Cheeky Encounter

You did the right thing. Trampolines have age recommendations, sounds as if the lad would be too young. Cheek personified!

Blooming cheek! I would also add that you may not be insured for “strangers” to use it - excellent excuse.

Wow, that’s cheeky. I think you did the right thing - not least because if they’re not really following even the relaxed Covid rules they’re putting you at risk. It’s also setting a precedent - if you do it once, they’d expect it every time they visited.

And just imagine the repercussions if the child hurt himself!

Yes that’s really cheeky, and if there were other children around it wouldn’t of stopped with just the one child. So many children have accidents on trampolines, so personally I wouldn’t of taken the risk of letting strangers use it.

when you see them again .say you was concerned about the child's age on your trampoline and that it was getting late.you could invite them round at the weekend for afternoon tea.

What a cheek. I would have just said outright that he child could not use it. Children have to learn that just because they can see something over the garden wall they cannot just assume they can use it. My garden is full of garden goodies for my GC and it is bad enough keeping my eyes all over the place to make sure they don't hurt themselves. Once my GD fell and hurt herself in the garden and had to go to A&E, just imagine if it happened to that toddler.

I think you did the right thing by ignoring the question and then going in because you were cold.
If you allow it once then you open the gate 'so to speak' for them asking everytime.

You’re definitely right, might be worth having word with neighbours just to say you’re not being funny with them but covid and be honest with them you don’t want lots kids in your garden unsupervised when you don’t even know them!

You are not overthinking ! It was a blooming cheek

These days people sue for accidents on equipment like trampolines. I wouldn't take the responsibility and would have told him so.

I think the adults were looking for a diversion for the children to be honest. If the wall was so high then a child couldn't possible have looked over independentl. Like the OP said, she could have ended up with a garden full of children whilst their parents/guardians carried on socialising next door. Blooming cheeky! You handled it very well AFF

^ invite them round at the weekend for afternoon tea^. Are you the neighbour moggy?

Likes your reply the best and think I may use that tactic myself one day. Fortunately the huge trampoline in my garden is gone as in between grandchildren (some were too little to use it and the others grown out of it) I got rid of it. My poor 86 year old mother got caught when her new neighbour asked if he could use her wheelie bin for garden rubbish and he filled it with soil! The very kind refuse men took her it for her but she nearly broke her back wheeling it down her drive to speak to the guys.

If you say yes the first time, it becomes the accepted norm, they then get offended when you say no on another occasion. I have found my life is quieter if it is just no from the outset and set out the clear boundaries.

I know just now that someone would like to come over and play football, but if I agree once, it will continue for the next decade, so I have to be resolute.

I did have great success previously by being less than optimally dressed (almost naked) during hot weather on a garden chair. (Neighbours kids had not only been trespassing, but were inviting all their friends round to use the trampoline - when I hadn’t invited anyone into my space)......I was “faux-shocked/surprised” and rather slow to grab a sarong and cover up the next day when they all appeared. And they never came again! I can recommend this tactic.

I'm afraid I'd have said, "Are you mad? I don't know you from Adam's housecat, and I'm afraid I'm not in the habit of babysitting total strangers on demand." You have to arch one eyebrow dramatically.

I have a friend who is SO good at these situations that I feel compelled to quote her here:

"Oh no I would be so worried if he hurt himself. I couldn't live with myself if my trampoline caused him an injury, that would be so dreadful, and he is such a cute little chap you just be very proud of him, you do understand don't you, what a tragedy that anything such ever happen to him. Thank you for coming to say hello, it has been so nice to see him growing up.....I am such a worrier. I am sure you understand" and on and on......

She can switch on drama-queen to such an extent that people actually apologise to her for causing her such concern!

"The trampoline? Oh, I got it at Argos/Sainsburys/Hamleys/wherever".
Direct to toddler "oh, aren't you lucky your Dad wants to get you a trampoline".

Deliberate misunderstanding

I’m impressed with your ability to say no.