Can you help me deal with a neighbours child?

Have you spoken with the parents?
One time my son was getting in trouble at the bus stop. I found out because one of the fathers was screaming at him when I went by. No one bothered to call me. I felt so betrayed by the woman who had called this other kids father and never called me. She was supposed to be my friend.
I rearranged my schedule and drove my son to school for the rest of the year. Turns out the kids were taunting him until he blew up then would get him in trouble for shoving a kid that taunted him.
All that to say, talk to the parents first. If that doesn’t work you might want to call children’s services or something. A 5 year old playing a block or more from home unsupervised would surely prompt an investigation but I would only do that if the parents continued to neglect the child.

I have the same question, did you talk to the parents?

We used to make snow forts. Fun. Awe the boy is cute I bet. I can just picture it.

Thanks @Judi as I said we have spoke the kids mom who is a real work of art, just shrugs and says kids will be kids and doesn’t want anymore to do with it.

Other neighbours have caught this kid playing on their property and tell him to go home and he swears at them like some kind of sailor.

Well, you have a problem if the mom is one of those kids will be kids and let kids learn the hard way moms.

Make her sign a waiver that she is aware her son runs around unsupervised and that if he gets hurt on your property she waived her right to sue you.

I guess the negative with that is maybe you should call child services. Here’s the thing, when I was growing up little kids used to run around unsupervised in my neighborhood too. Usually, they weren’t alone I guess. Kids would play together.

Thanks @JLeslie if it doesn’t quit I guess it will be a call to some kid child services.
I think back in the day my parents would have had a fit if I was playing on private property uninvited.

I’d tell the parents you’re very concerned about the risk the child is taking and you don’t want him on your property. Ask nicely and firmly.

When the kid shows up call the mother and tell the child not to play on your property without an adult. I would speak to the child directly, not wait for the mother. Remember he is only 5 and it’s not his fault. He is being a 5 year old, and his mother allows it, so there is no reason to be truly angry with the boy. You might need to be very stern so he obeys what you say. Maybe walk him back home if he comes to your yard.

The kid might be lonely. Maybe he is branching out to get some attention.

Awe, I would play with him a little and then tell him he can’t play alone there.

I would call the police and ask for their advice. Not to have them come out and stir up some shit, ust to get their opinion.

Have a snowball fight with the kid…let the chips fall where they may.

Oh yeah,that would work a mid fifties guy against a five year if I win I’m a monster if I lose I’m a freaking pussy.

@SQUEEKY2 Can you hire a teenager to scare him away from your yard? Or you can have your snow shipped off to a dump or a farmers field? Also maybe you can supervise the kid and give a bill to the mother?

Go to the sporting goods store and buy some deer lure. Sprinkle it sparingly in and around the snow piles. Once you open the bottle, you’ll CLEARLY understand why it’ll keep the kiddies at bay.

And yes, while it’s harmless, you might find yourself with a few bucks lurking around your yard. :-)

Turn the snow yellow…

Give the parents written notice that their son is trespassing and it is to stop immediately. Mail it registered.

Pour water over the snow piles. He won’t enjoy trying to tunnel through ice.

Why would you be liable?

Tell him to take care he doesn’t come across a snow ghost when digging in the snow. It will come out and stay with him and when he goes home it will follow him down the road.

@raginloli. In the states you can be sued if someone gets hurt on your property.

You ignore him. You’re not his parents, and there are enough nosy neighbors in the world keeping kids from playing outside without adding yourselves to the list. You may feel free to tell him to get off yer lawn.

What about bear traps under the snow?

@ragingloli Our wonderful legal system allows anyone to be sued for anything. A lawyer might call @SQUEEKY2 ‘s snow pile an “attractive nuisance” and sue him if the kid got hurt.

It can be quite a dangerous activity.
Newburgh.
3 weeks ago

In this area a teacher noticed some poor kid regularly came to school without proper clothes. when asked why, he confessed he didn’t have any. She decided to buy him a snowsuit with her own money. Shortly after, he was playing in a large snow pile which collapsed and killed him – a perfect example of the “No good deed goes unpunished.” principle. She was not sued – but I’m sure she thinks about that nightmare. every day.

Actually the best (and most dangerous) places to make snow forts are in massive parking lots. The piles of snow are huge! Easily 5 meters high! Unfortunately the snow plow drivers and removal services can’t tell if anyone is in the pile. Typically they dump snow with massive front end loaders with buckets that hold several cubic meters of snow. weighing tons.

@ragingloli: I’m not sure what the laws are in Canada but in the US, you are responsible for people who are on your property, even if they’re not necessarily invited (like if they’re trespassing).

@SQUEEKY2 Off the top of my head, perhaps the “deer lure” would be a viable option.

Is the deep snow where the kid makes forts near your garage?
Do you have a hot water source in the garage?
Can you hook up a hose to your hot water in the garage and just melt away the big piles? I used to do this years ago, unhook the hot water hose on my washer hookup in the garage and melt the snow in the driveway away with hot water. haha

Screw shoveling!

I agree a 5 yr. old is too young to be playing unsupervised on your property, I’d talk with the parents for sure and tell them of your concerns.

I’d call child protective services, or phone and ask their advice. Since you have tried to speak to the parents and it did not work. She is not looking after him clearly.

Turn a hose on the snow piles.

We used to make snow forts all the time. It would have never occurred to me that they could be dangerous, until that kid died recently, when one collapsed.

All I would do is tell him he can’t play on your property if that bothers you. The rest is not really your business.

Sounds to me like it just not that easy @janbb And the rest of what? He was only referring to things that could happen on his property, not anyone elses.

Thanks all @Coloma hot water wouldn’t work since the drains in the street are covered with ice and snow all it would do is form a lake at the end of the driveway and freeze over.

Mrs Squeeky hosed the piles with cold water and are now big blocks of of ice that you would need a pick axe to break,that worked.

Understand Mrs Squeeky and I work a lot WE have never caught this kid on our property our neighbours right next door have and told us about it and told the kid to not play there, and the kid gets very rude with them, nice for a five year old, I personally have never talked to the parents but quite a few other people have and so has Mrs Squeeky and the mother seems to care less.
This summer my exposure to this little angel coming home from work, turning the corner onto our street this little guy was walking down the centre of the road I slowed way down and went around him and he gave me the dirtiest look ,like how dare I drive down HIS road type thing.
He also darts out of driveways on his bike right in front of cars,everyone has managed to avoid him for now and again the mother seems to care less.
@Seek I am glad the kid likes to play outside BUT he does have to stay off private property ,and learn not to play on the fucking road,he is taking a great chance of getting hit if this does happen and I sure hope not I will come to the defence of the driver not that kid who’s mother can’t seem to control him.

He has a bad home life, that much is obvious. And it’s more than a total lack of caring by his parents.
Glad the hose worked!

That really is a problem for the whole neighborhood @SQUEEKY2 – and for the kids himself. We had some ruffians in the first neighborhood I lived in with my kids. It’s a tough one.

Aren’t there complaints that you can put on file about it? So that if something DOES happen on your property, you can show that the parents knew there was a problem, but did nothing about it,so they are held liable.

Not unless you call child protective services. They probably wouldn’t even make a report. Sending a letter certified with return receipt is the first thing to do. After the letter is received call the cops about filing criminal trespass charges if the behavior continues. Call them first to get their suggestion….................they are the only ones who know what they will do based on what. Each jurisdiction operates differently.