Kids at the lottie?

[Feral007]

I can understand getting p*d off if people are letting their kids run over other people's lots. But I can't imagine growing stuff without the kids around! Then again I've always had a garden whether I had kids or not. I remember sitting out in the front garden when my daughter was 18 months, having trimmed all the bushes and shrubs; she was sitting in the wheelbarrow, and the boys filled it up with water and trimmings saying they were making soup. She wasn't sure whether to be excited or worried! I just can't imagine going off to plant and grow things and leaving the family behind. I guess that's why some places hardly see women at the lottie.

[donnakebab]

I couldn't imagine trying to bring up kids without a garden or pets, preferably both. They learn so much from both.

[Feral007]

I couldn't imagine trying to bring up kids without a garden or pets, preferably both. They learn so much from both.

The dogs helped me pace out the shape and size of the no dig garden, the boy helped to make it, and daughter threw the ball to keep the dogs out of trouble while we did. Wouldn't want to do it on my own. Bit like the question of having an entertainment area on the lot. I have a little table and chairs out the front and the back. I sit when I have a cuppa/break. The dogs sit with me. And when I'm finished for the day I sit back and enjoy looking at what we accomplished. It just seems so different to go away and garden

[Pickle]

We've only had our plot for a few months and I always take my boys down with me (3yrs and 5yrs). They have their own section of plot where they are growing strawberries and my 5 year old loves picking up the pile of weeds and putting them in the wheelbarrow for me.
I'm very aware that some people go down the allotment for some peace and quiet so I always remind my children on the way to the lottie that not everyone wants to hear them screaming and on the whole they are very well behaved. I always take things with me for them to do so they don't get bored and usually there are one or two other children down there for them to play with.
They love being set challenges of who can find the most ladybirds etc and get so excited when I dig up a really big worm.

For me, getting an allotment wasn't just about growing vegetables, it was about educating my children in the great outdoors And the best bit is, I'm learning right alongside them

[donnakebab]

We've always had a garden so we were lucky in that respect when the kids were young. I don't think I would have had time for a lottie and anyway my interests were different. Now there's just me, OH and eldest daughter at home so it's nice to escape for a while. Neither of them have an interest in gardening which is probably why my garden has played second fiddle to my lottie for the past couple of years.

[Andromeda]

Most of the parents who bring their children to the site need parenting lessons; discipline, manners and respect seem to be non-existent. The 'gentleman' who has the allotment next to mine actually finds it amusing when his offspring use other people's wigwams as football targets

[Feral007]

They have started a community garden in town in the last 12 months or so. I went down to catch up with one of the workers about another issue, and it happened to be school hols and there were 3 adults helping packs of kids clearing, planting, and mulching new plants in a large section that is for the kids. There were a couple of teenagers who had been roped in to help the littlies. It was fast and furious, I couldn't believe how well they were all doing. And the remarks they were making about everything from growing food to eating it.
Doesn't mean all the kids are like that. But they're not all horrible either. I don't mind a bit of noise. As long as they are not screeching, or worse whinging....mum....muuum....mmuuum.

[chris]

Most of the parents who bring their children to the site need parenting lessons; discipline, manners and respect seem to be non-existent. The 'gentleman' who has the allotment next to mine actually finds it amusing when his offspring use other people's wigwams as football targets

I'd say something to them and the parents personally.

The trick I've learnt, which is obvious is to have something for them to do.. for the whole duration (my kids are very young, attention span = 5 mins tops). One favourite is to give my daughter a cane and get her to stick it in the ground - takes her ages but she manages it and then asks for another. Of course it helps if your plot is in order before you take them down

[Andromeda]

I'd say something to them and the parents personally.

I have. The general consensus is that my expectations are too high (I expect parents to keep their children in their own area and try to keep footballs etc out of mine) and that I don't understand what children are like (because I don't have any of my own).

[rustylady]

I have. The general consensus is that my expectations are too high (I expect parents to keep their children in their own area and try to keep footballs etc out of mine) and that I don't understand what children are like (because I don't have any of my own).

IMHO Footballs have no place on an allotment. My grandchildren (ages from 2 - 10) come to the allotment with me and spend most of their time looking for bugs or digging holes. They absolutely love harvesting stuff.

[dominic10]

We have recently started clearing our own allotment. I have been sharing with others for the last 4 and a half years and have enjoyed seeing the children on the site especially when they have there own space for growing things. This area is more than 60% retired folk (and we are getting there ourselves now) and to have mixed ages is great. We have just received 11 pages of rules and regs from our council and was interested to note that there should be no ball games on site. I can see why now. Perhaps you could ask the parents to help you put the wigwams back up. They may soon get fed up of doing that perhaps.

[greenishfing]

I'd try and get them thrown off the site. you shouldn't have to put up with hooligans. Also charge them for damage.

[Andromeda]

I've reported them and so has someone else (it's not only my allotment that's been used for target practice), but I'm not hopeful. He did at least pay for the window in my shed to be replace when a football went through that.

I'm just sick of putting my wigwams back together and composting plants that they've assassinated.

I really, really do believe that children should be encouraged to grow things (as I was), but these specimens? Ugh! If they're still there next year I think my only option is to move my wigwams...possibly to my kitchen garden!

On a brighter note, I've managed to get beetroots to germinate for the first time ever (it's only taken 5 years of trying!)

[greasemonkey67]

Our allotment is mainly made up of older folk so not too many crumb snatchers about.(Thankfully) I have just become a Grandad at a very young 45,and i have said i will take grandson down to earn his keep.However,my new neighbours have just got there first plot and they have two young kids and when they came the kids were shouting and throwing stones around,Not fair to other peoples plots and them wanting some peace from there everyday hustle and bustle.Yet people complain when someone brings a dog who just lays looking out of the shed door watching dad working. My say is,bring well behaved children AND dogs on YOUR own plots.

[Feral007]

'My say is,bring well behaved children AND dogs on YOUR own plots.'

Yes. My ferals were not perfect but they did know what was right and what was wrong. There is not throwing or kicking of balls inside the house! Same of a garden. I'd say it was common sense but then I'd have to admit to being very common

We've just inherited someone's dog - because they are renting and are not allowed to have it anymore. It's very well behaved (as are their children) but there is no room to manouvre. Because some people's dogs are not well behaved then no one can have one.

I guess the thing that I can't help thinking (and I've never had a lottie, so I know it's different.) But if kids aren't brought up near and with lottie's then I could imagine that they wouldn't have much interest in, or respect for, them. And I'd expect more vandalism that way. Myself I prefer to put the effort in to making them more manageable kids, so that they become more manageable teens and adults.

In recent years my daughter 7-11 would arrive at my fathers and say 'How's the garden Pa' and off they would go. He would want to show it to me as it was his chief interest. But after an 8 hour drive with 3 children all I wanted was a cuppa and a whinge with my stepmother about kids! It was just lovely to see her and him inspecting all the plants and trees. She cared about him so she cared about his plants. I know that's not what your complaining about, but I just think segregating the age groups is getting further away from 'best practise.' Maybe the lottie's that have more children should see if the parents could band together and have a little space for non-ball games. And I do know that sometimes kids whose parents arent the best role models will benefit from being around older adults who can show a little interest as well as curb their bad behaviours. Not saying you should be having to discipline them, but they might learn from putting the wigwams back together as well.