Okay I need to know If I am in the wrong or not. My house seems to be the house that has all the neighborhood kids at it. My yard is the yard they will literally play in alllllll day. All I ask is that they clean up their drink/food wrappers and take their belongings home with them at the end of the day. Well they have started leaving their stuff in my yard (socks, skates, shoes, small toys/trinkets) and i reminded my kids to remind them that they need to take their stuff home, a week went by and even i said something to the kids so i was like screw this, and i threw it all away. my new rule is if something gets left in my yard it will be in the trash the next day. i dont mind havin the kids over because i know where my kids are at all times but i am tired of my yard being trashed…am i in the wrong for throwin things away because my kids told their friends what i did and now i have an angry parent mad about a stuffed animal and her kids socks…that have been sitting outside for an entire week. i feel it isnt my job to track down what goes to who and i dont want it at my house either. i already provide their kids a place to play and feed all of them…
Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. Am I in the wrong to throw things out that they neighbor kids leave in my yard?
Not in the wrong clearly the sock and stuffy weren’t that important if they were left there for an entire week even after being told to pick up their crap
I don’t blame you at all.
If you have warned them, and they continue to leave stuff in your yard, toss it all!
This happened at my place for one week…nobody comes in my house or yard anymore because they couldn’t be respectful and follow rules
Yah I think it’s pretty rude to throw out a kids skates because they left them at your house. Maybe tell them to play elsewhere or remind them before they leave to get their things
Nope I’d do the same thing!
I wouldn’t personally Chuck things no, kids play in our back garden, as mine do in others, kids are kids they tend to leave their stuff everywhere and be careless about it. I just get my kids to take the other kids stuff back to their house, same as other parents do if If my kids leave stuff there. It’s annoying yeah but they are just being kids x
If it bothers you that much just hand it back to the parents 
I’d be pretty annoyed if someone chucked my kids stuff away, as I’m sure you would be too if it was the other way around
I wouldn’t throw a kids things away. Who knows if something you threw away had meaning. I’d just keep it in a box and if they look for it, they can find it. Also, I’d of went to the parents. Honestly though, I hope I’m that house. I want to be able to have kids comfortable and friendly with my kids. One day you’ll look at an empty yard when your kids are grown and gone and miss that stuff.
Not at all . Tell the parents as well that your place isn’t a lost and found box . It’s a real home , if you they can’t abide by your rules than you take action .
Maybe get a box and put it in there for lost things instead of throwing it away…
I would start a lost box , if child needs to look in it they have to help clean up yard.
Nope. I’d do it too.
I don’t blame you at all, but maybe you could get like a laundry basket or something to sit out of your way to put things in that you collect like a lost and found and dump it once a month
I have the same problem. I got all the kids together told them the rules in a big group then of it’s left I throw away. But I give it a day or day and a half. Cuz sometimes they leave it behind by mistake when they realize they were supposed to be home. Or I gather non trash and make a pile for a day.
Psht let them be mad, maybe message them before throwing it away is only other thing you could do which is a courtesy but it’s not your job to keep up with their child’s belongings. 
hi I am a throw away mom as well lol I’d done the same thing
Nope. Id put it in a bin. Lost a found. Have a week to get it if it’s not claimed it’s trash
Let em b mad I’d have done the same
It is your yard, so I get it, but these are also kids. How about instead have a “clean up” party the next time they play instead of tossing their items?
Maybe get a tote and leave at edge of yard and chunk everything after a week and start over. That Atleast give them a few days if they get in trouble at home and they then try to come get lol.
Why not have a conversation with the parents not the children you can’t rely on children to always do things like that. I wouldn’t throw their stuff away. I get that its your yard but throwing their things away is just mean.
Kids lose and leave stuff behind all the time. Half the time they don’t even know what they have and what they don’t have until their mom starts asking where is this? And where is that? When the kids are wrapping up for the day and leaving my house I am out there saying take this take that throw this away throw that away.
I would tell the kids atleast once a day “if you leave your stuff here today it will NOT be here for you tomorrow. No exceptions”. And I say tell them once a day, cause kids seem to forget things until it is ingrained in their minds. When the kids come over, make a point to walk outside and tell them. Eventually they’ll start to repeat what you’re saying everyday. And they won’t be able to say you didn’t warn them
I mean I would personally just start a lost and found box and let them all know that once a week /month you’re going to empty it so they have time to grab it. Remember you’re dealing with kids and as adults we forget things so it’s kind of unfair to expect so much from a child. Plus maybe they just forgot where they left their stuff.
I’d get a tub and leave the tub at the door. Write lost and found on it and chuck all the crap in there and if the kid or parent ask or complain, they go search through the tub.
Just get a bin leave it in the yard and throw it in there if a parent ask for stuff back till them to check the bin.
Get a trash can and throw everything in the trash can. Make it the parents job to dig through it to get their kids crap.
I’d get tired of it too and throw things away.
I would do a box or something like that for their things
I would provide a plastic tub or clothes basket for leftover items. Each day collar the kids before they leave and have them pull out items you picked up the day before that belong to them and have them take them home. That will save angry parents and lost precious items.
Depending on the age of the kids, if younger than 15, I would suggest telling the parents to remind the kids to get their stuff out of your yard. And then if it still happens throw it away
Throw it in a bin beside the gate. Lost and found. After a week of stuff sitting in there then chuck it
When me and my fiance and kids lived at an apartment complex (4 apartments total) all the neighborhood kids always played and left stuff all the time if we didn’t knows who’s it was by the end of the week it got thrown… if we knew who’s it belonged to then we give it back to them and make them bring it home right then then they could come back
How old are the kids?
Regardless of age, I do not think your wrong for throwing stuff away.
Just think how would you feel if your kids were at their friends house and their stuff was thrown away?
It really depends on the ages of the children for me. Whether they know better and cam really remember. Bow as of something being there for a week, it can happen. That mom may have been looking for that stuffy for a whole week…everywhere and it finally dawn on her that it may have been left at the neighbors house…or the kid could have finally remembered where they could have left it. If it were me id get a tote or box and put all the lost n found in there…and sit it at the edge of the property, easily accessible to other parents/kids
Just get a little bin for lost and found. My yard is the yard that alot of the kids hang out at and I constantly have stuff everywhere. Sometimes I just leave it. Sometimes I set it all in a pile.
Patti has a good solution.
I would probably ask parents rather than kids to be responsible for their children’s belongings. Maybe either a group cleanup before anyone goes home or just add a storage box to put stuff left into instead of throwing it away.
Maybe make a bag of stuff thats not yours that you throw it into and allow them to come and get it. I agree you shouldnt have to but they are kids and you gotta tell them a million times to do things. I will tell the kids to pick up stuff and then stand there to make sure it is getting done. It takes away from what I’m doing but again they are kids. Also I find that the kids will not listen to my children if they say to do something so when I hear them asking their friends more than once I will step in and help.
I would suggest reminding them as they come that they need to take their belongings home with them. But they’re kids and don’t often pay attention. My 8 year old leaves her socks and shoes lay in the yard when she goes to get on the trampoline and then forgets about them. Same with balls, bikes, and toys in general that she takes outside. Even when I remind her to pick them up. They’re kids. Their priority is fun. I know it’s a pain in the ass, but if you’re taking the time to pick the stuff up to throw away, just get a large tote that sits on your back porch and when you pick the stuff up, the kids can retrieve their things from the tote. Also, you could enforce your kids cleaning up the mess in the yard… it’s their friends making the mess and leaving things. Have them clean up and put everything in a tote on the back porch. Maybe that will encourage them to remind their friends to pick up after themselves and take their belongings home. Your kids should also be able to identify what item belongs to what kid and if the same kids continue to make messes and leave stuff in your yard, you can exclude them from playing in your yard. I wouldn’t throw things away. Again, they’re kids and they need to be taught to pick up after themselves.
A lost and found box is better idea and if not collected at end of the month then donate it
Very wrong 
I’ve had my kids return stuff that been left behind, it’s not that hard tbh
I’m not throwing things in the trash that another parent worked and spent money for, especially not next day. Create a lost and found bin or contact the parents in a group chat to see what belongs to who. Kids are not responsible hell half of adults today aren’t so either close your yard off or find a different solution.
Personally I think it was a bit thing of you but can understand the frustration also.
Have a lost and found box 
How old are the children? Do you k ow the parents? It is not necessarily wrong but I would have let the parents abs children know that you’ve asked for everyone to pick up after themselves and moving forward things will get tossed.
Personally, I would have a basket to keep all the strays and then toss it every few weeks. But I would inform parents, children do not always comprehend.
Youre wrong. I would put it all in a lost and found box, put it near my mailbox and inform parents to check it by a set date. It’ll get emptied after that date and started over again.
Not entirely in the wrong but maybe things like toys and trinkets just put in a pile out the front of the house with a sign that states it’s stiff that’s been left and needs to be taken by the children that have left it
Why don’t you just put a lost and found little tote outside your house. (It’s like 5$ at target) Have whatever you find go in there, and when they come over again ask them to go through it.
We’re the community house here and I would never just throw someone’s stuff away even if I told them before. Kids are kids, they loose everything and as a parent on a tight budget I wouldn’t want my stuff being thrown away.
Um yeah make a lost and found box or stop being the play yard
I’d sit a tote outside and toss everything in it…a lost and found tote per say.
Yes you are wrong. Be a adult get a lost and found box and throw the stuff In there. No child is perfect NOT even your own.
You’ll soon be the house that no kids want to play at. I’d rather have them at my home than not. I’d make a lost and found box and throw the shit in there.
I would collect them and charge them $1 or $5 (depending on the item) to get them back. Then, after 30 days, throw them away or donate them.
Talk to their parents so that they can help enforce your rules. Throwing away their stuff seems extreme. It would be sad if one of the kids didnt have much and youre throwing their belongings away. Kids are absent minded. They forget or get lazy when they are having fun. They arent doing it to be “bad” or “vengeful”. 
Maybe a lost and found box and toss stuff thats been in it after a week? Decide what kind of involvement you want your yard to be in their lives. If you want to continue to be a free space to play you can set some minimal boundaries. If you don’t want that…then you have to set clear boundaries or people will keep taking advantage of your kindness. Im referring to the parents…kids don’t understand social constructs yet like that but adults should respect your home and rules. If they dont like it they are being immature. Its your yard and its your home. Its a community center for kids only so long as you want it so. If it were me i might try the lost found box idea but if i get taken advantage of and continue to be trashed up and used as a public space without thanks…after that id get sterner.
I would just buy one of those circle laundry baskets from the dollar store, throw everything in there. & Remind them to go through it before they leave for the day or else it’s all going to be thrown away.
Why would you tell the kids why not tell the adults kids forget sometimes
Try the basket as a last attempt and then start throwing shit out. Seems fair enough.
Go Patty…that’s being an adult 
%
Get a lost and found bin and just throw the stuff in there??? How would you feel if some parent there your child’s stuff away
How old are said kids? Old enough to not be chaperoned I suppose because I have a 6yo little girl who comes over and brings arm loads of things and before she leaves I make sure she has gathered everything and watch her walk back home. If my child accidentally left something over at someone’s house and they threw it away I’d be upset. If picking up another kids toy and holding it until they come back bothers you that much then don’t let them come over at all. 
It’s the parents responsibility to talk to their kids about the rules of being a guest at someone else’s house. You should talk to all of their parents anyway for safety reasons, your kids could be exposed to things you wouldn’t necessarily want them to because your letting over exposed kids come to your house. Kids need to be watched to BELIEVE ME.
Put a large trash can with a lid in your back yard. Since you’re picking up the crap anyway, just put everything in the trash can and put the lid on. When the other parents start bitchin’ about their kids stuff just point at the trash can and say " knock yourself out".
If my kids have friends over, it’s their responsibility to make sure they clean up after themselves. If the friends don’t, then the responsibility falls on my kids to clean it up. After awhile, my kids made sure their friends picked up after themselves. As for leaving belongings behind, I would make a “lost & found” box…let all the kids know and after a certain time frame, if things weren’t collected then I would toss or donate them. That way everyone has fair warning and knows the rules. If they don’t agree then they can’t come over. Simple. Rules are put in place for reasons.
Just a little inconvenience could really make all these kids have some great core memories and you’ve been lucky enough they picked your house. I can see why you’re annoyed but that small inconvenience would totally be worth it for me.
Definitely wrong. Kids can be forgetful. Don’t be so petty. I’d be a pissed parent too
Tell me you are a jerk without saying it…
They are kids. They’re going to be mindless and forgetful. That’s literally how ALL kids are. Why not get a bin of some sort and use it as a lost and found spot. Your kids pick up anything left at the end of the day and place it in the bin. OR be the adult and catch them before they leave and make sure they each have their own belongings in tow when they go home. OR tell them all they have to go find another yard to play in. Then when your own children forget things and another parent throws it away you’ll be able to answer your own question because you’ll have a new/different perspective! 
You sound like you want your kids in your yard but you’re only tolerating their friends.
I’ve never thrown away my kids friends belongings but I don’t think your wrong for doing it after a week of them not getting their stuff. I’m always telling the kids to pick up their trash and take their stuff with them and they should be responsible to clean up your yard! If you’ve said it and they didn’t listen they should hopefully learn a lesson and that parent in my opinion is foolish for being angry at you.
It’s really your choice. But me personally I go outside before everyone leaves and remind the kids to take their trash and toys. I can’t imagine throwing kids stuff away. They are still learning respect and responsibility at those young ages and most of the time it’s forgetfulness and not maliciously done. Are you doing zero supervising? Or?
Stop feeding them and dont let them come over anymore🤷‍♀️
You sound like a whole ass bag of dicks
I useto do the same thing!!! Not my kid not my job to keep track of their things it’s the PARENTS. I’d tell the kids that were playing outside or inside here is this box (plastic tote) put your things in here when you are done playing. If you don’t put it away I will throw it in the TRASH!! My kids knew to put their stuff away…my house my rules
Not at all, if they were looking for it surely they wouldn’t have waited a week 
id do the same my kids also know if they leave things out in other gardens its going to get lost 
They are kids. Thats kinda mean to throw it away. I’d put it at the curb or at least tell the parent. I would be mad too if you threw out my kids stuff. It’s just mean
I would put some sort of basket/tub somewhere & throw anything in there. That way it’s there if someone looks for it, but it’s not out of the weather or whatnot, so if something happens to it, that’s on them. If it was just belongings/ toys/ stuff like that. As long as they’re picking up their actual trash, that’s what I would do. I always remind my kid to pick his stuff up or not leave it laying around, and he’s pretty good at it. But, he is a kid, so I kinda get it.
How about a list and found bucket with a note if not claimed by the end of the month it will be donated and place it in the front yard where even the other parents can see it
Why not message the parents and say “So and So left their xyz in my yard. Do you think you could send them over to get xyz?” Or maybe explain to the parents you don’t mind their kids being over it’s the stuff they leave behind that bothers you and to tell the parents to remind their kids to get them.
I would have warned the parents instead of the kids. Kids will forget what they’re told 2 seconds after they’re told. However, I understand. I’ve warned my own kid if she leaves something outside I’ll trash it. Except socks cause those disappear enough without me throwing them away lol
I’d take kids playing in my yard as a compliment and be excited about it. Maybe help direct and teach them- a small sign/reminder to take the things they bring, and as far as the trash goes I’d place a small trash bin 
out for them to visually see and hopefully use. All it takes is one kid doing the right thing and others may pick up on doing the right thing too. Congratulations on having the yard that all the kids love! 
I’m torn because I know I’d be mad if my kids things got thrown away, but I also know that I’d be the one throwing stuff away if it wasn’t collected in a timely manner as well. The parents might not know something was left over there until the kid complains that it got thrown away. Soooooo I’d firmly tell any kids that come to play, remember to take your things home please because it can’t sit in my yard. I would have a container or something in my garage or somewhere in the yard and have my kids collect anything that got left and put it in there, kinda of like a lost and found. Remind kids next time I see them hey you left this and its in this container, remind my kids to remind them as well when they come to play, let them know if it sits there longer then X amount of time it will eventually end up in the trash so please be sure to get your things, and do my best to make sure they take their stuff when they go home. It would probably sit safe in there for a few weeks before I cleaned it out anyway so they’d have plenty of time to get it. On contacting the parents about the stuff, I probably wouldn’t actually know the parents nor would I go out of my way to find their house and let them know cuz I have anxiety and it would feel like a confrontation, soooooo it would wind up on the kid’s shoulders. Want your stuff, take it home.
Try having neighbor kids that your kids DON’T play with playing on your yard and running through your backyard 
drives me NUTS
You left it there a week, told the kids to tell the kids to tell them, not gone, oh well, trash it is then
Maybe you should make it a point to tell the parents that if they leave anything in your yard for more than two days you assume it’s trash and throw it away. Their parents need to be the ones to make sure they bring their stuff home.
Put a lost property box and everything left behind in there
How about a lost & found bin?
I’d tell my kid too bad, you shouldn’t have left it if was the other parent. At the same time though I wouldn’t have thrown it away. I would have told them to take it a few times and then told them it was going in the trash if they didn’t take it. I would talk with the parents of the other kids as well and let them know I love them playing here, but I will toss things if left too long. I have too much to look after without that mess
Make a lost and found at end of the week have them go through and grab whatever is there’s. U would be pissed if your kids stuff was thrown away . Maybe go out before they leave and ask them to grab all there stuff . I would have a talk with parents they can send there child back to grab the stuff if they forget it or leave it there .
No you’re not in the wrong!!!
I would love to be that house all the kids came to play at!! When the play is as over I’d just go out and tell them to take their things with them or I’d buy a plastic bin for them to leave it in. After I told them to place it in the bin and they didn’t…. Then it would be my kids responsibility to clean up and I’m sure they’d tire of that real quick and make their friends clean before they leave!!!
If it had been one day I’d say you were wrong but it was a week and there were multiple reminders. If the parent didn’t notice socks until they were in the trash that’s their issue. Maybe it will teach them to teach their kids to respect other people’s property and rules.
Maybe keep a “Lost and Found” chest outside? That way it doesn’t bother you and the kids can get whatever it is their mom is looking for this time
All of you are judging this mom hard core yet she literally OPENS HER HOME, to these children to play. By the sounds of it, provides drinks and food also.
I’d be fucking annoyed always cleaning up after everyone else’s kids also.
If you can’t join your child and make sure they’re not trashing someone else’s yard, the toy deserves to get thrown.
Welcome to life kiddos- take care of your things.
If they left it at a park it would be stolen in minutes and gone.
It took me loosing MANY favourite toys before I grasped the concept as a kid. I take care of all my things as an adult.
Y’all are snowflakes.
Nope! You gave them reminder after reminder so stick to your plan!
I have a basket in the garage i throw random stuff in I would never throw it away…kindA like a lost and found🤷‍♀️
As a parent, I would be pretty upset with another adult who threw away something of my childrens if I didn’t know that they were left there. If it’s your neighborhood have the kids take them back to the rightful owner. Stop and talk with the parents and let them know that their kids are leaving things at your house. I would get a cheap plastic bin and put everything in there if you aren’t okay with taking it home until the child comes looking for it. Kids are forgetful, that doesn’t mean it’s right to throw their stuff away. Not all parents can afford to go buy a replacement pair of skates if they are accidentally left behind at a friends.
Food wrappers and drink wrappers of whatever clean it up or have the kids do it. But belongings? No.
Maybe just don’t let them come over instead of throwing the things away their parents worked hard for. Then maybe your kids will go to their houses and do the same 
I get not wanting your yard trashed. And you did give them a week to come get it but maybe to avoid anymore angry parents you could get a tub to put all the stuff in that was left behind and let the kids and there parents know its there and to have there kids get there things. I am always telling my kids to make sure they bring all there stuff home when they go to other peoples houses. But I get if its been there a while I get tired of storeing everybody else kids stuff.