Is it easier to let your kids play outside all night rather than get them in bed at a reasonable time?

[ssd]

I'm asking as after being up since 6.20am with my ds2, ds1 got up at 7, I'm trying to get them in the bath and into bed. Usually they're in the bath about 7, tonight it's later as my dh and I wanted to chat without constant questions/demands so we let them play out the back till about 7.45.

But as usual there's kids out playing while I'm trying to get my 2 in bed and it makes it really hard for me. The kids are aged from 4 till about 6 and the parents don't seem to give a damn, they'll be out there till 9 at the earliest, maybe 9.45.

Am I a looney trying to make sure my 2 get a decent sleep and my dh and I have some adult time, or should I just let them play away outside crossing the road and out of sight till they eventually come home?

My 2 are 4 and 7 years old and the 7 year old can't understand how kids younger than him are allowed out till 9 or 10 and allowed to play way out of sight.

Drives me nuts.

[janeybops]

It would drive me nuts too. I agree with you keep to the routine - kids need their sleep. Exceptions I would have might be on holiday when routine is usc anyway

[flobbleflobble]

Will probably drive the other parents nuts tomorrow when their kids are tired and ratty

[LIZS]

Mine are similar ages and as we are now on school holidays , apart from playgroup but that is not relevant atm as dd has chickenpox, I'm more inclined to let them decide on bedtime and have a lie in ! ds has just gone to bed at 9pm and is reading! Does cut into our evening though.

[Gobbledigook]

It wouldn't matter one jot to me if other kids were outside - I'd do what I thought was right for mine. For a start off, I wouldn't let my 4 yr old play out in the street full stop, regardless of what time it is.

I'd do what you are doing personally and try to get them to bed.

Not quite the same but we've just put ours to bed (4 and 2.5) and they are wide awake adn would happily play out now but I want my meal in peace and some time with dh without the children. I think that's perfectly reasonable.

[colditz]

I am dreading this when my son gets older, I see tiny kids running around all over the place round here.

Just tell him it's not safe. When he argues that other kids are allowed to play out, just say that that doesn't mean it's safe, and you care very much about your children!

[emily05]

I was not allowed out to 9 at night until I was 14! Mind you, I am behind the times. At the end of the day make the rules you are comftable with.
I wouldnt let my ds out that late and out of site (but I am a bit over protective and ds is not even 3 yet!)

[Gobbledigook]

Oh, and I'm soooo glad we don't live where kids play out - like you, it would drive me nuts. We live on a long straight road and the houses are big and spaced apart so kids just don't play on this road at all (it's too busy as well). It would be even worse than it is now getting them to bed if other kids were screeching outside.

[ssd]

I don't know if the other parents notice that their kids may be ratty tomorrow after such a late night as they seem to go to bed at that time all week.

The kids will appear tomorrow unwashed and hair not brushed at about 10 and the parents will still have their curtains drawn at 11am.

[Gobbledigook]

Bleurgh!

[paolosgirl]

We're lucky - we live in a small cul-de-sac, and the rule is they're all in at 7pm on a school night, and maybe 8pm at the weekend (depending on how well they're playing)
I firmly believe that kids should be outside playing whenever and wherever feasible. It teaches them so much, and gives them some of the freedom that we all had as kids - but I agree that some parents couldn't give a toss where their kids are. They'll be the same ones to 10 years time out til all hours causing mayhem

[Chyla]

They're such bad parents letting them play out til that time! They prob can't be bothered with sorting them out for bed can they?

Tell DS that they're still out because they dont have a mummy and daddy like you who cares about you and wants you to get a good nights sleep so you can do lots of fun things tomorrow and play with all their favourite toys.

[RTKangaMummy]

We used to say to DS when he said that about the neighbours little children that they had had a sleep in the afternoon and so they could stay up and play in the garden

It was true most of the time

But you could try that one

We are strict about bedtimes here apart from special reasons like having a sleepover here or going out to something special

[roisin]

Do you know when mine were small I used to get wound up about other peoples' children playing out late. But the longer I spend as a parent, the less willing I am to judge anybody else's choices. My children need a lot of sleep, and also a lot of winding-down time before bed. Some children are just not like this.

There are many many issues where your rules will differ from your neighbours. As long as you are consistent, your children will feel secure with the boundaries you set them, and accept them.

My ds1 is nearly 8 btw, and he goes to bed when there are still children playing out in the street.

[jollymum]

I go to bed in the loft bit at 11pm sometimes in the summer and about three houses away there are still little kids up. They're the sort that run round screaming, the parents obviously have no sense of neighbours 'cos there is no way mine would be running round making noise after about 8 at the latest. I have been so tempted to scream out of the window "Shut uuuuppppppp!" but I'm too chicken and too much of a laydee, so instead I have to close the windows and steam myself to sleep. We have a six year old opposite us who is often out at half eight nine pm and she's allowed across the road on her own. I asked her yesterday what time she had to be in and to bed and she just said "when my dad calls me". She's allowed right down the road as well, long road, loads of cars and my dd who's 10 next week isn't.

[HappyMumof2]

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[ssd]

I've just had a great idea.

As my two are kept awake with the neighbouring kids out playing late, I think during the school holidays I'm going to let my kids get dressed really early (ds2 is up after 6) and let them play outside, hopefully making as much noise as possible.

Sounds fair to me!....

[HappyMumof2]

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[ssd]

GGRRR, it happened again last night. Even though it was a school night, the kids were out till 9.20 and ds2 couldn't get to sleep for them screeching.

Then he was wakened early by ds2 who gets up at the crack of dawn.

Oh happy days....

[sparklymieow]

DD2's bedroom is at the front of the house and when she goes to bed at 7pm, there is 6,7 and 8 year old running about, screaming. Dd2 stands by the window saying 'kids, mummy, my friends' (she is 3) and doesn't slepp for ages because of them. I hear them outside at 9pm or even 10pm. Ds is 7 and he is in bed by 8pm.

[lisalisa]

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[HappyMumof2]

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[ssd]

I've just told my dh that I'm considering getting a new double glazed window put into ds1's room. He already has double glazing but it's as old as anything and in the winter I can feel a breeze coming in through it. But dh thinks I'm mad and the problem is ds's as he can't sleep with kids screeching outside (who can esp. aged 7?). dh says some kids have to sleep with a motorway near them etc. Anyway I don't care what he thinks, does anyone else think a new double glazed window would cut out the noise or would it look stupid (I can't afford to get the whole house done, just want ds1's room done as he's at the front of the house (noisiest bit)?

[janeybops]

As I was putting ds to bed I saw a friend of my dd and his family all going out for a bike ride! It is a school night and my dd is very tired and grumpy - no way would she cope with a bike ride and late night tonight!

Get the window if it helps him sleep - I would

[lunavix]

This is like something that makes me so cross here.
We live on a walk, so there's a big grass area infront (just in case! I didn't know that would mean that till I moved here!) and the people who live across the street behind us have a little boy, who looks about 3. He is out, all day, every day. He comes out about 9am, plays on our walk (which you have to cross at least one road from his house to get to - and while there's a school behind us so there's a 40 speed limit, people come tearing around that corner, me and ds have nearly been knocked over a few times) but he comes out about nineish, then plays with anyone who's allowed out, all day, every day, including all weekends, until maybe 10/11 at night. Any kids, from any of the streets around here. Sometimes on our walk, sometimes on the one two streets away, I've even seen him running towards town (on his own! It's two miles away...) I have NEVER seen his parents, and while I may be wrong it's as if they both work full time and the street is basically his carer. I'm so cross, I tell everyone I know in case someone knows who he is and will tell his parents that they are terrible.

It makes me so upset, he could be snatched and they wouldn't know for hours...