QUESTION: My association has children who like to play a hide and
seek game they call cops and robbers. The 'cops' try to find the 'robbers' and
bring them back to the designated home area. It is good clean fun, however some
residents and board members dislike the running between buildings and hiding
behind shrubbery. They are talking warning letters and fines. I feel that as
long as they stick to common areas and do no damage, let them have their fun.ANSWER:
Requiring children to calmly walk from point A to point B in the
common areas and to never speak above a whisper is unrealistic. Children
need to play and laugh and occasionally yell. It's part of the growing process.
It gives them needed exercise and they learn how to socialize. Older
people sometimes forget they went through the same process--if they didn't, that
may explain some of the dour personalities in associations.