Kids playing on the road

The Denouncer · 07-09-2007 10:29AM #1

I don't want to sound too much like a Moaning Non-Parent who doesn't understand..but..
I live in an estate where kids are constantly playing on the road, older kids on bikes, toddlers on 3 wheelers, and running around, Sitting on the road etc. There is a sizeable green area in the estate with paths that can be cycled on but me impression is the parents want to be able to look out of their window and see Little Johnny and Mary playing with the traffic. Sometimes its so bad that the road is like a creche.. trying to reverse into my driveway has become a headache with kids darting behind me, even going into my garden etc. One kid left his bike in front of my driveway and when I moved it he came over and flung his helmet in front of my car in a temper. Another older one stopped and tried to stare me out of it while I was reversing (yes I had a word with him). Whats wrong with these kids or their parents?

nobodythere · 07-09-2007 10:46AM

Why don't you ask the parents instead of the invisible people on the other side of the internet

mikemac · 07-09-2007 10:52AM

So true OP.
And the parents who allow this are the same busybodies who demand speed ramps every few metres and are horrified if someone put a mobile phone mast nearby.

They'll spend their time standing outside their front door giving the evil eye to any motorists who dares to drive through the estate while their little children play on the road. But think nothing of blocking footpaths as they drop the little darlings metres from the front door of the school.

Yep, thats a good description of a lot suburban mothers living in housing estates

gurramok · 07-09-2007 10:54AM

Be glad that the kids can play outside on the street unlike in some other countries where its not even safe for them to do so.
Many of us were kids once who did the exact same thing, so get over it!

Kazobel · 07-09-2007 11:06AM

It's the same where I live, one kid was playing under a truck a few years ago and the driver didn't see him and reversed over his head and crushed it and still they never learn, the kids are still left to play on the roads

Niamho! · 07-09-2007 11:14AM

yeah we've loads around us. a little fella got knocked down outside my house a few weeks ago. luckily enough the Neighbour who went into him is a slow driver. but he broke his shoulder, the kid shot out on a bike between two cars.
i see it myself if i come up a road and theres kids playing football they make no decent attempt to move outta the way. they've no fear at all the little Sh*ts!!

Linford · 07-09-2007 11:32AM

OP, did you never play on your road as a kid? If you live on a cul-de-sac or road with very light traffic where its safe for the kids to play on the road consider yourself very lucky... Maybe some day you'll have kids

Dave! · 07-09-2007 11:39AM

We all did the same thing........

Kinetic^ · 07-09-2007 11:43AM

500 points per kid knocked down, 1200 for a double hit and the jackpot is if you hit twins, 5000 points!!!!!

faceman · 07-09-2007 12:32PM

unfortunatley davemcg is right and its something that's never gonna change. (altho we once put a knife through a kids football cos it kept hittin cars parked on the street!! :eek:)

Dave! · 07-09-2007 12:36PM

An old man on our road used to get his dog's sh*t and throw it out on the road and path in front of his house, so that we wouldn't play football.

Harsh!

giveth · 07-09-2007 12:40PM

I think kids should be allowed play on cul-de-sac estate streets. Its the drivers that should be going VERY slow on these roads. Would you rather the kids stay inside just so you can drive fast?
Greens arent suitable for riding bikes and some other activities....

Its the same where I live, but I drive about 2 miles an hour on the street.

But of course the kids should be taught road sense before they are allowed out.

I'm not a parent by the way.

stovelid · 07-09-2007 12:42PM

The Denouncer wrote:

I don't want to sound too much like a Moaning Non-Parent who doesn't understand..

You do.

joe_chicken · 07-09-2007 01:01PM

Whatever you do, you shouldn't draw attention to the fact it annoys you, they will only torment you more.

Go out and try and talk to them someday, start the conversation with a little:
"Hey you hip hop kids, whats the 411?"
Followed by a little:
"Have you heard any of fi'ty cents new album, I hear it's da bomb"

After that, they'll ignore you like the plague.

Dave! · 07-09-2007 01:08PM

Or maybe they'll befriend him! You'll see the OP out playing kick the can with a bunch of 8 year olds!

AlmightyCushion · 07-09-2007 02:11PM

DaveMcG wrote:

We all did the same thing........

Agreed.

Reku · 07-09-2007 02:54PM

gurramok wrote:

Be glad that the kids can play outside on the street unlike in some other countries where its not even safe for them to do so.

Maybe this is the solution, spread a rumour about a paedophile being seen in the area?:D

gurramok wrote:

Many of us were kids once who did the exact same thing, so get over it!

DaveMcG wrote:

We all did the same thing........

True...:rolleyes:

giveth wrote:

I think kids should be allowed play on cul-de-sac estate streets. Its the drivers that should be going VERY slow on these roads. Would you rather the kids stay inside just so you can drive fast?
Greens arent suitable for riding bikes and some other activities....

Its the same where I live, but I drive about 2 miles an hour on the street.

But of course the kids should be taught road sense before they are allowed out.

I'm not a parent by the way.

Cul-de-sacs - fine, but often you will see them out on generic roads playing (yet to see them try it on a main road thankfully).

The Denouncer · 07-09-2007 03:04PM

stovelid wrote:

You do.

Fine. Still you wouldn't believe the way the little spoiled ****s go on.

stcatherine · 07-09-2007 03:13PM

It is true we all did this when we were kids, but in my case that was over 20years ago and not everyone had cars let alone 2 or 3 per household, I certainly wouldn't allow my 6 year old to play out on the roads, but I've also noticed a serious lack of 'playgrounds' in this country for kids to play safely in.
Even my 6 year old asked me this morning on the way to school why there are so many 'patches' of grass around our estate but no playgrounds or play areas
(we've just moved from UK )....at the time I thought it's just cos Irish kids are more into playing football and hurling but I'm not so sure that's the real reason.

Slow Motion · 07-09-2007 03:16PM

There are more golf courses in this country than playgrounds ! Go figure !

simu · 07-09-2007 03:17PM

stcatherine wrote:

Even my 6 year old asked me this morning on the way to school why there are so many 'patches' of grass around our estate but no playgrounds or play areas
(we've just moved from UK )....at the time I thought it's just cos Irish kids are more into playing football and hurling but I'm not so sure that's the real reason.

A patch of crappy grass is what passes for a green space/leisure space in most parts of this country. Purpose-built playgrounds are few and far-between.

I'm amazed anyone would let their kid on the road. We were always warned to stay away from it as kids. Thought that was the norm.

joe_chicken · 07-09-2007 03:20PM

simu wrote:

I'm amazed anyone would let their kid on the road. We were always warned to stay away from it as kids. Thought that was the norm.

Depends on how big the road is.

Terry · 07-09-2007 03:21PM

simu wrote:

A patch of crappy grass is what passes for a green space/leisure space in most parts of this country. Purpose-built playgrounds are few and far-between.

I'm amazed anyone would let their kid on the road. We were always warned to stay away from it as kids. Thought that was the norm.

The problem with purpose built playgrounds is that the compo heads ruin them for everyone else.

ScumLord · 07-09-2007 03:32PM

I didn't have purpose built playgrounds we used to play on the street (cul de sac in a small town) there and the old graveyard behind the house. The big difference was we all knew our neighbours so any mischief we got up to was quickly reported back to our parents.

the_syco · 07-09-2007 03:55PM

When I was young, I played in the stret (it was a cul-de-sac), the fields, the green area. When we saw a car coming, we'd get off the road. Most kids around here will get out of the way when they see a car coming, but IMO, the kids that don't will get hit.

For the arguement of more golf courses than there are playgrounds: most golf courses are far far away from eststes.

stovelid · 07-09-2007 04:28PM

The Denouncer wrote:

Fine. Still you wouldn't believe the way the little spoiled ****s go on.

They're children, not garden ornaments. That means they do annoying, inpulsive things. Like I and nearly everybody here else did.

Nothing you can do except take care not to run them over.

joe_chicken wrote:

Depends on how big the road is.

Or how willing you were to listen to your ol' pair. That is, not.

simu · 07-09-2007 04:31PM

There are actually private playgrounds being built all over the country (usually indoors). This is a sad reflection on this country imo. I'd nevr take my kid to them on principle and because they're all out in business parks in the suburbs in Cork so you need a car to get to them.

@Terry - I know there's a problem with compo culture in this country but is that really a factor in the lack of playgrounds? There are some playgrounds here alright so it's not an impossibility. I always thought they were ignored because developers would rather continue buidling more houses (more profitable) and our govt seems to be useless at creating legislation that would require newly-built residential services to be provided with services such as playgrounds (and schools!) for their residents.

Terry · 07-09-2007 05:38PM

I think the playgrounds usually fall under the town/ county councils.
There was one 5 miles from here when I was a kid. It fell into disrepair after someone sued the council. Probably over a grazed knee or something.

They recently rebuilt it, but I'm not up to scratch on what it's like. Not having kids of my own, I tend not to go there.
There's another one close by, which according to my family is quite good. The thing is, it's one of those proivate ones you refer to.

You're dead right about the lack of incentive on the part of local councils.

gurramok · 07-09-2007 06:21PM

Compo culture is big factor.

One report recently said that i think it was something like 40% of schools don't let the kids run in the school playground out of fear of compo claims.

Kids only real option at exercise is a bit of supervised sport at school and playing on the street. And we all know that not all kids play school sports.

And people wonder why kids are fatter these days!

Victor · 07-09-2007 09:15PM

Of course, for thousands of years, children have payed on roads. It is only a recent thing that people park cars on roads.

LeixlipRed · 07-09-2007 09:48PM

I'm 22 and I'd still have a kickabout on the road the odd time or kick a ball about with some of the kids round here. I ****ing hate people who complain about balls going into their gardens and their poor plants being broken. You don't like kids move to the country where there's no one around. KIds are harmless and we all did it at one stage. There's one guy on our road who's about 60 now. No family or kids and wont let anyone play within a 50 foot radius of his house. Such a sad old git

Kids playing on the road

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