WWYD re: neighbor's kids

Harper'smom · March 2012

We live steps away from a school and the school's basketball courts. There are neighbors who live around the corner and down the street who seemingly get together with friends and kick the kids out every time there is a big sporting event on TV. The oldest kids are maybe 11 or 12 max (all boys) but there is usually a little girl who looks about 2.5 and a boy who is 3.5 under their "supervision". They play rough and use playground type discipline towards the little ones. I know this was common place in the old days and we live in a very safe neighborhood. But I don't know..the little ones just seem way too little to be running loose around the neighborhood and the big kids don't seem very responsible. WWYD?

rubber_chicken · March 2012

It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with this situation.

mben1119 · March 2012

rubber_chicken:
It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with this situation.

Same here.

Harper'smom · March 2012

fredalina:
If you're worried, spend some time outside and assess the situation. If the kids are not with the older kids, tell the parents. Otherwise, do nothing. It may not be your preferred discipline, but it may be theirs. Without seeing the situation firsthand, I don't have a problem with it. I like to see kids have more freedom than most do today. As long as they aren't wandering around totally unsupervised, of course.

Sometimes the little ones are right under foot of the bigger kids but sometimes they are completely across the field (a soccer fields length I would guess). Not in traffic, but no one would notice if they were, but far enough away that no one could do anything if a car pulled up and grabbed the kids. 2 years old just seems young for this but like someone said I don't think any laws are being broken...shrug.