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RedZin, I don't like it either. I do wish there were a few more kids in our neighborhood (older neighborhood, big mix demographically), but my kids are kind of introverts, too, and want to pick when they are around friends.
I'm also not a big fan of kids always showing up unannounced. We used to live in a neighborhood like that in PA and it was O.K. when my kids were very little but as they got older, even they sometimes would get annoyed and feel obligated to go out and play when they had maybe just settled down to unwind. Now that my boys are 5th and 8th grade, they ONLY want to play with their friends from school and are NOT AT ALL all interested in hanging out much with random neighborhood kids. I think when kids are very little they are just happy to play with anyone, but as they mature and develop specific interests, they are much more selective and make friends at school, sports clubs, etc... This is just my 2 cents, of course, but I feel we get so much more out of our neighborhood of mixed ages that I would never again want to be in a neighborhood with all school aged families (or any one demographic for that matter). We have the most interesting neighborhood Christmas and summer parties and it's refreshing to mix with a multitude of generations/perspectives.
I'm also not a big fan of kids always showing up unannounced. We used to live in a neighborhood like that in PA and it was O.K. when my kids were very little but as they got older, even they sometimes would get annoyed and feel obligated to go out and play when they had maybe just settled down to unwind. Now that my boys are 5th and 8th grade, they ONLY want to play with their friends from school and are NOT AT ALL all interested in hanging out much with random neighborhood kids. I think when kids are very little they are just happy to play with anyone, but as they mature and develop specific interests, they are much more selective and make friends at school, sports clubs, etc... This is just my 2 cents, of course, but I feel we get so much more out of our neighborhood of mixed ages that I would never again want to be in a neighborhood with all school aged families (or any one demographic for that matter). We have the most interesting neighborhood Christmas and summer parties and it's refreshing to mix with a multitude of generations/perspectives.
I think that's why it doesn't happen so much for us now. Lots of older kids here and they have their friends and that's that. yay.
Is it weird that I'm not a fan of other people's kids coming to my house unannounced?
Serious question. I feel like an outlier. I love kids. All kids, not just mine.
I just never cared for them randomly appearing.
I don't know if you are an outlier. But I love it when my son's friends stop over to play. If he is busy, I just let them know he can't play right now. if he isn't, for the most part they head outside to play, so it isn't an inconvenience. And if they want to play inside, I'm fine with that as well (if I wasn't, I'd just let them know that he can't play right now).
I don't know if you are an outlier. But I love it when my son's friends stop over to play. If he is busy, I just let them know he can't play right now. if he isn't, for the most part they head outside to play, so it isn't an inconvenience. And if they want to play inside, I'm fine with that as well (if I wasn't, I'd just let them know that he can't play right now).
I guess after three kids, I'm sorta glad mine all became introverts at home.
I think it's great for people who like it. It's just not my thing.
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I don't know if you are an outlier. But I love it when my son's friends stop over to play. If he is busy, I just let them know he can't play right now. if he isn't, for the most part they head outside to play, so it isn't an inconvenience. And if they want to play inside, I'm fine with that as well (if I wasn't, I'd just let them know that he can't play right now).
Same here but we let our kids take ownership of the decision. They know when they can and can't go out.
We'd much rather have the kids be outside than inside if the weather is accommodating.
The kids in my neighborhood call for each other and play outside. It is never assumed that they will play inside unless those arrangements are made by the parents. My daughter knows if I can't see her, she is not where she belongs. It reminds me of te way I used to play when I was little.
I think it is great for kids to run and play outside and be creative with the games they play. I would be very unhappy if my child sat in the house watching tv and playing games. I also think it helps develope their social skills.
The kids in my neighborhood call for each other and play outside. It is never assumed that they will play inside unless those arrangements are made by the parents. My daughter knows if I can't see her, she is not where she belongs. It reminds me of te way I used to play when I was little.
I think it is great for kids to run and play outside and be creative with the games they play. I would be very unhappy if my child sat in the house watching tv and playing games. I also think it helps develope their social skills.
I don't disagree with the value of playing outdoors. All of mine have played outside at times when they were younger. And they don't have social problems. Some kids are just more outgoing than others. My eldest was my most outgoing kid and he knew I didn't allow random kids wandering in and out and wanting food and drinks or whatnot. So, he always asked permission. My middle kid mostly tagged along with his older brother or hung out by himself. He wasn't so social. It's just his personality. He's got a couple of close friends who occasionally visit (their neighborhoods are within biking distance) but they always plan in advance.
My daughter tends to text/call her friends the most, but at her age (14) they make plans to do things, they don't roam around. They don't want to.
Some of this is age related. Mine are teens/early 20s now.
My kids also have always gotten along extremely well and entertained one another. People are often amazed that they really don't fight/argue. Eh. It's just their combo of personalities.
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