How to manage the local teenagers?

[greenfamilyfarms]

I honestly don't think they would care all that much.

 

[Freeholder]

Some youngsters won't be safe around animals (generally because they haven't been raised around them and don't know how to behave, but you'll also encounter the -- hopefully -- rare one that's just out to do damage). But I think most are either interested or at least indifferent. A few years ago we got some new neighbors who have horses, a llama, several dogs, and a few ducks. The dad was over at our place tilling up our garden, and the teen-aged daughter (probably around seventeen) came flying over, all excited because one of the ducks had hatched out an egg! Had a little boy coming over pretty often for a while because he was interested in the goats, rabbits, and so on -- he lived with his grandfather part of the time, and was trying to talk Grandpa into letting him have some kind of animal (he moved back and forth pretty frequently between Grandpa, Dad, and Mom, though -- not an easy situation for having animals).

My thought is to not allow them to come on your property without letting you know they are there, supervise all visits (and, as someone has said, don't allow unlimited visits or you'll be the neighborhood entertainment center -- kids need to know that you have other things to do besides entertain them), and when you find one with good character who has a serious interest, mentor them as much as you possibly can. Too many children are growing up lacking in animal husbandry experience and skills; these skills have to be passed down, and that is best done by word of mouth and personal teaching. Books help, but are no substitute.

Kathleen

 

[amsunshine]

Thank you everyone! I feel a lot better now. I was feeling quite unsettled but I think with all of your advice, I can hopefully win them over. The difficult neighbors next door, after all, told me they found out MONTHS later that the neighborhood kids had climbed their 6-foot fence and were SKINNY DIPPING in their pool in the middle of the night! So I hope the same thing does not happen here with them clmbing my fence--I'd be MAJORLY upset if that happened and if anything happened to my girlz.

I like the idea of establishing rules for the kids. It will help me feel better about establishing boundaries (both figurative and literal). Also I am really great at baking chocolate chip cookies!

Thank you again. I was afraid the loose-lipped kids would be my undoing, but now I am breathing a sigh of cautioned relief!

 

[amsunshine]

News flash: guess what! Had a chance to talk to one of the teenage girls today and I learned she wants money in the worst way to pay for normal teenage stuff like makeup, prom dresses, etc. so I talked with her about walking my dog over the summer while I'm at work and she was ALL over that! I've heard she is a responsible girl with responsible parents so I'm hoping this will work out nicely. I was asking her about how she was going to do her hair, what her dress looked like, etc. in other words, that I'm a human and not "crazy". It's a little start and I will take that for now.

Thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions!

 

[Imp]

You go!

Imp-good job

 

[Fenn]

I don't know the size of your yard, but maybe a security light would be a good investment. If kids really hopped the fence for the swim, then I would be concerned.