kids and footballs

Thats terrible, I wish Kids were taught a bit more respect these days!

I am with you Andrea no respect for anybody or anything

No more sun here - it's been raining all day. No gardening for me today. Be a little tolerant with children when they don't mean to cause problems, won't you. I agree that throwing missiles over is anti-social and should be dealt with pronto - but playing out is part of growing up healthily, and although they have caused damage with the football, it doesn't sound as if it was on purpose. After all, these days, you can't play out on the streets, can you? Would their parents pay for the pot from the children's pocket money do you think? They should be aware of the result of their actions. Sorry - you can tell I was a Headteacher, can't you! I always tried to teach 'my' children respect for other people and property.

i think everyone will have a story about little hooligans in their area! spoils things for others! Im not brave enough to take them on! if you cant beat them join em...throw ur slugs over into their garden hehehe!!

My neighbours have tow kids plus a couple of others they 'mind' and I'm for ever getting footballs over the fence even though it is six feet high. I've got to the stage I only throw them back over at about 9pm - I'm working on the principle if they are already in my garden, they can't come over again for that day. Just wish I could hit something of theirs when I throw them back over

thanks guys, im heading out to work now and hope the garden but mostly my fish will be ok when i get back.
spritz its not just accidental im afriad, i had this problem with the same family last yr. that time it was iron bars and bottles been thrown into the pond, emmm the parents are as bad so i cant even talk to them . maybe i should throw back burst footballs andrew lol

Sorry this may not be the answer Irish as if your sure this same family then footballs preferable to iron bars and bottles.This is truly dangerous and should be a police matter but wheres that going to end? Might be a question of tolerating the footballs then seeing parents if anything else comes over.That way you present as tolerant to a point and would strengthen your case if these dangerous items return.Likely to if you puncture footballs.Not condoning their behaviour just know these things have a nasty habit of escalating to the point where footballs are a minor irritation by comparison.Wishing you a peaceful summer.

hi bonkers, and thanks, im just in and seems the greenhouse was the latest target, not the kind of family that can be approached im afraid. we have been through something similar with other people who lived in that house. my self and girl next door complained to the council and to the police but to no avail.
going to just higher the wall bonkers, think that would be the best thing.

There's a little boy living next door to me. Sometimes his football comes over into my garden and he always appologises, and asks if my plants are allright. I can cope with that. Children must be able to play in their own gardens.
My friend Beryl, however, once had kids next door to her who would deliberately throw things over the fence, like bits of wood, and toys aswell as balls. They didn't care what damage they did, and when Beryl confronted them for destroying a fuchsia she was told by the mother "Well you should put your plants somewhere else then !"
That's the diference between decent and indecent people.

aye blodyn ya dont mind kids playing, sure i have 2 of my own. the family next door to you seem like lovely people. your pal Beryl sounds like she has the same kind of neighbours as i have. what a stupid thing to say...... you should have put the plants somewhere else. id be tempted to tell her just whereeeeeeeeee id like to plant them

I am sorry about your BAD neighbours! You definitely mustn't antagonise them - who knows where it might end? Sounds as if the parents are to blame...children copy bad behaviour, don't they. .poor you.

aye i know your right spritz, ive calmed down now, was just so mad earlier when i seen the stuff in d green house damaged... tomor is another day and ill just sow some more. just want to say thanks to all you guys for your nice messages. that helped a lot .
thanks again guys xx

You're welcome. Just try to be calm about it - I am concerned that if you got really mad and confronted them, you might come off worst. Be careful, won't you. Maybe fix a trellis on top of the fence to help a bit?

We have a school playing field at the end of our garden. It's not the school kids that cause problems during school time (although the language these primary school kids use is shocking). The problem is with slightly older ones that come to play on the school ground at other times. My neighbour and I both have apple trees at the end of our gardens and we had a problem with them nipping over to scrump for apples, which weren't ready to be picked. SO my neighbour bravely confronted them in a friendly way and when the apples were ready she picked a bag full and handed them over to the kids. The apples were hurled back into her garden and also into mine - breaking the roof on my carport. My neighbour was so angry that her husband put stair rods on their fence (over 6 ft) to catch naughty hands......

i was hoping your story was going to have a happy ending but my god what rotten kids. i dont blame your neighbours husband for highering the fence,,,, i got some trellis today which hopefully i will get a chance to put up this weekend

Yeah, sorry Irish. Still, I don't blame the kids - people are the product of society and our society makes anti-social behaviour acceptable in the media - as Barbara/Spritz said, children copy bad behaviour.

Yes kids always play outside our house and the football always comes in our front garden and my wall is only 2ft.My husband tells them to play ball outside your own house!!!!Where we used to live I had neighbours from hell and they were grownups married with kids eerytime I went out they would cut off my plants the problem is you cannot say anything to them as they would just swear at you in the end we moved away,but they used to kick the football at the fence and broke it they just laughed and they were teenagers!!