Stop kids from knocking at dinner time

[Anonymous]

When our son was an infant, two sets of neighbors kids kept knocking. It made no sense that 4-5-6 year olds were coming over to play with an infant. I think the parents were looking for free babysitting. I said no every time and sent them away (I did it nicely but really, I don't want to babysit your kids when I have an infant).

[Anonymous]

I would eat dinner 30 minutes later, heck I'd eat dinner at 8 and put the kids to bed at midnight if I could live in the kind of neighborhood where kids still regularly knock on each other's doors to come and play. Do you not realize how lucky you are OP? Or do you not see the advantage of kids arranging their own playtime over the kind of structured supervised play that happens at school and aftercare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP with same problem. Our 20016 neighborhood is filled with the entitled narcissistic sons of entitled narcissists--so telling them no directly, repeatedly does not work.

It's just a power trip for the boys in our block. They repeatedly try to interrupt our dinner schedule and then as soon as my son is out here with them--10 minutes later--the neighbor kid suddenly has to go in because their parent has put dinner on their table. It's like their parents rule is important and ours isn't in their minds--they feel entitled to be entertained on their schedule only. Their parents are self absorbed tools and their kids are just the same.

Wow. Aren't you a lovely neighbor.

What exactly would you like the neighborhood boys to do differently? Not ask your son to play? Not come in when their parents call them for dinner? is there a reason you can't eat 30 minutes later so that your son can play with them for more than 10 minutes?

OP here, I know exactly the situation this person is describing. We have a different friend who wants her kids to play during a set time during the weekends. So typical scenario is that her kids will start playing outside, kid comes with parent and knocks, we say 'sure, we'll be there in a few mins once we get jackets on and finish snack', mom waits and chats with us, kids go out and then within 10 mins mom says 'adios'. Why stop over at our house and ask us to play if you know you are going to head back in a few minutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP with same problem. Our 20016 neighborhood is filled with the entitled narcissistic sons of entitled narcissists--so telling them no directly, repeatedly does not work.

It's just a power trip for the boys in our block. They repeatedly try to interrupt our dinner schedule and then as soon as my son is out here with them--10 minutes later--the neighbor kid suddenly has to go in because their parent has put dinner on their table. It's like their parents rule is important and ours isn't in their minds--they feel entitled to be entertained on their schedule only. Their parents are self absorbed tools and their kids are just the same.

Wow. Aren't you a lovely neighbor.

What exactly would you like the neighborhood boys to do differently? Not ask your son to play? Not come in when their parents call them for dinner? is there a reason you can't eat 30 minutes later so that your son can play with them for more than 10 minutes?

OP here, I know exactly the situation this person is describing. We have a different friend who wants her kids to play during a set time during the weekends. So typical scenario is that her kids will start playing outside, kid comes with parent and knocks, we say 'sure, we'll be there in a few mins once we get jackets on and finish snack', mom waits and chats with us, kids go out and then within 10 mins mom says 'adios'. Why stop over at our house and ask us to play if you know you are going to head back in a few minutes?

Big deal! We live in a cul de sac. There are kids outside playing all the time. Some may knock on our door to see if x or y kid can play and perhaps after 10 min. they are called in to dinner or for something else. Who cares and why are people keeping track? It is a neighborhood, people! Have a sense of community!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I would say "please dont' knock the door" EVAH. If my kids are done with dinner, homework, whatever else and want to be outside - they are there. If not, I don't want to be disturbed and provide an explanation to an 8 y.o. why my kids can't come out.

[Anonymous]

Maybe just don't answer the door during dinner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This still happens? How adorable. We live downtown. If someone knocks on our door during dinner it's either a Jehova's witness or someone trying to rob us.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

I think that it is totally awesome that this happens. I think you should put a sign on your door that has two sides. One green and one red and tell the kids to only knock when it is green.

[Anonymous]

What is wrong with you people? We moved into a neighborhood like this last year. I am thankful we did every time the doorbell rings. My children are thrilled to have friends stop by. In our last neighborhood they would have never been allowed outside without an adult and children did not walk house to house. A friend came over tonight as we were getting ready for bed. I thought it was late to be out alone, but there's no school tomorrow and we weren't doing anything important. Be flexible and grateful for what you and your children have. Also, we don't eat dinner at the same time every night. If you do, tell them directly that they can play during certain hours.

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound like a bitch. Who gives a shit. This is not a problem. Your kids probably beg them to knock to get away from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thing is we eat at 6:30 and most of these kids eat earlier. So when hears them knocking, DS stops eating and tantrums. It is late by the time we are done and it is time for bed. Ds plays a lot in school and after-care, so he is also tired and cranky at that time.

Have shorter dinners.
Align your eating time with the esting time of the other families - in the least for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Based on your original post, you weren't clear with the children that you will always be eating at that time every night and they shouldn't knock. You need to spell it out for them because right now they aren't wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thing is we eat at 6:30 and most of these kids eat earlier. So when hears them knocking, DS stops eating and tantrums. It is late by the time we are done and it is time for bed. Ds plays a lot in school and after-care, so he is also tired and cranky at that time.

Have shorter dinners.
Align your eating time with the esting time of the other families - in the least for your kids.

First off kids don't play in school.
Second, kids at aftercare are not his friends, he is forced to be there because you work
Three, when he actually has friends coming and he wants to do something on his own, you eye roll and complain?

Stop structuring your kid's life. Chill the F out and let him go out and play and get dirty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thing is we eat at 6:30 and most of these kids eat earlier. So when hears them knocking, DS stops eating and tantrums. It is late by the time we are done and it is time for bed. Ds plays a lot in school and after-care, so he is also tired and cranky at that time.

Have shorter dinners.
Align your eating time with the esting time of the other families - in the least for your kids.

First off kids don't play in school.
Second, kids at aftercare are not his friends, he is forced to be there because you work
Three, when he actually has friends coming and he wants to do something on his own, you eye roll and complain?

Stop structuring your kid's life. Chill the F out and let him go out and play and get dirty.

Yeah - seems to suck to be this kid.

Get an after school babysitter instead of aftercare?

[Anonymous]

We have a friend who does this. Right at dinner time every time. I don't understand why the mom doesn't text before he comes over to check. That's how the rest of the parents in the neighborhood handle spontaneous playdates.

I might suggest that to him next time I have to turn him away.

Honestly, if it were a kid we liked more I probably wouldn't mind so much. But this particular kid is super bratty and obnoxious. It just makes the intrusion that much more annoying.