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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How to nicely set a boundary with neighbour kids

4 replies

Aeaffshb · 10/07/2025 08:32

Context: I know they will start knocking on my door to play with my kids from morning till evening once holidays start. The kids are never supervised and I feel it’s left to me to keep an eye on everyone. They all play outside but I do get pushbacks from the older kids if they can come into my home. I let them in the garden but refuse to let a group of kids whose parents I hardly ever speak to in my home. I find it draining on the weekends when I’m around all these kids. I never get any space. There are 4 families altogether whose kids come over. One of the family have already broken up for summer and my ring doorbell keeps alerting me they are ringing the doorbell (I’m in work and my kids are in school). I keep telling them they in school but they still knock!

please give me some advice on how to set up a boundary and what to say in a nice way: so basically I want them to leave us alone during the day and only evening /late afternoons to come over. I feel really guilty doing this as most if them are so sweet and they’re face gets all upset when I say no and then I give in to the ordering by my children and I say they can play!

OP posts:
Aeaffshb · 10/07/2025 08:34

Also it’s not a good idea to speak to the parents is it? I just feel as I hardly know them I can’t say don’t come in the day.

OP posts:
TeeBee · 10/07/2025 08:34

Put a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on your door and tell them only to knock when it’s not there?

Mrsttcno1 · 10/07/2025 08:43

How old are the kids involved? In my experience these things don’t really work without parents communicating too.

On our street the parents all agreed rules, no knocking between X times, if you knock once & it’s a no then you wait until they come for you no repeat knocking all day, take turns who’s garden so that it’s not always in the same place etc and that works really well here. But does require parents to agree & then enforce rules, you’re going to struggle unless their parents are prepared to say no.

PothasProblem · 10/07/2025 08:52

I wouldn't bother talking to the parents if you don't really speak.

Get your kids to communicate the boundary. "mum says no playing out until 4pm. Don't knock for me sooner, or she'll get cross and make it 5pm"

Get you kids to make a sign to stick on your front door saying the same. Or one just for now, saying "we're still at school. BOO. can't play. Don't knock"

If the kids do knock, point to the sign and say "sorry Timmy, maybe later" in a cheery voice

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