one foot in the garden, i just moved my pots out a bit so they don’t get damaged by dropped bags.
Other neighbours go running out screaming, calling them names and look demented but I cant get worked up about it.

It's certainly true that random adults were free to tell you off I the 70s but at the same time I think kids did have more freedom to do stuff - play out, walk on walls, climb trees, chalk on pavements without people saying they shouldn't.

@BarbarianMum

It's certainly true that random adults were free to tell you off I the 70s but at the same time I think kids did have more freedom to do stuff - play out, walk on walls, climb trees, chalk on pavements without people saying they shouldn't.

Yes I agree that we did on certain things, but also depended on your parents limits. Peoples property, whatever it was was off limits, yes we'd did stuff but know if caught you'd be bang to rights for a telling off. For me at least if I walked on a wall and someone told me not to I certainly wouldn't run home and tell my parents, or I'd get another telling off.

What we did wasnt different but if we got told off we'd accept it, parents wouldn't justify our behaviour to the 'teller off' (unless a really rough family), but it appears thats what its like now

My grandmas was always telling neighbours kids to get off her walk. One day kid fell off wall and parents went mad at my grandma saying it was her fault

@RockingMyFiftiesNot have just googled and you're right!
@Randomo ignore the rest of this thread. YANBU. Case closed. no more replies needed

I wouldn't be happy with parents letting their kids do this. I never let mine do it and I don't think it's been detrimental to their lives.....they're 23 and 18 now and they seemed to have gone through life ok without having done it.
There is a lady, who I have known for many years, who lives around the corner from the local primary school. Her house is semi detached, and they're not allowed to put walls or fences up at the front of the properties. So the school kids- and, sometimes, their parents- would walk across her lawn. So she had wide flower beds dug out.......the kids ran across the flower beds, on the plants etc. So she added gravel.......the kids still ran across it,and the plants. So she got rid of the plants,and had boulders put there. Which the kids used as stepping stones. A couple of years ago, she had the whole lot ripped up and tarmac put down. The kids now ride their scooters across it.....
Many times she's spoken to parents and asked them not to let their children do it, only to be met with comments like " oh he's not doing any harm" or " he's only little " or " don't be so miserable " and even " well that's what happens when you live near a school". All of these comments make out that it's the residents fault and not the parents.

It's all about respect. If you don't want someone walking on your property, no matter what age they are, then you have every right to ask them not to! And children need to learn that they can't always do what they want to do.....

I never let mine do it and I don't think it's been detrimental to their lives.....they're 23 and 18 now and they seemed to have gone through life ok without having done it.

Oh, but what about their joy? I mean, I’m sure you got them birthday and Christmas presents and took them on holiday and all that, but how have they survived without the only true joy in life - walking along a wall?

A little sign reading 'Warning: wall unstable' might do the trick

Do not do this! You are inviting lawsuits because you have just told the world that you know your wall is unstable and you have done nothing about it.

@WalkingOnTheCracks

Its because its 2021, kids or parents have little respect towards other people.

This is bollocks. Kids today have no less respect than kids did sixty years ago.

I'll tell you another thing that's about the same. Old and middle-aged people - my generation now - banging on about how kids today have got no respect. Older people have been doing that since Socrates, and I expect all the way back to the caves. It's just what older people do, and one has to accept it. Like kids walking on walls.

No children did have more respect for adults 60 years ago, or at least they showed more respect. And the consequences for not following rules were harsher/. Bad behaviour wasn't constantly excused.

@RincewindsHat

Why are there so many people insisting their child's need to have fun by walking on someone else's property trumps that person's right to have their property respected?!

Insanity.

Sure walking on low walls is fun, but OP has a right to say whether or not she's happy to allow it and as the property owner her wishes have to be respected. That's all there is to it.

Exactly!

@LaBellina

Loosen a few bricks OP, and watch them fall, that'll learn em

Great idea if you want to get sued

Does this actually happen in the UK? I have never heard of anyone sueing someone else.

Some of the comments are hilarious, it’s a little wall, kids will walk on it. People have little to moan about 😂 it’s not disrespectful it’s called being a child, learning, balancing, pre maths etc.

@kittie01

Some of the comments are hilarious, it’s a little wall, kids will walk on it. People have little to moan about 😂 it’s not disrespectful it’s called being a child, learning, balancing, pre maths etc.

Really , we have to accept that little children walk on our garden walls so that they learn maths skills?

If they want to learn window washing skills I'd be happy to,provide a bucket, sponge and scraper. Good for hand eye coordination and climbing ladders skills.

Or they could cut my grass and learn to work out how many sq metres they've cut.

There are many learning opportunities in my garden.

Unless your wall is very old and delicate or you have flowers growing along it I just can't imagine how you would possibly notice or care? Of course if you're that territorial you can insist they don't do it (I don't think my kids ever did as far as I remember) but I just can'teven begin to imagine how this would even register let alone annoy a normal person.