You’re not in the wrong. You told them. Their parents need to do better reminding their kids to take care of their stuff. They need to be mad at their kid not you.
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It takes as much effort to put something in a lost and found bin as it does in the garbage bin. If you’re trying to teach them a lesson, do this instead, but return the items eventually or return them to the parents. For parents it’s an expense to have to later replace these items.
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Just keep a little box on the porch if they come over every day. As a kid I was and still am extremely forgetful and this would have hurt my feelings.
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Maybe you could have a large container somewhere to put the things in temporarily and dispose of them on a weekly basis if they are not rescued by the owner. Let the kids and the parents know your plan so they will not lose their treasures. After all, they are children. Good luck .and thank you for giving them a safe place to play and food. When they grow up, they will look back and remember you as the neighborhood hero.
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Kids are very forgetful. How many times do we take our kids to school and see all the left behind jackets from the day before hanging on the fence.
I’d suggest that you keep the things you’d think they or the parents would want back in a bucket. Then every other month make a fun show of advertising last chance lost and found before being tossed. Make it a lost in found party for the neighborhood BBQ. That way the parents have a chance to claim things like shoes or toys that the kids say they have lost, just forgot them at your house.
Put a big bin in the backyard with a sign on it that says treasure chest. Put all their crap in it. When they come over explain all their crap will be thrown in there and when its full your donating to good will to help the poor. When it’s almost full remind them again to take their stuff. May change their minds on leaving stuff behind. Kids need repetition and examples In order to get things.
No your not wrong the kids or parent should take responsibility for the kids stuff
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A box to throw it all in would have been much better . Kinda like a lost and found . As a parent I would have been pissed too
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You’re not in the wrong. You told them. Their parents need to do better reminding their kids to take care of their stuff. They need to be mad at their kid not you.
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Regardless of their age, any concerns of a child or the behavior should be spoken to the parents as well, not just the child. It seems you know which children play in your yard, and I’m sure you know their parents. I would take the 5 minutes from your life and speak to them about it. You can tell it highly bothers you about the toys, so I’m not sure why you haven’t spoken to the parents. They probably would’ve been able to remedy this situation for you, before you started having to throw stuff away. I would get all the neighbors together, and the kids and make it known that toys are to be picked up in everyone’s yard!! So all the neighborhood kids can hold each other accountable, and keep the yards clean. But I would take the time out of your life to talk to the parents, not just try to resolve it with a bunch of young kids. Sometimes that’s like speaking to a brick wall, and sometimes kids do honestly forget!! 
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If the kids are good kids, are kind, they all play well together, etc then yeah. I personally would set up an area where all their things could be tossed into and they can grab them as needed. As much as I’d pester my kids to never leave their belongings strewn across someone’s yard, I wouldn’t be mad about other kids’ stuff needing to be picked up. I would just tend to it.
As for the garbage, wrappers, and all that I’d be mad. The LEAST they could do is pocket it or throw it away. That I won’t tolerate lol.
Toys, fun items, all that is one thing. Pigsty is not.
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I’d be happy that they wanted to play in my yard. When they leave remind them to pick up. If they don’t have your kids pick up then soon they will be reminding their friends to take their things.
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Put a bag out there and put stuff that’s not ur child’s in it,then when someone comes around ask it it’s there’s and send it home with them.
I would ask them to check in with me,before going home,and I would give them a plastic bag or something and ask them to please pick the stuff up out of the yard,and say thank you
I’d throw it all away too girl, you’re not wrong. If the parent was so concerned about some socks, they wouldn’t have sat outside for a week 
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Harsh and in my opinion a little cruel I would’ve filled a bag gave it to my children and have them distribute it. Then after each play time have them clean before leaving if not have ur child fill the bag themselves
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I agree with you! Theyre making the choice to actively not listen. You’ve told them, your kids have told them. Sorry not sorry! Disrespect ya mamas house, not mine!
I wouldn’t say your wrong but a idea would be start a lost and found tote make them come get their own stuff.
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Nope I have the same problem. Of I find over it it didn’t belong in my driveway if the mower eats it didn’t belong in my yard.
I would do a lost and found list. Talk to the parents. At the end of the week or on Sunday, before the new week starts, have the entire family come over and get their stuff. If they choose not to, then it’s yours to throw away. Remind the family to tell their kids to clean up after themselves
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Try a tote box out side or in garage you put the stuff in. Some kids are having do much fun they forget their stuff. Adults do that too.
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Let her be mad. If she was so concerned for those items she wouldn’t have waited a week…
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If you want to be that house, where all the kids play. If you feed them, care for them, etc. Expect this as well. 
Ours was that house too. I made those kids clean before they left. If they went home without helping, I’d call their parents to send them back and vice versa. Now days parents don’t allow each other make their kids mind, so I don’t have any advice for you. Tossing the kids things is bound to get the neighbors hate though. Try having a large garbage can just for their things. It could serve as a warning. “Your things will be here. That is until trash day! Anything still left in the can, will be tossed!” (Try that)
While I feel your frustration you should have brought the issue to the parents. Give them a chance to correct their kids, if the behaviors didn’t change then I would have thrown it out. I don’t know how old the kids are but if they had it with them when they came over it may have been important and as a parent I would definitely be upset if someone else threw the stuff away. I would also pitch in for food and such too though… idk if the parents there do but I would. If I didn’t really want to confront the parents I would make a lost and found bin and at the end of the week if there are things in there toss em.
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It’s the price we pay to keep our kids close sometimes… Lost in found bin is a perfect solution… They’re just kids… I had the yard that every kid played in also and every evening I either cleaned it all up or I or I incorporated everybody else to do so before they all went home…
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As I don’t find it wrong I do however feel like you should just get a storage tub with a lid & put it outside somewhere to put the things in so the kids can come get them, that’s a more ideal thing to do in my opinion & I would do that cause personally I’d hate for my daughter to forget something at someone’s house and it get thrown away.
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Well your house most likely won’t be the yard they play in all day anymore 
maybe that was your goal however I would give a little grace because I’d much rather my children be in my yard than across the neighborhood
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How would you feel if someone threw your child’s belongings away?
Give the energy that you yourself wish to receive and teach your children that as well.
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Nope. You are good. I would do the same thing. They have been warned.
Stay out there and hold them accountable. They need the structure… approach it with love and tell them it’s about self respect
I’d have a bin that I would put everything in and tell the parents that by the end of the week whatever is in there will be trashed. If someone doesn’t get it they had plenty of time and notice.
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Nope- if you’ve held it for a week and you’ve told the. To take it home, and they didn’t. Nope!!
It would be just as easy for you to remind them to take their stuff when you tell your kids to come inside for the day. You should be watching what all of them are doing anyways
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I wouldn’t even have waited the week, either they clean up their stuff like they are told or it gets thrown away.
I don’t care who’s kids they are, if they are at my house they follow the same rules my children do.
If I have to repeatedly tell my daughter to pick up something, it goes in the trash.
I put it in a pile next for a couple days at the driveway if they don’t grab them then I throw them
I bag it up in grocery bags and give it to them as they leave sometimes the bags are jst hung up were ever for a bit I also will get them all to pick up the yard after themselves
I had this same issue when my kids were small. I would gather the other kids belongings at the end of the week and take and leave on parents porch.
No you’re not wrong. It’s not like you didn’t ask them to take their things and it seems a week is more than enough time for them to come get their things. I wouldn’t out how with it either. If someone else’s kids are going to be at my house all the time like you say they are, the same rules should apply to them as your own children’s rules.
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Maybe get an outdoor storage bin or plastic toy box & throw everything in there…? Then it won’t be all over ur yard & it’ll double as a “lost & found” lol But I’d say if stuff is left in ur yard for weeks, then it’s prob not important & can be tossed out.
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A week when the kids are there every day is plenty of notice.
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Nope! Maybe they’ll learn a lesson
i would say befor they leave clean up or noone leaves lock the gate. if jou have one
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I’d put it all in a box and make them pick out what’s theirs and take it home before they can play.
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It seems mean to me to throw their stuff away. Skates are expensive. Try talking to the parents and the kids. I like the idea of a box to keep there stuff in. Some kids can’t remember their own backpack at school and need to be reminded regularly.
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Why don’t you just make a “lost and found” basket or something the kids can place their things in or come back if they lost or forgot something?
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I would’ve done the same. 
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Could you imagine if your kids teacher did this? Bet you wouldn’t like it! I’m not sure how old they are but if they’re bringing stuffed animals over and forgetting them I’m assuming they are young! Maybe you should supervise a little closer, it actually sounds like a free for all!! I definitely suggest the bin idea and then remind them when they are leaving to clean up their stuff to go!! If they forget something make your child go clean it and put it in the bin! I bet that will help nip the problem because I’m sure your child will get sick of it and start reminding them too!
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It’s really nice that ur place is like a safe haven for them all to hang out and play and I bet the parents appreciate that (I know I would for sure)
I get that ur fed up with kids leaving their stuff behind, but kids are very forgetful, my kids are always leaving something behind at school, kids will be kids 
may I suggest just getting a big wooden box or plastic bin that u can just collect everyone’s things and say to them, anything u leave behind will be in that box/bin but every weekend I’m emptying it so make sure ur checking that bin by the weekend if u left anything at my house
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I use to keep a laundry basket of there stuff and bag it and give it back when I seen the kids, don’t be a karen parent sheesh, now socks and clothes that were left out around or on trampoline usually get tossed as they r beyond keeping
Your house will quickly become the house the kids don’t want to go too. Get a tote and leave it somewhere and put their things in it. I would never throw other kids stuff away, but that’s just me.
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Buy a tote start a lost and found, if things aren’t gone by the end of the week then trash it…
Id make one last attempt with the saying “or to the garbage it goes!!”
You’re not wrong at all. The only alternative I might suggest is maybe get an outdoor toy box to go outside for them to leave their toys in. If they clean it up and at least put their toys in the toy box fine if not throw it out
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Youre wrong and mean
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A less a$$hole approach would be to just put the random kids items in a bin. Then the kids can go through it and grab their crap.
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I don’t think you wrong, however kids are awful at leaving thing and forgetting them until a later date…
Maybe get some little baskets and make them put there belonging in there when they are playing that way you know whos child it is and is as easy as handing them back xxx
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I would never throw out anything belonging to a child. Keep in a box in your garage is a good idea☺️
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Bet they’ll clean it up next time sorry, I would have done the same thing
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I understand you don’t want your yard trashed but throwing away others belongings is out of line, and you come off as a jerk .If it bothers you that much don’t allow anyone in your yard . You could also get a bin or old trashcan put it in one area if it’s your kids friends then have your kids pick up the mess and put it in the “lost and found” eventually your kids won’t allow anyone to trash your yard either because I doubt they will enjoy cleaning up after others . 
You are NOT wrong for feeling this way. I myself, am going through the same thing. And as friendly as I’ve been about asking everyone to make sure their things are picked up or their trash be thrown our, (my trash cans are RIGHT IN MY BACK YARD) these kids still don’t follow the rules.
So, I started throwing their stuff in the trash and I am not feeling bad about it.
And you shouldn’t feel bad either.
My husband said he’s going to put locks on the gates as well.
If the neighborhood kids can’t respect the rules, then they have no business in our yard .
I would get a tote throw them in it. If they didn’t get them in a week take and drop them off at donation box
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I always had an outside toy box, that was just a $10 30 gallon tub. Jeez.
Do a loss and found. I understand the frustration but they are kids and to throw their stuff away is a little much.
I would get a bin set it out by the gate and let the parents know they cna find their kids stuff in that bin. give them a allotted time to get it. If not then chunk it. ( i would also document when you told the parent, what time and who you talk to so that when they come back at you . You will have the proof that you told them they had a certain time to come and get it before its chuncked.
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Shoot- I am an adult and entertain a lot. There are always towels left by the pool, sunglasses, shoes, and misc personal items left behind. I would never throw it out. Maybe set up a group contact list of each child’s parent/guardian phone #’s and blow their phones up with lost and found pics “in my yard items” and blast them in one shot saying if it’s not claimed by day x…… it’s going in the trash. Kids r kids - they are busy playing. 
good luck!!!
I would do a lost/found bucket in the garage. Every 6 months it goes to trash
When my kids were younger and had alllll the neighborhood kids at our place I had a Rubbermaid bin that I threw EVERYTHING the left in. I gave each kid a note to take home that I’d keep the bin full until trash day every week and then it’s garbage. That worked well with me. Sounds like the kids are pretty young, like they would need multiple reminders (the age where the have teddy bears and all that)
Not wrong at all. It’s your space. But maybe the more expensive items put in a lost and found basket and the trash and trinket stuff trash it. That’s what I’d do.
Maybe you could have been a little more creative instead of aggressive, for example perhaps you could have made a lost and found bin and put all their stuff in that on the side of the house where they could find it later. My house is like this to where all the kids play over here because I have the largest yard and it’s a cul-de-sac so if stuff is left in my yard I put it in a big storage bin on the side of my porch, throwing things away I think was a little too much and I would probably be pissed too LOL
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I couldn’t even finish reading ! I am so happy my kids play close to home and we have the hangout house ! I will clean up and drive all their stuff to them when they have left it ! The closer your kids are to home the more involved you are in their life and know their friends ! Also, how would the other parents feel about you throwing out their stuff maybe they didn’t know their child was leaving it what if they can’t buy another pair of shoes ?
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A few things here…
- Age is a thing. You have to remember that before a certain age kids don’t really have what’s often called object permanence. Basically…Meaning that if it isn’t right there in their hand…then it doesn’t exist.
- Some people struggle with this past age appropriate…My kids are constantly forgetting stuff outside no matter how much my husband and I remind them. Socks. Shoes. Toys. They both have ADHD.
I do this with some things as well. ADHD is definitely not my friend when it comes to remembering smaller things.
I personally would try to empathize not just with the kids but the parents of these kids. I would put yourself in their shoes and try to figure out how you would feel.
If it was me…I would buy a decent sized storeage tote.
Anything left outside gets thrown into it.
Kids can find their stuff.
Or not.
When it’s too full to fit anything else…give a final warning and then toss.
This allows your yard to look neater and gives the kids (and their parents) a chance to collect forgotten items.
Remember these kids are probably not just leaving things on purpose. They’re playing and busy and forget. And I feel like intention definitely makes a difference
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Maybe put a pretty planter or laundry basket in an out of way place and have your kids pick the stuff up…kinda like a cute lost and found…
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Have you ever had your kid panic because they forgot something or left something somewhere? Imagine them then finding out that some mean person just threw it away instead of giving it back to them. Have a heart and watch what these kids are doing on your property. They shouldn’t be leaving without you being aware anyway
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Kids are forgetful by nature. If It bothers you that much then maybe have them play elsewhere? You could just have a bin and make it your kids’ responsibility to clean up the yard and put forgotten items in there when their friends leave so they are more insistent with their friends about picking up items when playtime is over.
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If they’re literally trashing your yard or constantly leaving everything behind and long periods then yeah. But everytime I go to someone’s house I forget something too and I’m an adult
I would just have a bin or something with random items
What if those parents struggled to buy those skates ya know! Even though it’s been left there for a week throwing it out is just mean
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I throw it out too don’t leave it in my yard if it’s important 

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Get a storage bin and place it in your yard where the kids play for “lost toys/lost and found” kids are forgetful and sometimes even if told a million times they still tend to forget once their minds are focused on something else.
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I would make them clean before they all leave set a time where they all have to go or buy grabbers as dollar store they will have fun picking stuff up and will want to do it
I would have put it all in a box and whoever takes it ,takes it. Their parents are mad but maybe they should teach them to be more responsible with their things
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I get being annoyed you’re the one cleaning up after them. But at the same time, you can have your kids do it instead. Two things to teach them here. 1. Return things to whom they belong. 2. When they get tired of cleaning up after their friends, they’ll start remembering to tell their friends to take their stuff home with them on their own.
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I can understand how your feeling but my thought is you need to not sweat the small things in life.
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I wouldn’t say your wrong you not but I would of got a toy bin or some sort of box and put the stuff in that. Kids are having fun being safe that’s reall what matters
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Nope. You’re good. I would have done the same thing.
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Put it in a washing basket and remind the kids to check it and tell them at the end of the week it goes in the bin!
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You feed them, too? No, you aren’t wrong. I would have contacted all the parents, tell them your rule and if things get left, throw them out. The parents have been warned. And, I agree, instead of throwing the items away, a lost and found bin would be better.
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I’d have a lost and found bin, if it’s in there after two weeks then it can be thrown out.
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Like a milk crate in the yard would work??? Why you gotta throw them away. That’s a power trip
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I’d probably just get a tub/ basket and leave it in the garage. I would bring it out in the spring when we open the yard and would let all PARENTS know about the bucket and at the end of the fall when I close my yard I would dump the bucket in the trash. That way, the stuff is out of the yard, the parents have ample time to come by and get their child’s things, and there won’t be any misunderstandings
Hm. I wouldn’t have thrown away other’s property. I think you were wrong. It’s awesome that you’re the go to home. If it bothered you that much, I think you should have addressed it with the parents and allowed them to handle it. I personally wouldn’t be that bothered by it though. I think a few scattered items are worth the memories these kids are building; we’re all going to miss these days. But that’s just me.
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I think throwing the stuff out is horrible.
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Okay first things first, do you know the parents of the kids that play at your house? I would assume so because I wouldn’t allow any kids to play at my house until I met their parents. If so, let them know your rules regarding property left for a long period of time. These kids sound kinda young because you mentioned stuffed animals. Like some other people said, I would get some type of lost and found box and leave it in the area where the kids play. From time to time we ALL forget something or leave something behind, kids are no different.
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Personally I would watch which kids come over with what and buy a few dollar tree storage things and write their names on it. Then when the toys or socks are still at your house you can just put them in the bins. And also maybe get an outside trash bag or something like a Walmart sack that hang so they can throw trash away. But I’m also the type of parent that I don’t have kids at my house unless me and the parents know eachother. Depending on age of kids you can’t always expect them to remember their stuff. My son forgets what he’s doing as soon as his name is called. The trash should be trash but clothes and toys aren’t trash unless broken beyond repair. Clothes and toys are expensive. If you sent your kids to someone’s house to play would you be happy about them throwing stuff out that your kid forgot? Also if you don’t know the parents you should probably get to know them and get numbers or something. For multiple reasons like stuff being left or them getting hurt or if their kid gets sick and had been playing with yours and the neighbors kids. You could also make a rule that they can’t bring their own toys anymore and have a tote or bucket full of outside toys that way they don’t end up forgetting their stuff. I don’t like trash in my yard so I make sure to have a bag when we are spending time outside but toys are typically picked up out of the yard when we go to mow.
I would be nice about it. Make an announcement to the kids, saying that left items will be in a box on the back porch. Word will spread. Say that you will save the items one week. Remind the kids on Friday for the first week or two. If items are not retrieved , toss them. You should be nice about it, because all too soon your kids won’t be playing in your yard.
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You should see my neighbors back yard, building a fence ,tall!
I love having my kids friends over and we have things left some times. I personally wouldn’t have the heart to toss any of it though. It’s just what kids do lol I’d rather track them or their parent down or simply remind them next time they are over and physically hand it to them to carry back home. My son would be devastated is something he accidentally left at a friends house got tossed and I would have some type of feelings about letting him go over to the house again to play
If it’s that big a problem simply stop allowing your yard to be the hang out spot for kids. Your allowing it to happen and then complaining about it . Or like everyone else said but a toy bin to place in your yard and put unknown items in it for when they come back .
Get a trash can put all stuff in there tell kids if you don’t get your stuff before trash day that’s where it’s going on the trash truck
I wouldn’t throw it away but I wouldn’t hunt down which kid left what…. I would get like a tote or something and start putting all the left items in the tote kinda like a lost and found
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You want the kids there because you know where your kids are but you can’t be bothered to set up a little lost and found bin?
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