How to deal with neighbors kids?? Need advice

zipper

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6
Purraise
0
Location
North Dakota
My boyfriend and I recently moved into a new apartment. Its in a small town and everyone in the building seems to know one another. I work with my landlady and another resident and my boyfriend works with three other residents at his job. I am also kinda amused that the county sheriff lives here with his family too.

Anyways there are two small children here about six or so years old that I am having trouble dealing with. I was trying to take a nap during the afternoon and woke up to them throwing rocks at my window. I yelled at them to stop from inside but had to go outside and talk to them to get them to stop. We live in the basement as well so we have window wells that I found them crawling in and looking through the windows later that night.

I did not tell their parents yet and they both said they were sorry but I am concerned that they might do this again. The window wells are deep and I think they could get stuck in them if they aren't careful, not to mention I don't really want them trying to peak in at me.

What should I do? Do I talk to their parents? Or do I get the landlady involved? I believe I work with one of their moms but I'm not sure what kid belongs to who yet since we've only been here two weeks.

I've never been around kids much and could use some advice
 

capt_jordi

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
2,777
Purraise
13
Location
Knoxville, TN
I would see if they stopped after the promised they would, and if not I would mention it to their parents, but maybe make sure to mention the part about worried they will get hurt or stuck in the window well. Maybe that will make the parents more concerned!
 

mbjerkness

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
7,583
Purraise
18
Location
In the middle of BC
I would talk to the Moms. If they don't know what their children are doing they can't correct it. I would approach them in a nice friendly way. If that doesn't work then I would talk to the landlady.
 

adriana

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Messages
130
Purraise
1
Location
Canada
I would wait to see if they stop. If not, then I would have a chit chat with the parents. I'd be nice, but firm about it. No use making enemies, especially in such a seemingly tight knit community, but make sure you get your point across that you won't put up with it anymore.
 

swampwitch

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Messages
7,753
Purraise
158
Location
Tall Trees & Cold Seas Vancouver Island
Definitely wait to see if they stopped. They might be good kids who were just bored, if so, you probably scared them enough already. If they come around again and get stuck in the window wells... they'll only try that once.


Next time you see them lurking around, try talking to them, ask them if they are bored or where's the best place to eat in the neighborhood. Maybe bake some cookies to give them (I wouldn't invite them in without asking the parents, though.) Better to have them on your side than unintentionally start a feud. Win them over and they'll probably even look out for your place when you are out, this is a good opportunity to make friends with them and their parents.
 

natalie_ca

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
21,136
Purraise
223
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I wish I could help, but I have no patience for small kids, especially those that are destructive.

My best suggestion (that won't get you arrested) would be to talk to their parents. Try and keep your temper in control when you do. You don't want them to think you hate their kids and you want to get them on your side.
 

libby74

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
I find situations like this very tricky. Sometimes just talking to the kids will do the trick (if you're lucky). I hate talking to the parents because it seems as if they jump to the conclusion that you're criticizing their child. We own our home, so there's no landlord to help out.

Years ago we had new neighbors move next door; they had a boy about 10 and a girl about 14. The boy insisted on using the side of our house for soccer practice. I asked him several times not to. On different occasions I heard his Mom yell at him not to. My final solution was to plant a row of barberry bushes along that side of the house. The bushes are covered with thorns, and that finally did the trick. Of course, then he switched to kicking the ball against our fence in the back yard, even when we were sitting outside and had company. His Mom would yell, he'd stop temporarily,and the next day he was back at it.

The girl loved to play her boom box right outside my living room window. One day it was so loud I couldn't even hear my tv, so I went outside and very nicely asked her if she would turn the music down a little. She did, apologized, and went about her business with her friends. That night, someone stole my Halloween lights from my front yard. Coincidence? I've never thought so.

Like I said, situations like these can be tricky. I wish you the best of luck dealing with this.
 

kailie

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
9,025
Purraise
25
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
Oh god, do I ever know how you feel. There are kids in the house to our left as well as kids across the street. Yesterday morning we were woken up by them constantly yelling just for the hell of it. Then yesterday we were in the yard with my aunt and uncle playing washer toss. My aunt and uncle are like Dana and I, we're ALL not into kids what so ever. Well the kids kept coming over, running in front of us, and kept bothing us to play, even after we repeatedly said no.

We ended up going inside and playing Rockband instead just to get away from the kids.
We have talked to the parents before over other incidents, but they're kind of rude and short with us, and nothing ever changes.
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,023
Location
In the kitchen
Since you've talked to the kids, wait and see what happens. But if it continues, talk to their parents. And to your landlord. Emphasize the safety aspect (the kids getting caught in the window wells). That will help.

After we put our inground pool in the back yard (with a fence), the neighbor boys came over with an older boy who was visiting with them for the day. I heard commotion outside and went out to see the older boy trying to climb the fence and the younger kids throwing rocks in the pool. I told them to knock it off and go home. The younger kids ran home, but that older kid was bound and determined to get over the fence and into the pool. As he made it over, I grabbed him and hoisted him back over to the other side again. And told him to move.....now. He left, but as he reached the property line, he turned around and stuck his tongue out at me.

That did it. I went over and told the parents what had happened and said that there was a fence with two locked gates. And that I was not going to babysit. They could kindly keep the kids at home. I also told them that the older boy had an attitude problem and I didn't appreciate him sticking his tongue out at me, esp considering he was trespassing. And that I would have no qualms whatsoever calling the police, if need be.

Thankfully, it was only a few months later that the people moved. Other people bought the house. They had three kids and they were the nicest people one could ever have for neighbors. In fact, they had free reign to come over to swim, as long as I was at home. In exchange for swimming every day during the summer, they would weed out the three small flowerbeds around the pool once a week. The kids decided to do it on their own and I was only too pleased to have the extra help!
 

larussa

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
4,899
Purraise
71
Location
Central New Jersey
I don't like kids and never did. The bigger they get the bigger the problems. Thank goodness there are none around me and I thank God for that. I have little patience with them.

Speak to the parents and see if that helps, if not go to the landlord. If not, I'd think about moving again because you may be in for some huge problems and headaches. Some parents can see no wrong in their kids and that is where the problem lies. My heart goes out to you.
 

cruisermaiden

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
1,144
Purraise
3
Location
Hiding from my SS!
As far as the rock throwing - see if they stop on their own. If they do it again go to their parents and talk to them about it. If you don't know which parents to talk to, mention it to your landlady - in such a tight knit community she will know who it is. You don't want to end up responsible for a broken window from some irresponsible kids.

For the peeking in the windows I would say to mention that to their parents if it comes to talking to them, but in the meantime put up some curtains or some window film that blurs but still lets light in on those windows. They sell it at Home Depot/Lowes. They won't want to look in the windows if they can't see anything! It would freak me out having people (even small ones) peeking in my windows!
 
Top