Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

I feel like this is one part of parenting that is so tough!

How do you handle unsupervised kids at a party especially when you don't know the kids.

My sister had my niece's christening at my parents house today. Her dh's side's kids were out of control and unsupervised. Playing with wiffle ball bats and not being aware of all the little ones around, standing on the CAC Unit outside, jumping fences, tackling other kids and running into the street (my parents live on a pretty dangerous side street). Kids were between 4.5 and 8

The parents did nothing!this infurrites me! Today I proab came off a little bit rude but it was for the safety of all the kids. I don't understand how parents can't let their 4.5 year old play in the street

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

A huge pet peeve of mine are parents who attend parties and assume everyone else will babysit their kids while they kick back and enjoy. No. News flash: Enjoying parties in a leisurely fashion does not occur when you have small children present.

I had a similar situation yesterday. My DS is 3 and he is a follower of the older kids who were the ones misbehaving. So basically, how I "handled" it (which I don't necessarily think was the right way..I just didn't really know what to do) was I kept reprimanding my son, such as "Don't jump on the furniture" (yes that actually happened at someone else's home much to my dismay) and then usually ding dong parent would wake up after hearing me say that and reprimand their own kid. It was stupid and annoying.

Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

I dont care if i know them or not. I'll tell them to stop.

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

Its all in the approach and how you say things. I have asked others people to children to stop doing things. Or not to treat my child or another persons child unkindly.
I dont yell or get nasty i just explain that they have to stop. If i really dont like the behavior i remove my child. I tell her she has to play somewhere else.

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

IMO: Remove your child. Then, tell whichever parents of kid that is doing something really out of ordinary that their kid may get hurt (like from jumping on an AC unit or running into the street).

Honestly, I think there is a big range of ages here. An 6-8 year old can easily & safely play with a wiffle ball bat, a soccer ball, even a full on baseball. They should know how to go safely in the street to retrieve a ball (depending on where they grew up).

The littles (under 5) can often not really "get" the game & can get hurt. Best thing, IMO, is to separate the ages & that's hard when it is family. Best thing is if you have a little, take them out of the picture (go inside, color, decorate something).

That being said, I have been both sides of the fence: I had kids that were running into the street (I took my younger, less savvy kids out of the game) & when I was hosting a party & had kids that were 3-7 running in a circle indoors, which scared the parents of littler kids (1-2) who wanted to join in, but could have been knocked over... It was impossible as a host to have gymboree safety with those age kids... You can't expect kids to sit with their arms folded.

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

I see that a lot of times at the park, where parents with a bunch of children just assume that their older ones will watch the younger. lmao. Not happening. The older kids aren't the babysitters, they're there to play too. So I always see toddler aged kids unsupervised. I've yet to say anything to a parent, but I know that I would if it reached a point of unsafety. The laziness of some parents infuriates me though. And I have most certainly corrected children when they are not behaving correctly (like if a kid pushes another kid, etc). If their parents can't do their job, then I will in that moment. I think it just comes natural from being a preschool teacher, it's hard to stop myself when I see kids that are out of control or behaving unacceptably.

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

I was at one recently where there was a toy the kids kept wanting to use. Except they couldn't bc we were all sitting at the tables by it bc it was the only shade. The kids kept trying to go on or asking to we kept telling them no. We all had 2/3 year olds so we were in the mix supervising anyway. If a kid is doing something dangerous I tell them to stop and if they don't I tell their parents.

Message edited 6/29/2015 2:53:46 PM.

Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

I reprimand. I come from a huge family and it's been the rule forever that you listen to the adults around you. There is no going to the parent bc as the adult you take care of it. I'm the same way at the park. It takes a village to raise kids.

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

Re: Unsupervised kids at parties-how do you deal?!

When my children were younger, I made sure to keep a close eye on things, but I admit, now that they're older I do give them a longer leash. My best friend lives on a street where all of the neighborhood kids play together. They pretty much go from house to house. My older ds can go off on his own- he's almost 9. My younger ds is 5 and has to play at the house we are at or ask me to walk him over to someone else's house. The kids get into little arguments here or there, but they work it out. I personally believe in giving kids a little independence. If they show they are not ready for it (disrespecting people's property or not following the rules) then I remove them for a time out. But generally they are good kids. They play really nicely together and I'm just thrilled they're outside making fun like kids, then inside watching TV or playing video games.