puddle jumping

[happy1nluv]

We live in a development - curb, strip of grass, side walk, yards...

When it rains, puddles form on the street by some of the driveways (not ours). Jumping in puddles means some of the dirty puddle water may splash on parts of driveways...

Would you let your kids puddle jump???

eta: yup, worried about dirtying other peoples property... not my kids...

[zombie_bride]

Absolutely! I always let DD (2) puddle jump, dirty water or not

Ohh but I maybe read it wrong, are you worried about dirty water getting on people's driveways? If so I'd still let her

[jeanine123]

If it's just a driveway that will get splashed, then absolutely they can jump to their hearts content! I'd be hesitant to let them jump near nice clean cars but otherwise, they can have at it.

[lilyka]

is the water really muddy and gross or something? Here the stuff at the end of the drive ways is as clean as the driveways. Its just water. If people don't want their driveways to get wet they should bring them inside....or something. I wouldn't let them hit cars though. a rock or something could fly up ....I certainly wouldn't be offended if some kid was jumping in my puddles. I really could not care less about water splashing from one part of my driveway to another....and it would have never occurred to me to care about someone else's.

[Learning_Mum]

Totally would! Unless we were going somewhere and I didn't want them wet!

Driveways get muddy. If it's raining it will be washed away anyway.

[happy1nluv]

The boys know they are only allowed to puddle jump on the way HOME, not the way out.

DH thinks its totally uncool and way too permissive of me to let them and that its rude to the neighbors... and I don't think he puddle jumped or played in the mud as a kid.

It never even crossed my mind... they're kids. It's street. Yes, I suppose muddy water could splash all over...and we usually are out AFTER its stopped raining... but puddles were made to be jumped it -- at least at 3 and 5 years of age... He made the point about what if they had spent $$$ getting one of those fancy stamped concrete or paver driveways (they don't)... would I still feel the same and... well.. yeah, i would. Am i wrong?

[ChristyMarie]

Um, it is a driveway. It gets dirty.

I'd have no problem with someone jumping in a puddle at the end of mine. As long as it isn't splashing on cars or planters or such, what's the big deal?

[AbbieB]

I get where your husband is coming from since my husband seems to be hyper cautious about our kids offending others or getting to in their space. (He gets weird and uptight when DD approaches other kids on the playground to join in their play.) I think this has to do with his don't-get-dirty and kids-should-be-quiet-and-in-the-background type upbringing.

I would never think twice about water or end of the driveway muddy puddle splashes getting onto my driveway, stamped, paved, painted or otherwise.

If someone on your block does get weird about it you can just avoid their yard in the future (and privately know that they have issues and your kids are not at fault.)

[lifeguard]

Wow - it never even crossed my mind that puddle jumping might offend someone (unless of course it meant they got splashed).

Thanks for the reminder - it's raining here today & I wasn't sure how we were going to spend the day.

[ShadowMoon]

Puddle jumping is fine by me! As long as we're not going to splash a passerby that is. I'm not worried about driveways getting wet.

[Attached2Elijah]

Of course! We go out and have puddle-jumping excursions to find the biggest possible puddle! Unless it's a muddy, nasty mess or splashing someone or something clean, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Puddle jumping is a kid's birthright!

[nextcommercial]

I do! I don't want them to be obnoxious about it, but I don't think most people would mind. If you know there are some people who would mind, just avoid that house.

[mamadelbosque]

Umm... yeah... why not? Driveways are supposed to get dirty... who cares???

[sewchris2642]

Another vote for yes. My only rules are don't splash people walking by or nearby cars/structures (within reason) and wear old shoes.

[happy1nluv]

I tend to be permissive -- too permissive. I'm working on it, but discipline is NOT my strong suit. It's the recurring argument we have -- I'm too permissive and let the boys do whatever they want no matter what they destroy ... he's too strict and curtails fun for no reason.

I HAVE let them destroy some things that I shouldn't have (and by let I don't mean I looked on encouragingly, just that they either did it outside my realm of knowlege -- the library book that was destroyed during quiet time -- or i didnt think it was that big of a deal -- the patch of grass that was half mud anyway in OUR backyard). I'm sure my husband could come up with lots more examples...

My acceptable meter seems to be a lil high.. just wanted to make sure it wasn't too high, iykwim...

[Needle in the Hay]

If your husband isn't even with you on these outings (which it seemed like he's not but I'm not sure) then I think he's crossing the border into criticism and micro-management. He's worried about the neighbors driveways? That just doesn't sound very reasonable.

[nextcommercial]

Originally Posted by happy1nluv

I HAVE let them destroy some things that I shouldn't have (and by let I don't mean I looked on encouragingly, just that they either did it outside my realm of knowlege -- the library book that was destroyed during quiet time -- or i didnt think it was that big of a deal -- the patch of grass that was half mud anyway in OUR backyard). I'm sure my husband could come up with lots more examples...
..

That's not really all that bad. It was your yard, and we all did that as kids, as long as it's our own yard.

Now if you were letting them hang on the neighbor's mailbox, that'd be permissive.