Ice Cream Trucks in the Neighborhood Already!

The neighbors can't read your mind. Ask them politely not to buy treats for your son and tell them why. Apparently they think you don't mind. In any case, nobody should offer food to a child that young without checking with the parent due to allergies, medical issues etc. I also agree that your son should learn to ask your permission first.

I would first start by telling your son he needs to ask your permission before he accepts a treat from the neighbor. When you here the ice cream man come around, you could always go outside and supervise too!

Can you send them to my neighborhood!! We love the ice cream truck!!!

You could tell him that he is only allowed to purchase an ice cream treat one time each week..and let him pick the day! You are still limiting his exposure, and giving him a personal choice. Also, as far as spending his own money, you can again stress the importance of saving(make him put a certain percentage in the bank) and spending on frivolous items(ice cream) and spending on something big..a bike, a video game, movie, etc.

Definitely tell your neighbors not to buy the treats, especially since your toddler is allergic to dairy. I'm sure they would understand your request given that these treats could make your one child sick. (My oldest is allergic to peanuts and I've yet to run into an adult, be it teacher or other parent, who hasn't thanked me for telling them.)

Admittedly, it is a stickier (no pun intended) situation telling the neighbors not to buy for your other kids since each family has its own definition of healthy snacking. However, your toddler may be your ace in the hole in this matter. You could say to the neighbors that you'd appreciate them not buying for your older children since your toddler, who cannot eat dairy, will get upset if he/she sees his/her older children having the snacks that he cannot.
Good luck!

I think the answer is to tell your son he is not allowed to have treats without your permission. Just because a neighbor is willing to buy him something doesn't mean he should accept. Your neighbors are being very generous and I would allow them to offer. But, it's okay for your son to say, "I have to ask my mom first" or "no thank you, I am not allowed to have a treat before dinner" and continue to play with the other kids.

This is just one of many situations where your son can learn to say no instead of going along with everyone else.

I think you need to talk with the neighbors who are kindly purchasing these for your child and let them know that you are thankful, but in the future you'd prefer they not offer these treats. I had a similar situation with soda as I didn't allow my kids to have soda until they were maybe ten and then on a limited basis. My friends were fine about it and even backed me up at their homes ... they'd say "I know your mom doesn't want you having soda (or too much soda), do you want to check with mom (as they got older).

You have to also make sure to discuss this with your child and let them know the rules. Let them know that occasionally a treat is okay, but we have to be careful not to make it regular or have too much...

You really can't blame them if they don't know your desires and you can't blame the ice cream man who's just trying to make a living. Shoot, when I was a kid we had the ice cream man, the hot dog and tamale guy, a snow-cone cart, and who knows what else. But we knew when we could ask mom or dad and when we shouldn't. All things in moderation - that's what I tell my teenage daughters.

I agree with everyone that has responded to a certain extent. I made the mistake of making junk food a food group as that is how I was brought up and now I regret it. I would not let my kids have ice cream from the truck all the time either. However I would let them have it once in awhile as a special treat (as it is special) and all the other kids in the neighborhood are getting it. I used to buy healthier ice cream/popsicles and give them out when the truck came around. Sometimes I would buy Good Humor at the store and give them as a special treat. This way they are getting the same thing on the truck but so much cheaper. My kids used to love making popsicles in a cup and eating them. Be creative and then give in once in awhile.
I would tell your neighbot thatnks but you just dontl want your kids eating so much junk. Maybe he will stop alson and make it aasier on everyone. Good Luck

To clarify: I don't think the neighbors are jerks, they are probably actually just really nice and generous folks. I just don't want you to worry about other peoples response to a polite request on behalf of your kids. Any reasonable person would understand, so- Just do it! You sound like a very thoughtful person, and if your neighbors don't get it, they're the jerks. You know what's best for your own kids, and I happen to agree with you 100%! My kids were told no ice cream man, because of the same reasons you stated and they understand. They've only had it probably twice in 15 years. I buy treats at the store and dole them out as I see fit. My kids are not deprived of fun. The ice cream guy finally stopped coming ! Maybe you could collaborate with your neighbors to purchase treats on sale or at a warehouse club, and pay a similar amount to the ice cream man, and donate the profits to charity. What a neat thing to do with kids!

In addition to the answers given, you could also ask your children to bring the treats in to put them in the freezer for after dinner.

Believe it or not they might appreciate it if you just said exactly what you said here. And explain the whole thing. If they are buying him ice cream, too that adds up and I know sometimes people do this to be polite and perhaps they would like to save the money. And they might just be excited for now. I saw our neighbors do that and it kind of slowed down last year. Good luck!

I have no advice, but had to tell you I hate the ice cream truck - they come when it's barely 60 degrees, and it's not just one time a day, it's multiple trucks and that annoying "hello, hello" with the music. OMG I hate them.

We taught our kids the economics of it - we showed them how much money it costs per ice cream bar at the store compared to the same things from the ice cream truck.

I think you just need to teach your kid to say he is not allowed to have it.

As far as the allowance thing - I don't give our kids actual cash but instead keep a dry erase board with their current money totals. When they want something we talk about it, and if it's something that is ok they can use their own money but I charge it and just subtract the amount. Since I have a 10 yr old they may sometimes go to CVS with some cash from that account, but again since I am the one doling it out I have control.

Guess I did have advice, lol.

I don't think your neighbors are jerks. They think they are being nice.
I was such a mean mom that I told my son when he was a toddler that it was the music truck and we would listen for it to come by.
Don't worry, he got plenty of treats.
Victoria

I think all the ideas the other moms gave are excellent and I don't have anything to add as far as that.

However, I called my village last year b/c I was wondering if an ice cream truck came through our neighborhood (I actually thought it would be fun for the kids). They told me that there was no way they could do a background check on the truck drivers and felt there was potential for putting the kids as risk, so the trucks are not permitted in our neighborhood. You may want to call your city to see if they know who is driving these trucks.

After they told me this and I thought about it some more (and after reading your frustrations) I'm glad there are none here. Good luck.

Talk to your son, explain that in your house you don't have ice cream everyday because it's not good for you. We have not seen the ice cream truck yet, but when we do, the same thing will happen here. Pick a day that your son can have a treat from the ice cream man. This way any other day your son will know that if the ice cream truck rolls around, he can't have it. If you are feeling strange about the neighbors buying it for him then tell him he needs to come home for money before he can have some. You must not be outside with him when he is playing so my only other thought is make it a point of being outside, talking to your neighbors and let them know that you don't want him to have that every day. Good luck, summer hasn't even started yet. :)

tell them politely that you'd prefer no ice cream given to your son or that he needs permission on a daily basis. by then the i.c. truck will be gone! if you're not out there to supervise you don't even know if your son is asking them to buy him ice cream for him like many kids do. he might be and they might feel they need to buy him something. i'm sure they won't mind it if the don't have to buy him anything costly on a daily basis.

Here in AZ they are here year round. I just choose to not buy. My children have never had ice cream from the ice cream truck. Too expensive to buy for 4 kids. I would just plainly let your neighbors know that you appreciate their generosity, but prefer your child not have ice cream with out your premission, as it can sometimes disrupt his eating habbits.

I hate these ice cream trucks too. Especialy those after school! Kids come out hungry and bag for that ice cream and then come home and not eating!
I just tell my kids no most of the time and some times buy ice cream (very infrequently). They learn that mom is just not giving in on sertain things. Like ice cream, video games, screen time, etc.
You can use allergy as a good cover up to talk to the neighbors so they will not buy your son the treats you not approve.
As for allowance, my children always have to get our approval before spending "their" money. I tell my son there is a reason kids are not considered legaly competent, adult always has to have an input on the child's money decision. Of course, they are wellcome to negotiate, and if their reasoning makes sence then I will aprove.

I know! The same thing in my neighborhood. The icecream man came yesterday for the first time this year. He always comes just before dinner and my neighbors also buy my kids treats. Last year I had a talk with my kids (8 and 11) and told them that I did not want the neighbors buying them icecream. Most of the time my kids decline when the parents ask and they run home and ask me and then of course I end up with a crying fit because I most of the time I say no. It's not a treat if you get it everyday!

hi
the neighbor aspect is easiest, simply tell them that your son has allergies to different things and to NOT risk it, please don't buy him anything. ANY loving parent will understand that and agree to it... just make sure you are clear. it's not a big deal.. IF that was my child and he/she had allergies, best believe I would ask neighbors and or anyone else NOT to buy him/her food..
Secondly, in life there will always be temptations.... and thanks to FREE will we can either choose or not choose to eat unhealthy things. when it comes to kids, it's tough because yes, you give them an allowance and they think, wow... I can buy whatever I want and whenever ...... I think the best thing that can happen here is teaching your child about "choices" if a child still believes they have a choice in a matter then just try and continue to gently guide them towards a better choice. which if you have frozen juice bars... those aren't much better in terms of the sugar realm... some are no better than if you bought a regular old popscicle.. apart from that, sometimes just a solid NO.. you aren't having that will have to do... in our neighborhood, they come buy all day long with ice cream carts... and from the get go, I never gave in allowed my child lots of sweets.. oh he has some here and there, but it's not the first thing on his list.. I think this is just one of those things where you have to adapt to the world and not have it adapt to you... non-nutritious food is everyone.... hopefully, and it sounds like you are, instilling good food choices into your children... eventually, they will listen... it might take some time... but they will hold on to some of that knowledge..

Just politely ask them not to, it's your child's you should worry about.