Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What time is reasonable for children to be playing loudly in the garden at the weekend

133 replies

Chexton · 05/07/2026 08:00

Ok, loaded question at the top. We have very loud neighbours with young children (2,4,7) who seem to shout and scream in the garden from (what I consider) quite early.

We have young children also but are constantly woken by garden noise.

So, what is a reasonable time in the summer to chuck your kids out into the garden to play?

OP posts:
hangonwhilstioverthinkthis · 06/07/2026 07:21

@TulipsAndPancakes 🤣🤣🤣 this would have to apply to everyone though...DIY enthusiasts, lawn mowers, people with irritating pets....

The noise act lists quiet/night hours as 11pm to 7am....think this may increase to 8am on weekends as far as construction is concerned but not 100%. Outside of that it all feels like fair game tbh. Mr next door can mow his lawn at 7am, down the road are entitled to let their insanely loud dogs out around the same time, and kids can be playing!

Lordofthebantams · 06/07/2026 06:55

TulipsAndPancakes · 06/07/2026 06:25

8.30 weekdays
10/11 weekends

11am? I'm not far off thinking about heading back in for lunch then!

TulipsAndPancakes · 06/07/2026 06:25

8.30 weekdays
10/11 weekends

Arthurnewyorkcity · 06/07/2026 03:47

8am is reasonable imo. I have a terraced house so can often see or hear my neighbours either hanging washing or having a smoke etc. They're usually awake. On occasions they havent appeared, 8 is still acceptable time for adults to be up. There is such a thing as ear plugs.
Sunday 8:30 id say. I think your neighbour at 6:45 is very unreasonable, even more so if not supervising.

Arthurnewyorkcity · 06/07/2026 03:47

8am is reasonable imo. I have a terraced house so can often see or hear my neighbours either hanging washing or having a smoke etc. They're usually awake. On occasions they havent appeared, 8 is still acceptable time for adults to be up. There is such a thing as ear plugs.
Sunday 8:30 id say. I think your neighbour at 6:45 is very unreasonable, even more so if not supervising.

GabriellaFaith · 06/07/2026 02:50

8am, although I'd hope for 9 on a Sunday!

Lexibletheflexible · 06/07/2026 02:36

Leopardspota · 05/07/2026 19:52

12?! lol.

Yeah. Not everyone wants to start their day with my kids. Some people have gone out of their way to make sure they arent up at arse o clock with kids.

neversaynever108262 · 05/07/2026 22:59

I take my toddlers in the garden from about 7/8am. If they cry or scream or moan or anything excessively go back inside (We are currently learning quiet voices). We have such little good weather I want to make the most of it. They do not have screen time etc. I love seeing them bare footed being children outside. It is my garden, I am going to use it!

purpleflowersfordays · 05/07/2026 22:53

9am on a Saturday and 10am on a Sunday. I think it’s respectful to let the neighbours without young kids have a lie in.

I was brought up like this too, mother never let us out too early on the weekend.

Velumental · 05/07/2026 22:47

I don't let mine out before 8/9 but I think I did when eldest was a toddler, that wasn't noisy though, more toddling about spraying flowers with water or whatever, he has always been high energy and would bounce off the walls inside but happily wander quietly in the garden so always seemed the more neighbour friendly option.

Our main issue is how LATE to allow them out as they re late sleepers for 4and 8 yr olds they happily run round in the garden gone 8pm, I do insist they don't scream etc but sometimes they do get out of hand. I tend to take them on a dog walk instead of needing outside late

I've responded having read onjy the op

MidnightMeltdown · 05/07/2026 22:43

MrsMitford3 · 05/07/2026 22:23

The DC in the garden behind me are def getting turfed out upon waking-often as early as 6 am-and are very loud. Shouting and kicking a football.

I have made my peace with it-better than being on a screen

And when you live in such close proximity it is inevitable-so -very unlike me-I have decided to not be bothered 😂

You’re more patient than me, I’d be fuming. Legally, 6am is still classed as night time hours so you could report them to the council.

Gengha · 05/07/2026 22:42

9 am

TheWorthyNewt · 05/07/2026 22:39

MandemChickenShop · 05/07/2026 08:03

5am

🤣🤣🤣👍👍

TheM55 · 05/07/2026 22:37

Maybe not before 8, think it comes down to who lives on your street and how they supervise (or don't). I digress, but we live on the coast on a busy coastal road on a flight path. I'm not particularly noise sensitive, which is a good job as in reality, it is only quiet between 2am and 5am. Some noises you tune out - aircraft, the sea banging (and for people who say "oh that must be a lovely natural sound" it is quite irregular) We also have runners going past from 5 - who seem to chat loudly, and cars going too fast / backfiring/ being souped up , also groups of people walking home after a night out. The seagulls start about 5am. We chose to live here and we love it, despite the noises, but man, I would be lying if I did not say it was noisy. Sometimes when I stay elsewhere I think, god it's quiet, not sure I will be able to sleep it is so quiet.

Rituelec · 05/07/2026 22:27

7.30 but quiet till 8

MrsMitford3 · 05/07/2026 22:23

The DC in the garden behind me are def getting turfed out upon waking-often as early as 6 am-and are very loud. Shouting and kicking a football.

I have made my peace with it-better than being on a screen

And when you live in such close proximity it is inevitable-so -very unlike me-I have decided to not be bothered 😂

PeonyPanda · 05/07/2026 22:18

Big difference between playing in the garden, and shrieking. Shrieking and screaming is not okay.

MidnightMeltdown · 05/07/2026 22:17

It’s not the going out that’s the problem. It’s the noise. I remember going out in the garden around 7ish when I was a kid (before parents were even up!), but we would literally tiptoe out. If we’d made enough noise to wake anyone up then we would have been in deep shit. Unfortunately there are so many lazy, selfish, inconsiderate parents these days who don’t discipline their children.

Ilikewinter · 05/07/2026 22:16

We had the police knock on our door last week, in the very hot weather, asking if we'd heard anyone shouting for help - we hadn't. Anyhoo, thanks to the power of the local Facebook group (!) it turned out to be a kid futher up the street playing in their paddling pool. Apparently his screams for 'help' were so loud someone called the Police !.

GoFigure235 · 05/07/2026 22:13

7am in our case. We know our neighbours quite well and most are up at 7 getting ready for school/work. The one who is retired goes swimming early in the morning and has her weekly shop delivered at 7am, with lots of clanging, banging and beeping (van reversing). I don't mind this, it doesn't bother me, but as a result I think it's fine for my kids to be out from 7am.

As a general rule, I'd say 8am on weekdays and 9am at weekends, that's what we'd do if we were staying somewhere on holiday.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 05/07/2026 22:10

We usually take DS out in the morning park/swimming/ walk round the shops until around 10:30 or later. Then when he goes in the garden it's late enough for people not to be disturbed, he's non verbal though so isn't screaming or shouting.
Next door have children a bit older than DS and they are nearly always in the garden when we get back from being out so I know we're not annoying them (next door other side is empty).
Our neighbours are less considerate, they only went inside 30 minutes ago and they were not quiet so DS has been disturbed but I still like to be considerate to others ( including if we get neighbours on the other side).

hereforthelolz · 05/07/2026 22:06

In my own bloody garden? 8am is fine.

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 05/07/2026 22:03

It seems like such a waste of the day to keep the kids inside until 10am on a Sunday. No wonder so many kids are screen addicts!

rememberingthem · 05/07/2026 21:46

My neighbours children play is the garden from around 7.30am till dark in the summer. The noise of children laughing and playing doesn’t bother me at all but its the constant screeching, whining, crying and tantrums that piss me off!

Idontcareboutthestateofmyhair · 05/07/2026 21:43

10am at weekend 100%. That is a reasonable time for folks having a lie in when off.