our neighbour and his kids are in our garden

[thereisfreedomwithin]

We usually let them come in and use the swing. The kids usually come and ask.

Today he's just done it - I guess he's feeling pretty desperate to entertain them (3 year old twins and a 5 year old).

What do I do?

Sorry but no and cheeky of him not to ask. He should buy his own swing set. If one of his children breaks a tooth or leg, guess who they will be claiming off? I take it you don’t have public liability insurance for the set.

MN is crazy, just give away your own stuff because it would make someone else happy the man can buy his own swing if his kid wants one so bad! I was assuming the man didn’t have a garden hence using the ops?? IF he does and is just literally using it for the swing then that’s very bad. Kids don’t need a swing. Mine don’t have one as no where to secure it

14 yrs old does not need a swing - just loan it to them or give. Bit precious saying don't give 14 yr old swing away - they need to grow up and realise that in times like this you do the kind thing

No 14 yr old kids don't need a swing, but kids under 10 it would be good to have own facilities, but in the times the parks are shut and they are limited to garden would be kind - just loan it.

Nice result, OP. I agree with the posters who suggest that he just didn't want to knock on your door and risk contamination. He's always used your garden for his kids, with your full permission, so is doing so today.

I think your solution is very kind. You're going to be neighbours are all this is done too.

MN is crazy, just give away your own stuff because it would make someone else happy shockhmm the man can buy his own swing if his kid wants one so bad!

It's called kindness.

How do you know if the man can afford a new swing? My DDs had swings when they were little, they spent hours on them, entertaining themselves.

My 14 YO still sits on our swing. Your 14 year old might want to use it if they're bored at home.

If they use your fine, as a regular thing, block it off a few times a year so that it cannot become a legal path (where you can’t prevent people using it).

A nice gesture at this shit awful time would be your dc gives the swing away...
Unless they plan on using it daily...
Even my ds 16 is allowing siblings to use his xbox....
And that almost never happens...

In times like this you don't endanger another family by going into their garden and using their stuff during an actual lockdown during a pandemic

He can buy a swing or do without.

And I wouldn't be so wet with someone who came into my garden and put my children at risk. I'm trying to keep mine alive though.

It's like another world in here.

You’ll need to leave it for more than 24 hours unless you wash is down. The virus can last for longer than that on surfaces.

Speak to your son and ask him to think about whether or not he really needs the swing. Ask him to let you know if the swing will mean more to him than the young children next door. Hopefully he is an empathetic child and will make the decision to give them it. Then ask the neighbour to put it in his own garden for now and tell him you’ll get it back when this is over. I would advise you to try to block part of your garden off from the right of way or even tell him you’re closing it temporarily, if no one actually NEEDS to use it. You can empathise that this is in order to protect his family from catching anything from yours and visa-versa.

These circumstances are going to put a lot of pressure on neighbourly relationships. We don’t want lasting damage in relationships, if we can help it. I’m talking from a place of having neighbours right next door that are scum.

People should only give things away if they want to, if the 14 year old uses the swing or still wants it then that’s up to him/her. The secondary school kids still come to the park where I live and use the swings. Can’t believe people are saying the op should give it away. If he can’t afford one then tough really, I can’t afford a trampoline doesn’t mean I expect my neighbours to give me theirs.

Not a time to fall out with neighbours is it?

I think you would be very kind to loan them the swing for the duration, if your much older kids are ok with it.

Make them move it themselves; don't touch it.

I'm torn. I think it's pretty cheeky to just come onto your property specifically to use equipment at this time. It contravenes the most basic instructions issued yesterday.

I think i'd call out and ask him to please wipe the swing down after use. And then if your teen wants to use it then they should wipe it down themselves to be sure.

So the neighbour will fall out with her if he can’t have access to the ops stuff and this is why you don’t let people use your garden.

I know he 'usually' brings the three kids in, but carrying on anyway today without even checking with you somehow is worse the more i think about it.

I'd ask him not to use it until all this is over and not to let the children into your garden. And I say that as a mum of 3 children, one of which is a hard to entertain little boy with autism.

Speak to your son and ask him to think about whether or not he really needs the swing. Ask him to let you know if the swing will mean more to him than the young children next door. Hopefully he is an empathetic child and will make the decision to give them it

Oh, you mean guilt trip him?

How did they get in? Do you not have a fence?

It’s very cheeky. You need to be able to use your garden.

Your suggestion about giving them the swing is very kind and have an incredibly positive impact on the children and in turn the dp

How can some posters be saying that the neighbour shouldn't be in the garden due to lockdown, but should go out to a shop and buy his own swing instead?

Your child won't be able to use it until decontaminated.
That's why playgrounds have closed.
You need to tell him to clean it thoroughly after use, or not use it.