Hellobee Boards

That's a tricky one. I think the only way to dissuade people from doing that is to plant some small shrubs at the bottom of the hill, or put up a fence. You could always post a No Trespassing sign, but that's more aggressive and probably not as effective as the other two options.

It personally wouldn't bother me if it only happened when parents were there and the kids were waiting for the bus, but your concerns are legitimate and you definitely have a right ht to put a stop to it in case something unfortunate were to happen.

I’m raising my hand to say “relax!” I think as one of the parents at the bus stop I would be offended that you didn’t think I was keeping an eye on my kids. I’m guessing you let your kids and their friends play on it, and that you keep an eye on them just like these parents are (even if just with the eyes in the back of their heads). I would also weigh the likelihood that someone gets hurt (unlikely) to the likelihood you’re going to be seen as the worrywort or curmudgeon (likely). We could be in very different situations but I chose to live where I live because it’s a community and I want to be part of it, not put up walls (or fences). And I don’t think you’re being curmudgeonly, you’re being cautious but we have to check ourselves when our concern and caution lead us to put up walls.

Also, in my neighborhood there are lots of now adults who grew up here. Maybe your hill was the sledding hill when those parents were growing up. Maybe you could get a feel for how other families operate in your community. Maybe everyone else is totally fine with kids running in and out of each other’s yards, and they wouldn’t think twice about it.

@Becky: you don't find it odd that parents are letting kids use someone elses property without permission? I promise I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything I just can't imagine I'd let my kids go onto someone else's property without express permission....

I think I would be annoyed also, but unfortunately think it’s probably expected given your location is front of the bus stop. If kids were playing out front on a Saturday snow day, that would be one thing but for the 10 mins that they are waiting for the bus, I’d probably let it go.

Nope...not okay. We live in an "open" neighborhood, no fences or anything (unless required by law) and still people generally accept the rule of keeping to your own property. Of course, its different depending on your relationship with the home owner.

And the liability angle concerns me big time. Even if the parent is watching - actually that makes it worse...its weird to me to think of a parent standing a watching kids play on a yard they were not invited to?...

I would not be okay with that and as a parent, I would not allow my children to play on someone else’s property ...

@Iced Tea: Total thread jack... but can you post a link of that item? The house I am building will have a slightly raised manhole in the yard that I want to put edging around and the one that you posted looks awesome!

I wouldn’t be annoyed at kids wandering into the yard as they waited for the bus- I think it would be hard to avoid a little of that. But a small steep hill going into a main road would worry me. I don’t know what I would say, honestly. Hopefully you are done with snow for now but obviously it will come up again next year.

We have a small hill for our front yard with no real barrier to the street and I won’t let my kids sled down it because I don’t think they should sled right into the street- and we are on a very small cul de sac with almost no traffic at all.

We have a stream on our property in the backyard so we don't let kids play in or near it if they don't belong to us/aren't with our kid. I just ask them nicely not to play in it and they usually listen pretty well.

I would be super annoyed. Unfortunately people will not be deterred unless you put up some kind of fence or wall of shrubs so you have to decide if you care enough to bother with an option like that.

I would just pop out again and ask them to stop, that you're concerned they'll slide out into the street. Since you haven't said anything for a while and haven't stopped them this time, they probably think you're ok with it. We used to live on a cul de sac and had the biggest stretch of open front yard. All the kids would come over and play baseball/football in our yard, but we eventually had to ask them to stop because they were killing the grass.

Personally I'd be fine if they were passing through the yard, or overflowing into the yard as @Truth Bombs: described. Sledding in someone else's front yard seems a bit strange though.

Are they bringing actual toboggans while they wait for the bus ? If not it wouldn’t bother me because I feel like that much damage can’t be done from kids just rolling and sliding down on their bums and at some point we have to let kids be kids.

At the end of the day though, it’s your property which means your rules, and you can determine what you’re comfortable with.

I'm assuming if these kids are out solo they are a little older...I would say just talk to the kids and explain that it really isn't safe for them to play there and ask them to play somewhere else. It seems like having a conversation with the kids/parents would resolve the problem. You have some legit concerns. I think putting up a barrier without ever talking to anyone may come across as passive aggressive...

I'm a total curmudgeon and this would annoy me to no end. That's your private property! What parent in their right mind thinks it's okay to let their kids play on someone else's private property without that person's permission???

@gestalt: The dads just nodded in response?