To think this is neglect?

[AnneTwackie]

New renting neighbours moved into our quiet city de sac last month. At first we thought their 3 kids (2,7 & 8) were charming as they’d always be outside playing, say hello and have a little chat with us. Lately we’ve noticed they are out front an hour before school and often still out playing at 9pm. The parents appear to be at home but never supervising, there is a sharp corner to our road and the 2 year old will scooter in the road there. The two year old is sometimes left for an hour playing by herself, when I’ve been out to check on her she tries to get me to play but no parent appears, anyone could take her.
The oldest often looks sad just walking around the pavements looking down and the middle child will rush over when I come out, often asking where my husband is by name and acting too grown up, asking if she can look after my baby etc.
I’ve spoken to mum in passing but didn’t really like her, she seems quite pushy and difficult to talk to.
What would you do?
Raise your concerns for the little one’s safety with the parents? Surely they know it’s dangerous though?
Report it? Who to?
Pop an anonymous letter through?

Call social services ASAP. If the two year old is outside alone and you cannot get ahold of the parents I would call the police personally.

If you think children are being neglected then you ring social service. Google your council name and children’s safeguarding you will get the right phone number.

Get in touch with social services or failing that contact the children's school (assuming you know which school they attend?) and speak your concerns to them. They have a duty of care to deal with any concerns raised.

I wouldn’t bother with anonymous notes or trying to talk to the parents. On the face of it it looks like neglect especially the part about the unsupervised 2 year old. Find a way to contact your local social services.

No way could I watch a two year old scoot around unsupervised and do nothing-you must call someone OP! Social services ASAP x

Bloody hell, I took my 2.5 year old to an outdoor toddler class today and I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a couple of minutes as he was running off and trying to climb though bushes into the wilderness. If I left him play on the street he would probably never come home! I would never let him play outside unsupervised, that’s really weird. Also, a 7 year old shouldn’t be left out until 9pm. I remember how scary it was being locked out at 13 until 7pm due to family issues.

I think you’re being reasonable to contact SS. I would.

Report asap.

A 2 year old?
An accident waiting to happen.
Take a photo tomorrow morning as early as you can as proof.

Report but focus should be on 2 year old. You might not like the older ones being outside by themselves but I don't know if that in itself really warrants reporting.

Social services and possibly the child protection officer at the kids school if you know where they go. Definitely don’t wait until something awful happens :(

Yes, report it. So many warning signs in your post but as others have said, an unsupervised 2 year old out in the street is the most shocking and obvious. Social services need to know this. That child could get hurt so easily. Please call them.

Definitely report. Imagine if something happened.

Social services will have an out of hours line so you can ring anytime. Please can you update? I’m really worried about that little girl

Please do update OP, so we know she is ok. And her siblings.

Oh goodness, there’s me feeling guilty that sometimes I dump DS(2) on the sofa with an iPad so I can put his sister down for a nap! 2 year olds need supervision all the time. Allowing them out in the street accompanied is madness.

Yes report this, it does not bear thinking about,a 2 year old out alone,maybe having an accident,or worse case scenario, getting snatched away.

A 2 year old out playing alone? I’d contact social services. I’m fact I’d do that even if the older ones were glued to the toddler’s side. I’d be in a constant state of anxiety knowing that they outside without an adult, especially the youngest one.

Not sure what an anonymous note would do

Call social services; a 2 year old out alone is so dangerous

I wouldn't approach the parents on this and would report to the professionals.

You can do a referral via the NSPCC site. It can be anonymous.

I’d say a two year old is in immediate danger and I’d phone the police if I saw them out in their own.

*on

Gosh yes, I usually come down on the side of children needing a bit more freedom than "we" generally allow them, but anything more than a one off escapee, a 2yo playing in the street unsupervised needs reporting.

This is so sad. My DS is 23 months and my eyes are on him like a hawk. He's a bolter. They don't understand danger at this age.

It's definitely neglect. Did you manage to contact them?

Oh how sad I wouldn’t bother contacting the parents because they clearly don’t give a shit! As PP said take photos and report to SS.

When I was doing some training, I was told that a child only begins to be able to judge the speed of oncoming traffic at the age of 10, so a 2 year old has no chance. The others are right, you should phone social services.