Neighbor kids conned my kid out of piggy bank $- WWYD?

[Anonymous]

A neighborhood kid (age 9) was over at our house for a play date playing with my oldest. They were playing with some walkie talkies and my youngest (age 6) apparently wanted to play too. The neighbor kid told my younger guy that he could have the walkie talkie if he paid her money so apparently he cleaned out his piggy bank and gave it to her. I found out about it a day later when I was helping him clean up his room and noticed is overturned empty piggy bank. We aren't talking a lot of money here (maybe $6) but still, I think it was unfair and inappropriate to do that.

I have already had a talk with my oldest to tell her that was wrong and she needs to stand up for her little brother and not let something like this happen or to come and tell me if she is nervous about confronting a friend. But, I am wondering if I should say something to this kid's guardian.

As some background - the kid lives with her grandparents because her dad is an abusive alcoholic and the mom has been neglectful. This kid has been through the ringer. Her Grandma is a very nice woman who I like a lot and who has shared some of her Granddaughter's history. She has lived in 9 different places in her 9 years. When she was in Kindergarten she had to make all her own meals because she was so neglected, social services was called, etc. She can be a very sweet kid and she can be very sweet to my youngest, so I was pretty suprised when I heard this happened.

I am strongly considering talking the Grandma and though in person might be better than by phone or text. Thoughts??

[Anonymous]

Talk to grandma. In person. Grandma can't help her if she doesn't know what is going on.

[Anonymous]

Talk to your kids but after that just let it go. I am sure the grandma has a lot on her plate...

[Anonymous]

I would say something. A few years ago someone conned my neighbor's kid. It was done innocently enough, but the wrong should be righted. The fact that the child has had a difficult background is not really relevant to the story. I think she's a nice kid and did something without a bad intent...maybe talk to her or the grandmother and just let her know that your child isn't allowed to spend piggy bank money like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to your kids but after that just let it go. I am sure the grandma has a lot on her plate...

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A neighborhood kid (age 9) was over at our house for a play date playing with my oldest. They were playing with some walkie talkies and my youngest (age 6) apparently wanted to play too. The neighbor kid told my younger guy that he could have the walkie talkie if he paid her money so apparently he cleaned out his piggy bank and gave it to her. I found out about it a day later when I was helping him clean up his room and noticed is overturned empty piggy bank. We aren't talking a lot of money here (maybe $6) but still, I think it was unfair and inappropriate to do that.

I have already had a talk with my oldest to tell her that was wrong and she needs to stand up for her little brother and not let something like this happen or to come and tell me if she is nervous about confronting a friend. But, I am wondering if I should say something to this kid's guardian.

As some background - the kid lives with her grandparents because her dad is an abusive alcoholic and the mom has been neglectful. This kid has been through the ringer. Her Grandma is a very nice woman who I like a lot and who has shared some of her Granddaughter's history. She has lived in 9 different places in her 9 years. When she was in Kindergarten she had to make all her own meals because she was so neglected, social services was called, etc. She can be a very sweet kid and she can be very sweet to my youngest, so I was pretty suprised when I heard this happened.

I am strongly considering talking the Grandma and though in person might be better than by phone or text. Thoughts??

Quick question before I offer advice. Did neighbor kid actually give the walkie talkit to your kid? In essence did she sell the toy to your kid? Does your kid now have the walkie talkie? Does the walkie talkie work?

I'm asking those questions because if your kid now has the walkie talkie, then they in essence purchased it from neighbor kid for $6. If that's what happened, I would probably just talk to my kids and not the grandma.

[Anonymous]

I'd be disappointed in the neighbor kid as well. But I would use it as a learning opportunity for my 6yo. It's not a lot of money, and it can be earned back quickly with chores.

But if your kid now has the walkie talkie and your kid wants the walkie talkie, and the walkie talkie is more valuable to your kid than the $6, then I'd say you can talk to your kid about the value of things, but beyond that, leave it.

[Anonymous]

I bet the walkie-talkies are worth more than six bucks. Sounds like your kid got the better end of the deal.

[Anonymous]

I would do nothing. Natural consequences with little lost - there's a great lesson here. Make sure your child understands what happened so he won't fall for it again.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree that's a pretty classic life lesson OP. Better he learns it and feels the sting of $6 lost than $100 down the road.

[Anonymous]

What would you say to the grandma? "Your grand-daughter conned my kid $6 out of piggy bank!"? Really, OP??

[Anonymous]

Does he have the walkie talkie? If so, it was a sale and he lives with it. Ask him in a few days if he thinks it was worth it. Hell, maybe it IS worth it to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he have the walkie talkie? If so, it was a sale and he lives with it. Ask him in a few days if he thinks it was worth it. Hell, maybe it IS worth it to him.

sounds like it was a rental - you can play with it if I get the money. If not, OP's kid conned the neighbor!

[Anonymous]

Your child is 6yo, not 3yo. I would take this as a teaching opportunity.

I have 5yo and 7yo boys. Last year, our 8yo neighbor conned my boys out of Pokemon cards. It wasn't exactly conning but older kid took obvious advantage. 7yo is old enough to trade and quickly realized it was a bad trade. I did not say anything to neighbor except to trade with just his brother.

Then one time 8yo came over and took a handful of 4yo's pokemon cards. it was not a trade. he asked if he could have them. i ran out and asked for the cards back.

[Anonymous]

I was the one who said do nothing but I also wanted to add that I have a new 8 year old and he knows what money is and can count it but doesn't understand the value of it yet. He has no idea whether $6 is fair for walker talkies or not. Nines are probably pretty clueless also, so maybe the kid wasn't being as much of a jerk as you think.