How should I deal with annoying neighborhood kid?

[teresa.housel@g]

Hello! I am new to this list. I could use some advice: there is a rental house next to us and a new family (four children and single father) just moved in. The problem is the youngest child, a girl (three older brothers). She absolutely hounds the ladies in the neighborhood. Many of us enjoy gardening and spend time in our yards. It's clear that she needs a mother and the attention. But, I just want to be in my yard in peace and she is very annoying, following me, asking questions, etc.

I am about ready to formally tell her to stop bothering me when I am in my yard. I don't want to be hurtful to her, but at the same time I want to feel like I can spend time in my own yard again! I also walk quite a bit and the other day I nearly crashed into her because she was following me on her bike. Do you have suggestions for anything firm but kind I could say to her that would get her off my back? I'd rather not confront the dad, as he clearly has his hands full with four kids and parents usually get defensive, anyway.

[jaguarxke]

This just popped into my head....buy a coloring book with ** lots **of pages and a box of crayons. Wrap it up in pretty paper and tell her this is special, just for her. Then tell her that she needs to color every picture, do her best work and when she has colored every picture bring it back to show you. Tell her not to come back until the book is completed and that she must do her very best.
If you do decide to do this, let us know how long it took.

Or...

Tell her your garden is a magic garden and fairies live there. You aren't allowed to talk because it might scare them away! She might get bored and leave.

Or....

Offer her a patch of your garden to plant her own flowers in: