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Original poster

Ho hum potentially very dangerous (death causing) behaviour- what to do?

75 replies

Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 11:31

DS1 is very interested in our back fence, there'sa massive -at least 30 foot- drop behind- our garden is at the level of the next street's roofs. At the moment he's trying to climb it to look over the top, but isn't trying that hard- preferring to get one of us to lift him up.

I can't keep him out of the garden as he can open our back door- am trying to get a quote for a new back door but workmen mutter mutter etc. At the moment I am lifting him up myself, my theory being that he;ll eventually get bored, and if I'm lifting him he won't try too hard to climb himself.

Other idea welcomed- the thought of him going over it horrifies me- honestly he would be dead.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 25/08/2006 11:34

Put up a higher fence?

waterfalls · 25/08/2006 11:34

a bolt on the back door.

NomDePlume · 25/08/2006 11:35

Plant something spikey/awkward to get past in front of the fence ?

Pamina3 · 25/08/2006 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 25/08/2006 11:36

RE lifting him up - Do you think being able to see what's there will make him more interested in getting over it though? I was going to suggest drilling holes in it at eyelevel for him but might it not encourage him to go over if he sees something that interests him>

MrsFio · 25/08/2006 11:36

get a upvc door
honestl;y I HATE upvc but dd and ds cannot open my back one now. they can open my front one though

also what about sectioning the garden off, so you have a play bit near to the house?

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 11:37

Bolt on the backdoor already, he opens it. He's thrown the key over the fence (so no removeable key which is why I can't keep him in).
Higherfence will I think just encourage higher climbing. I've asked the same person who is meant to be replacing my back door, to relplace another bit of fence, so will ask him. Maybe barbed wire would be better (am serious). Who on earth puts up barbed wire. OTOH I think he will forget this when school starts again. It's the next few weeks I'm worried about.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 25/08/2006 11:37

In the short ter, a bolt high up on the back door. I know he will get a chair, but at least that gives you a few more moments to clock what he is doing.

Could you take pictures of the view behind the back fence and tape them to the fence....or wpould this act as more of an incentive to climb up?

anorak · 25/08/2006 11:37

Does anti-climb paint work on fences or is it just for walls?

anorak · 25/08/2006 11:38

Or plant some prickly plants that he won't want to touch. Climbing roses, blackberries, blackthorn?

SoupDragon · 25/08/2006 11:38

Anti climb paint simply doesn't dry though doesn't it? - he'd be covered in it.

Can you put an alarm on the back door so you know when he's sneaked out?

Marina · 25/08/2006 11:39

uPVC is definitely the best secure door solution, but I wondered if something along pamina/NdP's lines of a very strong trellis, plus a viewing platform might be doable JimJams.
Your garden situation sounds so Devonian Ilfracombe this summer was positively Alpine in places

southeastastra · 25/08/2006 11:44

that is such a hard one, we have a fence in the garden that backs onto a corporation and they have put three rows of barbed wire up to stop people getting in, it does work but looks nasty.

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 11:44

garden's tiny, not much room for planting stuff. I may have to go with the upvc door. I've just been out to him again- he had actually managed to scale the fence this time (it's about 7 foot). He's now shoved me inside but is sitting on the slide.

luckily I can see him as he stopped sitting on the slide and scaled the fence again- there is a knot hole he can use to shunt up.
Oh f*** buggery shit. It's too flimsy for this. Trellis may work temporarily but that fence takes the weather (faces south directly to the sea) Am going to have to shadow him all day and am alone today with 3 children this afternoon. Maybe will shove kids in car and drive around Dartmoor this afternoon.
Am off to ring door people.

OP posts:
MrsFio · 25/08/2006 11:47

If its standard size it wont be too expensive to replace with uPVC in all honesty. i went over the top though and had french doors made, thought if it was going to be uPVC it may aswell be a least be fancy, ended up costing near to 1.5k ##

just wondering if he is scared of any colours that you could paint the fence?

essbee · 25/08/2006 11:53

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 12:07

oh god I could cry. I have shunted things around in the garden (hoping to god he doesn't work out that if he moves the slide he can be over in seconds). Have double glazing salesman booked for tomorrow. Am going to spend the whole afternoon panicking about where he is.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 25/08/2006 12:09

can you get a big pil of brambles from somewhere and sort of attach them to the fence as a short term thing?

southeastastra · 25/08/2006 12:09

pile! obviously

wannaBe1974 · 25/08/2006 12:26

is there something else he could climb to look over the top of the fence, i.e. if he could see what's over there by climbing on something else, e.g. the slide, climbing frame, or something similar, would that divert his attention from climbing the fence and thus on to the other object he was climbing iyswim?

In the longer term, you can get spikes to put along the top of fences, They're about two foot high and made out of wood, and climbing over them is virtually impossible, so although your ds1 miht be able to climb to the top of the fence, the spikes would prevent him climbing any higher and thus prevent him falling over. They wouldn't hurt him and are not as barbaric looking as barbed wire.

ghosty · 25/08/2006 12:33

Oh God Jimjams .... what a nightmare ... . Am picturing your kitchen and garden in my head now ...
If the door man is coming tomorrow then take the kids out in the car this afternoon ... do you have to be alone? Will you be able to shadow DS1 and watch DS3 ok??

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 13:57

I worry that if I move the slide (so he could climb up and peer over) he'd try and go over. He has very little concept of danger, and weird depth perception, I don't think he even knows that big drops are dangerous. Luckily he has moved inside at the moment (is hoping I will hoover I think). God I will have aged by tonight.

OP posts:
moondog · 25/08/2006 13:59

Has he ever done anything dangerous and frightened himself into not doing it again?

Original poster
Jimjams2 · 25/08/2006 14:01

nope. But he;s done plenty of dangerous stuff and done it immediately again. In fact if he hurts himself he will usually do it again to hurt the other side so its symmetrical.

If he goes over that fence its either ICU or the mortuary though.

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 25/08/2006 14:02

If you put something on top of the fence, such as rows of barbed wire, make sure its slanting/leaning in towards your garden rather than pointing straight up (IYSWIM?) -makes it more difficult to climb over.