breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,357 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 29, 2016 14:48:38 GMT
Sunny weather=neighbor kids ringing the doorbell from 8 am to 8 pm. Sometimes we want to sleep in, sometimes my kids aren't home, sometimes they don't want to play, sometimes they can't play (haven't done their chores), sometimes we are playing in the backyard (and don't need company), sometimes we are eating a meal, and sometimes I just want to drive down the street and not have to avoid eye contact with the neighbor kids because any movement seems to be a sign that we are available to play...
I am thinking of some kind of LARGE colorful "We can/can't play" flag or preferably something I can change without going outside (because going outside even to get the mail seems to be a sign that we want to socialize) that can be seen from the end of the driveway before the pitter patter of footsteps on my porch starts.
Has anyone done anything like this, and did it work? My inner introvert would prefer to never give the green flag, but I'd try to change it once a day, for my kids sake...
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
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Post by freebird on Apr 29, 2016 14:57:35 GMT
I think the flag is a good idea, it'll take a while to clue everyone in probably but I don't like being bothered either so I get what you're saying.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Apr 29, 2016 15:22:16 GMT
A few ladies in on of my fb groups have done this and it worked well for them they said. They got 2 mini chalkboards and on one side it has "We CAN play" the other side "Sorry we can NOT play" it hangs on string on their front door and they just turn it over to whatever is appropriate.
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Post by Patter on Apr 29, 2016 15:24:43 GMT
We had a sign on our door that said "Triplets Napping; Do Not Ring/Knocked." Worked amazing. Now, for Halloween this past October, I covered the doorbell with black electrical tape. We don't participate in Halloween. I haven't had anyone ring the bell since I covered it up. Yep, I kept the tape there. LOVE it!! Everyone that sees it loves it and wants to add it to their doorbell.  Even the UPS/Fed Ex/USPS people don't ring anymore. I am in heaven. |
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Post by myshelly on Apr 29, 2016 15:33:16 GMT
Baby stores sell doorbell locks now. You slip it over the doorbell button and people can't access it.
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IAmUnoriginal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
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Post by IAmUnoriginal on Apr 29, 2016 15:41:07 GMT
I printed this out last summer and it worked wonders. melancholysmile.blogspot.com/2011/04/can-i-stay-or-should-i-go-now.html?m=1I just hung it on the handle of our screen door, which is right next to the bell button. My SIL printed the same one. Her doorbell is on the opposite side of her door handle, so she put a Command hook thing above her door bell and hung it there after a couple kids forgot to look for the sign before ringing the bell. Worked for her, too. |
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Apr 29, 2016 16:19:15 GMT
When Alison was little, one of the neighbors had a rule that the neighborhood kids could only come by when their garage was up. I thought it worked very well.
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Post by olbrwneyedgirl on Apr 29, 2016 16:23:19 GMT
Yup, we had a 9 foot tall flag (similar to outside a business). Ours was a signal the kids *could* play.
It did seem that once it was it was out, it was free reign for the entire day...but that was MY issue. Just a word of forewarning from my experience.
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 29, 2016 17:18:47 GMT
Baby stores sell doorbell locks now. You slip it over the doorbell button and people can't access it. Wouldn't they just knock loudly? Kids are persistent. |
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Post by 950nancy on Apr 29, 2016 17:31:23 GMT
I would go with the flag idea. We were lucky to have two sons two years apart who were best friends. They also didn't live in the same district where they went to school. Their best friend lived across the street and 98% of the time they played outside. This went on all the way through graduation. Neighborhood kids on a rotating basis would have driven me crazy. They would have had to play outside.
It is kind of sad though. The only two rules growing up at my house were be home by the time the streetlights came on and play with your friends outside. We always were home for meals and my mom must have had a lot of free time.
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Post by twinks on Apr 29, 2016 17:41:16 GMT
Growing up, our house was the go to house. We had a large area of grass, a trampoline (when no one else had one), basketball standard in the driveway, perfect area for rollerskating, an outdoor water fountain, and an extra fridge in the garage full of treats. My parents wanted it that way. However, they also wanted some "family time" or time when we could just go outside and play without neighborhood kids. My dad did the flag idea. It was perfect. The flag was on a pole that was out by our mailbox. Everyone could see it before they ever got to the house. We also had a very set dinner time. Everyone knew that we had dinner from 6:00pm to 7:00pm and to not bother us.
It also worked when my Mom had just had enough noise and confusion for the day. She would come out the back door and yell, "Five minutes!" and we all knew that she would be walking down the driveway with the flag in 5 minutes.
I can't remember how long it took for word to get out about the flag idea, but, it wasn't too long. Pretty soon, other parents in our neighborhood were doing it as well.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 8:22:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 17:48:23 GMT
I need to do this for the kiddos across the street. I have a pool and no one swimming in it so I'd love them to enjoy it....but only when I'm home and when my grandbaby is not napping. I'm thinking I should just toss a beach towel across the top of the gate....that can be their flag.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
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Post by pridemom on Apr 29, 2016 18:29:24 GMT
I need to do this for the kiddos across the street. I have a pool and no one swimming in it so I'd love them to enjoy it....but only when I'm home and when my grandbaby is not napping. I'm thinking I should just toss a beach towel across the top of the gate....that can be their flag. You're a nice neighbor. That's very sweet to share your pool. |
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,451
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Apr 29, 2016 19:15:49 GMT
I love the flag and the other similar ideas. Maybe an open/closed sign in the window.
My mom could've used that idea. Our house was the neighborhood gathering place.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,708
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Post by anniebeth24 on Apr 29, 2016 22:37:46 GMT
When I was a kid, we had a dry-erase type board near our entry door. It usually said something like "We are eating dinner - come back later."
One time, an adult neighbor stopped by just as I was about to display the sign. With my graceful 5 year-old manners, I pointed to the sign and closed the door on her. Mom was mortified.
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Even the UPS/Fed Ex/USPS people don't ring anymore. I am in heaven. 
