Can you believe this, I had a 5year old knocking on my door at 8pm last night!

[chloesmumtoo]

I was just amazed that at that time this little girl was at my door! She goes to school with dd 5 also but she comes from the next estate. I was tucking my child up for bed and this lil one was still out playing. I heard my partner say in disbelief are you on your own. No she said and pointed to her bro behind the fence. 11 year who had stolen property from my ds before. dh told him to take her home but they went off down a local field. Wonder what state she will be in at school today and do some parents just not worry. How? It was nearly dark. Even my ds is not aloud out like that at 10years. Will say no more lol

Could you talk to the school about this?

I did this when my dd spotted a small child from school at our train station after 5pm a few days ago. He was meant to be walking home with his little brother. I asked him where his 6yr old brother was - he didn't know. I sorted out the situation - but I was an unknown person to these kids. They recogonised my dds from school though. Spoke to the school who then spoke to the parents. Even though the school wasn't responisble for the kids at that moment they were still happy to deal with their welfare.

Speak to the school? I think not.

It's frustrating when you see little ones out late and you don't think they should be out then - but it's none of our business really.

One of the parents on our estate seem to push their young kids out the door at all hours when we all think they are too young - but it's up to each parent to set their own boundaries. You may think it is wrong and distressing, but you just have to let others make their own mistakes and not get involved.

Going up to them and saying 'i don't think your 5yr old should be out at 8pm' is not going to achieve anything is it? Telling anyone that they are a bad parent is only opening a nasty can of worms. Keep your eyes peeled but i suggest biting your tongue.

Yes, I agree EricL. I do not really want the grief to come back on me! As much as I think it wrong, I tend to have enough of my own worries with having a very allergic child and the least I need is angry parents thinking I am interfering in their life! At the end of the day you do not get any thanks in these situations. Thanks for your post as I was starting to think I was wrong to not want to get involved. I personally dont think it would make any difference to these children being out anyway.

It is very frustrating isn't it? I feel really sorry for this poor girl as the parents don't seem to do anything with her or let other kids into their house and garden. Its turning her into the kind of person that the other kids on the estate find annoying and they all try and ignore her. She has learnt how to become manipulative and attention seeking - understandable in the circumstances, but a real shame to see in a 5 year old.

Its a real shame to see it happening.

Now her 18 month old sister is being pushe out with her as well and the whole cycle is starting again.

I know how you feel, chloesmumtoo. We've just moved to an estate and I've been suprised and concerned about how late some very little kids are playing - in the road, sometimes barefoot!! We're in a cul de sac so there isn't a vast amount of traffic, but it still seems like playing with fire to me. It only takes one driver to not notice a 5 year old in front of their car to cause a tragedy. I understand that young children can be exhausting indoors but allowing them to play unsupervised all day in a dangerous environment just seems wrong. But as EricL says, telling your new neighbours that they are irresponsible parents is hardly a wise move. It's frustrating.

it worked for me talking to the school - they spoke to the parents without telling them it was me and the situation has been sorted hopefully.