Forum: lifehacks.stackexchange.com
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Title: How to deal with kids playing outside my house?
Question: I live in India. My neighbor's kids play cricket outside my house and keeps scratching and denting my car with the ball. I have talked with the parents and asked them to use a soft or sponge ball rather than a plastic one. But they do not seem cooperative and their tone is not friendly. How do I effectively deal with kids, preferably without involving legal authorities?

Answers:
sents: text: An increasingly common trick in Britain to deter youngsters from an area is to play them classical music.
text: This sort of music is seen as highly uncool and they find somewhere else to hang out.
text: This was discussed at length on the BBC News Website when it first became popular.
text: The downside in a residential area is that you may annoy the neighbours - or violate noise abatement laws.
text: It would be worth doing this in concert (sorry!)
text: with your neighbours rather than unilaterally.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/6973/Chenmunka
score: 11
sents: text: As complaining about kids is not "cool", especially when they are small, although it is morally and legally fair.
text: Its good to find an alternative, I'm glad you have started to think about this.
text: Now, what is a cool way to handle those cute faced tiny lovable monsters?
text: Step 1:
text: Make friends with them.
text: You might think this is not worth it on the moment of first thought but trust me playing with kids helps you in many ways Step 2: Explain your problem to them and they will understand now.
text: The thing is kids don't like to follow orders, especially if it messes with their favorite things (playing cricket with a hard ball in your case).But, if friends ask the same, they "listen".
text: Simple, problem solved and now you have more friends too.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/20827/matrixisreal
score: 4
sents: text: I have an in ground irrigation system tied to my Alexa.
text: For a while when a neighbors dog would use my yard
text: I'd turn on that section of the irrigation system.
text: They stopped.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/1419/Sidney
score: 4
sents: text: Proof that the damage to your car is from the kids, bring the parents an official looking document in which you claim payment for the damages.
text: You can soften that a bit by telling them that you will not take action yet but will do so when there is further damage to the car or any other of your posessions.
text: When the parents take you serious they will keep the kids from damaging your things.
text: This is not a friendly way, so it might be better to just talk rather than to bring it to the point.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/19058/Willeke
score: 3
sents: text: A simple shelter covering your car is probably the best answer.
text: A
text: (rigid) car cover, plastic shed or quonset (half-cylinder lying on its side) can be very inexpensive and will keep cricket balls (as well as sun, tree sap, and bird droppings) off your car.
text: Even a tent would work, as long as it has walls at least on the long sides.
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/9830/Zeiss Ikon
score: 2
sents: text: We all have been kids and world was great at those years.
text: Even evil things let us feel cool.
text: Maybe that is why they find your car as a target.
text: But I can suggest a responsible behavior instead of finding a solution to get rid of them.
text: In your situation if I were you I would take tour with them with your car
text: so your car will became valuable for them too.
text: Be their friends they will even fight for your car :D
text: Another solution while you have a voice much more than kids speak with municipal authority to make them a place where they can play safely which was rounded by fence.
text: It would be amazing if you can do it , wouldn't it ?
answer_details: author: lifehacks.stackexchange.com/users/19012/melic
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
There are a few ways to address this situation. One effective way would be to simply protect your car using a car cover, a plastic shed or even a tent. Alternatively, you could try to simply befriend the children so that they will be more likely to listen to you. Another technique with is seen to be increasinly common is to play them classical music. As a last resort, you may want to try to prove that they have damaged your car and claim payment for the damage from their parents.
The options are to play loud classical music as a deterrent, threaten the parents with an official looking document, get a rigid cover or plastic shed for the car, befriend the children and perhaps give them a ride in the car and explain the problem to them or petition the local authority to make a fenced off area for playing cricket.