Kids hanging around me while fixing car

I honestly don’t think things are such that you’ll be “labelled” for talking to neighbourhood kids or tying a shoelace. My kids, and all their friends, occasionally chat to people in our estate about their car/cat/dog/whatever, and I have kids I don’t know come up to me and ask questions if I’m doing stuff in the front garden. It’s perfectly normal, and any parent who lets their kids out to play in public in the first place will know that it’s perfectly normal.

If you don’t want to talk to them for whatever reason, or don’t want to tie a lace, that’s perfectly fine, just tell them you’re busy and to move on and play elsewhere.

If you do chat to them, obviously don’t let them into your house, into the car, or give them treats or anything - that’s where a line would be crossed. But you clearly know that yourself.

Sometimes it’s good to get to know the kids in your area - as they grow up, they’re less likely to give you any hassle if they know you.

And I certainly wouldn’t worry about servicing your car on the road. Obviously don’t leave an angle grinder running unattended, but don’t worry about your bag of spanners and sockets.

This is really a sad situation but you're probably right to not fully engage with them. I say it's sad because we had an old man on my estate when I was a kid who was a welder. Any time we saw him out in his shed we would all go in and watch him work on whatever and he would teach us and tell us what he was doing. Unfortunately I couldnt see that happening nowadays and it's a sad reflection on society.

Even from my own pov, we have the kids from across the green knock into our house to ask can they take my dog to play with him. At first I wasnt sure what to do so went over to ask the parents was this ok. Now when they knock in I always make sure they've told their.parents first and they go off happily with the dog around the green. It's sad that I have to be so careful about something so simple as a child wanting to play with a dog.

Bobtheman wrote: »

I disagree. Tying a kids shoe laces is just that no matter how social service over Lord's spin it. Perhaps move your car tinkering to another place if you want privacy

All it takes is someone to say " that old fella is always chatting with the young kids and asking do they want a spin in his car" and you will be labelled a paedo under the " no smoke without fire" rule. Middle aged, single, no kids enough said

Edgware wrote: »

All it takes is someone to say " that old fella is always chatting with the young kids and asking do they want a spin in his car" and you will be labelled a paedo under the " no smoke without fire" rule. Middle aged, single, no kids enough said

Like this isn’t something that realistically happens though, is it? I’m sure people have anecdotal stories that can’t be verified, but it’s not something I’ve ever heard of in my own life happening nor do I see it on the news. If anything what I’d be more familiar with from my own experience is people who I’d consider a bit suss being allowed to actively participate in areas that’d give them access to children, rather than innocent people being burned at the stake over non-incidents. But the point is what you’re saying isn’t enough of a thing IMO to advise another person to modify their behaviour accordingly.

Id make it clear you don't want the attention or audience, spin it like you're doing something dangerous and they could get hurt.

The real issue here is not the children, its the parents.

A lot of people aren't right in the head.