Would you tell a neighbor if you saw their children doing something they shouldn't?

[daughtersrus]

The other day when I was coming home, I saw two young neighbor girls (the oldest was about 7 and the other about 5) climbing on the roof of their house! Their house is a bit different than most in our subdivision and has a very steep slope roof over the garage that goes about 5 feet off the ground. The have a deck box type storage item under the eve. The girls climbed on top of the deck box and walked up the garage roof. From there, they went on to the house roof which is even higher and steeper.

Although this house is a block from mine, I don't know the family at all. While taking a walk yesterday, I decided that if the parents were in the yard that I was going to say something. They weren't but I wasn't sure if I should knock on their door or not. Like I said, I don't know them at all so I'm not sure if they would be happy that I told them or upset for butting into their business.

I know that if my children do something unsafe, I would hope that a neighbor would tell me. Just last week, a friend saw my DD (23yo) driving and texting. I'm very glad that she told me because DD and I had another conversation about how unsafe that is. Why is it that kids think that they are invincible?!

 

[agnes!]

I think I would figure out a way to mention it somehow. I'd feel terrible if one of those kids got hurt and I hadn't said anything to the parents.

agnes!

 

[minkydog]

I would and I have. My son and his best friend decided to look at porn on the net one night. I found it on the history and confront my son, who then spilled his guts and implicated the friend. I called his mother and told her what happened and both boys were technology grounded for 6 months.

 

[C.Ann]

I can think of many instances where I would "mind my own business", but this isn't one of them.. Considering the very real danger involved here - yes - I would say something.. Hopefully the parents will be glad that you cared enough to inform them of this potentially life threatening situation.. I know I would be!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would have knocked on their door and told the parents.

 

[happygirl]

I would have to at least let the parents know what was going on

 

[wdwmom2]

Yes, I would tell, because I would want to know if it were MY child. I am more concerned about a child's safety to worry about pissing off the neighbors. If they get angry over something like that, well then that just shows you what kind of concerned parents they are. I would want to know I did all I could to keep a child safe.

 

[M&N]

Definitely. It's hard to believe they would allow this but who knows? Saying something to them like as a parent, you would definitely want to know if your children were doing something unsafe. Of course, some parents may not believe their little angels would ever do that but your conscience would be clear.

 

[Kim1964]

I'd tell them for sure. Regardless of their reaction, I'd want to know that I did what I could to protect the kids. I couldn't live with the guilt of not having said anything if something happened to them.

 

[spacemermaid]

I'd tell the parents, definitely. Not to get the kids in trouble, but to prevent a potential tragedy from happening! I'd rather have the parents a little bit upset with me than the kids ALOT hurt/injured.

 

[Nicolepa]

I know most of my neighbors & their kids very well so I would have no problem telling them. In a case where I didn't know the kids or family I try to pose it in a question. In this case I would ask them, are your children allowed to walk on the roof of your house? If they say yes, then you just walk away (shaking your head). If they say no, then you can say something like I wouldn't think so but I saw them on your roof on xxxday and just wanted you to know.

 

[MushyMushy]

I like Nicole's way of saying it. Or I'd go in and let them know you feel awkward saying it, but... and then let them know what you saw.

I'd want to know!

That said, I swear if I had kids that age, I'd think you were talking about my house. I guess our roof was a popular hangout for the previous owner's kids, and my son likes to get up there too. Drives me nuts!!! Now my daughter thinks she can do it too. So, yeah, I'd want to know if she was disobeying and going up there.

 

[omghidanielle]

My neighbors always told on me when I did bad things! I got grounded for a week for lighting a match! But climbing on the roof...... I'd probably have done it if it were at all feasible, but now that I'm an "adult", I agree that you should probably tattle a bit, before any one of them decides to 'think happy thoughts'

 

[Handbag Lady]

I'd knock on their door and say something. You never know, the poor parents probably have no idea what their darlings are up to when their heads are turned.



We had to tattle on a neighbor teenager girl. One of her chores is trash duty. She took it upon herself to dump their trash bag in our patio garden. My husband gathered up the trash, went through it (to make sure that it was their trash-and it was, it had their address and apartment number on several pieces of discarded mail), and then tied it up again and left it on their porch after the girl left for school. He put a note on it that he didn't appreciate the thought and then told them they really should shred their discarded credit card offers. He signed the note and left our apartment number.

Her grandmother came by later that day and apologized and thanked him for bringing it to her attention. The girl got grounded. We felt bad, but really, the trash is just another 30 yards away.

 

[SydSim]

I would and have. Saw neighbor's 14 year old son with a few male friends and one or two girls in their pool (at night, and no lights on). Called the mom on her cell and said "Um, did you know so-and-so is having a pool party while you're out?" Next things I know, dad is rolling up and kicking everybody out. She thanked me - but our street has that kind of unwritten agreement - they'd better tell me if they saw DD doing something!

 

[DisneyBlonde]

yeah, you gotta tell them. If anything happens to the kids you're going to feel awful if you didn't say something.

 

[ma2jr]

yeah, you gotta tell them. If anything happens to the kids you're going to feel awful if you didn't say something.

I agree...

 

[chager]

I have talked to neighbors before about their kids. Including the teen that almost hit me head on because he was driving so fast around the corner!! I have also been notified when my DS is being less then the perfect child. LOL

 

[Nancy for Disney]

I would tell them. If it happens again or if you these children outside unsupervised again I would report them to CPS. In our state children under the age of 8 can't be outside unsupervised. Parents can watch from inside though. These kids were obviously not being supervised properly.

 

[luvmy3]

Since its a safety issue I would definitely say something.