Neighborhood parents expect homeowners to let kids use their backyard as a personal play area: ‘I don't want all these kids in my backyard if I'm not there’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Oct 21, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

A homeowner refuses to allow their neighbors' kids to play on their trampoline and backyard playset because they don't want children playing or getting hurt on their property. Seems simple enough, right? Surely, other neighborhood residents couldn't be entitled to the point of highschool-level pettiness and silent treatment. You'd think. Now that the homeowner has made it clear that they don't want random children hanging out on their property, the neighborhood parents, who are predominantly remote employees or stay-at-home moms, are standoffish with the homeowner. It seems as though these parents really do not want to watch their kids, so they let them roam on other people's property. Entitled? Yeah, definitely. Irresponsible? Exceptionally so. Scroll to read the full story.

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  • Just when you think you've settled your newborn into your home, you hear the sound of multiple children hanging out on your proeprty. What if they interrupt nap time? Will your newborn ever stop crying then?

    At the end of the day, nobody needs a reason to not want strangers on their property. They own the space, therefore, they are allowed to bar people from using it. Yes, that includes kids. Little Johnny from nextdoor will have to ask his mom to finally take him to the park. This homeowner doesn't beat around the bush when they inform everyone that children are unwelcome on their property. At least they were straight to the point.

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    two children playing on a trampoline in a green yard
    via Elisa Kennemer for Unsplash

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    "AITA for not letting the neighborhood kids play in my backyard."

    We recently moved to a new house and the neighborhood is filled with kids. I have a newborn and my son is only 4, and the
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    kids on the street are all around the ages 5-9. Our backyard has a nice playset and trampoline, and the kids have mentioned how the
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    little girl who used to live in this house would have them over to play all the time. They all seem like nice kids and they all go to
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    my sons school and always say hi, but it seems that all the parents in the neighborhood let the kids just run around and play
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    in their front and backyards unsupervised (which is fine, not judging). But every other day these kids ask to play in our
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    backyard and I always say no, because I don't want to host a bunch of kids in my yard, I want my backyard to be peaceful. But,
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    it seems like that's struck a nerve with some of the other parents on our street. I work from home and notice these moms either wfh or
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    are stay at home moms. I've gone out of my way to say hello, but they're very reserved towards me, but I see them all walk the
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    neighborhood and hangout together. So I'm worried they're mad that I'm not letting the kids in my backyard. Am I an asshole?
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    colorful playground set up in a park
    via Frank Flores For Unsplash+
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    I love that the kids enjoy playing outside, but my kids are young and we have a very loud dog, and I don't want all of these kids in my backyard if I'm not back there.
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    toadog NTA. One injury and the "easy going" parents will slap an expensive lawsuit on you. Invest in a fence with a locked gate, and hang "no trespassing" signs. If the parents are offended, tell them if they want their kids to play in your yard they have to be present themselves to supervise. Even then the liability would still be yours.
    via toadog
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    Luludelacaze1 Legal liability, waking up your newborn, noise, no privacy.
    via Luludelacaze1
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    Particular-Buy-33 This. You have a newborn which is exhausting even when you work from home. And when the baby is a toddler the last thing you need is kids play noises interfering with the welcome nap time
    via Particular-Buy-33
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    tomatojalapeno NTA. it's your yard you can do what you want. Also, it's a liability if one of them get injured on your trampoline. You could literally get sued
    via tomatojalapeno
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    jillian512 NTA. Honestly I would give the trampoline to whatever neighbor wants it in their yard. It would be interesting to see if anyone takes it.
    via jillian512
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    Strange_Potato4326 That is a great idea! I don't even want $$ for it, they can just keep it lol
    via Strange_Potato4326
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    AvocadoJazzlike3670 NTA and no they aren't entitled to your backyard. Don't jump to conclusions. They have relationships already and it will take time for them to have you join. If they are upset that's on them. They can get a playset and trampoline. You aren't the neighborhood park. They miss not having to watch their own kids. Don't assume liability for the neighborhood kids.
    via AvocadoJazzlike3670
  • 20
    Kasparaitis NTA emphatically. These parents should watch their kids and it's also a liability issue for you. Unlike you I judge the neighborhood roaming and allowing their kids to recklessly use other people's property pretty harshly
    via Kasparaitis
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    Strange_Potato4326 Okay I'm glad I'm not alone! I feel the same way, but thought I was being judgey at first because I've never lived in a neighborhood like this. Glad to hear you think the same way.
    via Strange_Potato4326

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neighbors kids neighborhood homeowner neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories reddit story terrible neighbors entitled reddit thread Bad Neighbor r-entitled Reddit entitled people neighbor
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