Kids playing out on the street?

[jessieb887]

We've just moved house 4 weeks ago and it's a quiet culdesac so made the decision to let our boys play out the front yesterday with the other kids some of which are younger than mine at 5 1/2 and 4 1/2.
Only for this to happen today my eldest comes back upset, he was playing with another child from the street in his garden and the dad of the kid told my son to bugger off?? Am I wrong in thinking that is majorly out of order? I'm furious but don't know how to deal with it? The dad then later drove past my house whilst I'm outside and told me very abruptly to stop my children playing in his house I had no idea they were in his house? He had come home and they were in there why didn't the Mum just say no when her son let them all in??
Mine have never played on the street till now so I'm very new to this territory.

I'm also very aware of how annoying it must be to have other people's kids in the house but can't get my head round why the mum Wouldn't just say no??

They are far too young for you to have no idea where they are. I assume from your post you don’t know the family at all.

My kids have always played out but I have it drummed into them not to go into anyone's house without telling me first. At 4.5 and 5.5 I would be keeping an eye on them. I don't see what you can do about the man's rudeness, if he wants to tell kids to bugger off out of his own house he can.

I can’t get my head around the fact you had no idea your 4 and 5 year old were in someone else’s house.

4.5 years old, and you didn't know they'd gone into someone's house?

Either this is a wind up or someone needs to call social services.

They were playing on the street then went to play in the other boys garden. So I knew where they were just didn't realise they'd gone in the house! Yes I know the Mum not as a friend though.

Maybe the mum didn't mind but the dad did? What does it matter? Just keep a better eye on them.

I think your kids are too young to play out if they're going into strangers houses!

My DD is 9 and only started playing out at 7 she is allowed in 2 friends houses who she knows well (and myself) and vice versa.

Don't let them play out unsupervised!

You need to supervise them more and drum into them not to go in peoples houses.

If your children are invited in and have told you where they are, that's OK. Inviting themselves in or going in without you knowing where they are isn't OK. First few times I'd probably check if it was really OK with the parents.

And also they were told not to go in the house by me!! And as for social services what the hell you don't even know me!!

Well they clearly weren't listening op!

Once again THEY ARE NOT READY TO PLAY OUTSIDE UNSUPERVISED.

They're not much older than toddlers supervise them.

And also they were told not to go in the house by me!!

But they did it anyway. They are not responsible enough for what you are giving them permission to do. Time for a playing out ground rules rethink. Maybe gardens need to be off limits. You should be able to see them when you regularly check out your front door.

The dad sounds like a twat. I really wouldn't be happy for children that young to even go in anyone else's garden. I'd tell them they can play in your front garden. If they want to leave to go in another garden they need to ask you. Sorry, it doesn't sound a very friendly neighbourhood.

I was out the front doing gardening so could see them, they then went into the boys garden and the Mum said it was fine. I didn't come on here for a bashing I just came for advice! I won't make that mistake again that's for sure!!

The dad does sound like a twat. But the children need to be resilient enough to cope with twatty adults before you allow them out into the world.

jessieb887 You are doing what we affectionately call drip-feeding... no one is bashing you. Based on your fist post people are understandably shocked at your apparent lax attitude.

Crikey social services has been mentioned after only a few posts..
It’s not ideal op but I’d keep the kids out of his garden so they arent tempted to go in the house. I do think the younger one is too small to be out your sight, but can understand you thought they were in a garden. I would only let them play where you can see them at all times at that age.

At no point were they out alone I was out on the front too and they were playing 3 doors down. Hence why I let them out, and as I said the Mum said it was fine for them to be in the garden. Why didn't she just say no to the kids going in the house? I did when her 3 yr old came here before it all kicked off with the dad?

How long have you known the mum?

Maybe I’m the house the kids made a mess or something or lots of kids running riot in there annoyed the dad?
Lesson learned though. U never know what other adults households may be like.

omg I can't believe how ridiculous the answers on here are! OP you've done nothing wrong! That dad sounds like a twat. What a shame.

You've lived in your cul-de-sac for 4 weeks, so you don't even know your neighbours!!
I would be annoyed and I'd feel awkward about two young boys, that I didn't know coming into my house, especially as you had no idea and you know nothing about the family. The parents are probably just wanting to nip this in the bud before it becomes a regular thing.

Personally I hate children playing on the street. That's what parks and things are for