Sometimes I feel like the last parent left in this neighborhood who teaches their children to have respect for the property of others. If my kids play at someone else's house, I expect them to help pick up before they leave. Before getting out certain things to play with, I expect them to ask permission. Now granted, there have been times they have forgotten to help tidy up before they leave, but for the most part, I think they are fairly respectful. The other kids who live around here, however, are NOT!
Every time we let other kids come over, I ask them to please help pick up before they leave. They have never done so. Several weeks ago, they got into a box of gelt that I had bought for an upcoming Chanukah party, opened every single packet and had the coins outside playing with them. Today, I went in the playroom to discover that they had gotten into the playdough and left it all sitting out and drying up. This was brand new playdoh I got my kids for Chanukah because the neighbor kids had ruined all their other playdoh. They (along with my kids), took some toys out to the playset and both my husband and I asked that they help return the toys to the house when they were done... my kids just got finished doing it alone. Now I'm sure some of this could be avoided if I sat in the same room as the kids the entire time, but come on! The kids range in ages from 7-11, so I really shouldn't have to be watching them every single second.
I have finally decided that none of the neighbor kids are allowed in our house any longer. They are still welcome to play in the front or backyards, but they are absolutely not allowed in the house. I think it's unfortunate that it has come to that, but for goodness sake... have some respect for other people's property!
Every time we let other kids come over, I ask them to please help pick up before they leave. They have never done so. Several weeks ago, they got into a box of gelt that I had bought for an upcoming Chanukah party, opened every single packet and had the coins outside playing with them. Today, I went in the playroom to discover that they had gotten into the playdough and left it all sitting out and drying up. This was brand new playdoh I got my kids for Chanukah because the neighbor kids had ruined all their other playdoh. They (along with my kids), took some toys out to the playset and both my husband and I asked that they help return the toys to the house when they were done... my kids just got finished doing it alone. Now I'm sure some of this could be avoided if I sat in the same room as the kids the entire time, but come on! The kids range in ages from 7-11, so I really shouldn't have to be watching them every single second.
I have finally decided that none of the neighbor kids are allowed in our house any longer. They are still welcome to play in the front or backyards, but they are absolutely not allowed in the house. I think it's unfortunate that it has come to that, but for goodness sake... have some respect for other people's property!
