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Do you feed the neighbor kids?
We have new neighbors, our kids ( age 5 and 2.5) are friends with their kids (ages 4,6, and 10).
They
typically play in the yards, and sometimes our house. When they are in
our house they always ask for food. even when they are just in our
yard - they'll open the screen door and ask for food. They ask for the
fruit we have on the counter.
When
they are in our house I'll typically feed them, outside, eh. It
aggrevates my DH to no end b/c "we didn't do that as kids" I agree with
him, but I don't care that much though. I don't give snacks to my kids
unless I'd give to the friends too, but it's not my kids asking, it's
the friends.
I don't think they are poor as they just bought a house, a trampoline, drive a nice car, etc. . . . But the kids always say they don't have fruit at their house.
Do you feed your kids'friends? or tell them to go home and eat (they live right next door BTW).
Today they've been outside, a rare 60 degrees in Dec in WI. From the 3 kids we've been asked 5 times.
Replies
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Have you talked to their parents about it? Sometimes kids don't know what they are doing is considered rude unless they are told it's rude and to not do it.
If my son has a friend over (I can only handle one kid at a time) I will of course feed them. No question about it. But my son rarely has friends over. Our next door neighbors do not have children my son's age. If I were in your situation I would most definitely tell them to go home if they are hungry. There is no way I'd be supplying food to all these children every single day. Unless I KNEW the family was on hard times and were struggling I would have no problem with it. But it just sounds like they have a case of the "see it and grab it" and don't yet know common courtesy.
Talk to the parents, tell them what is going on. I know it would probably awkward but still, your house isn't a grocery store.
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I can remember having lunch at my next door neighbors house all the time. However, she always offered it (usually mac and cheese). I never ever asked for food. I always went home. Talk to the parents. Tell them their kids want fruit.
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Yeah. I have this problem. When my kids go elsewhere, the kids snack on little debbie and ramen. When they're over here, it's fruit, because that's what we have.
I'm thinking of getting a popcorn popper...
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My kids eat on a schedule. If its not time to eat I won't feed the neighbor kids but if it is I'll offer but they have to go ask their parents first.
My kids also know they are not allowed to ask for food. They wait for it to be offered or come home.
I agree with your DH. It is rude.
I would set some guidelines if I were you. If they ask I'd say "it's not snack time yet but if you're hungry you can run home and get a snack." -
I would tell them if they are hungry they need to go get something from their house.
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If they are over visiting a snack like a piece of fruit is fine. If they are asking for food more than 3x throughout the week, then I would tell them to go home and ask their parents to make them something to eat.
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Yes. My kids are teens now. I don't like waiting on their friends so they've learned to help themselves to my food and drinks. If I'm cooking I usually do a head count and ask how many of them want to stay for dinner.
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We did feed other kids- ours are grown, so now longer applicable.
With all the "allergies" present today, I'd be afraid to feed anyone's kid
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Snacks and a drink on occasion, yes. Meals, only when I invite them. I have never had anyone ask to stay for supper other than DD's boyfriend...and he is starting to work my nerves on staying too often for supper.
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No, I don't...