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Original poster

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:
Monty36 · 05/07/2026 18:20

Not before 9.

hangonwhilstioverthinkthis · 05/07/2026 18:16

We had a comment today on the volume of our smalls this morning. They were inside but windows were open 🫣 They were in happy high spirits, laughing, playing together and just having a marvellous time and I was enjoying watching them so much I didn't think to close the windows for about 20 minutes. Was about 6.30am. Oops!

We don't play outside till after 7 on a weekday, 8 on Saturday and 9 on Sunday. Also monitor/regulate screaming/shrieking at any time. Noone wants to be listening to that, not even me!

AgnesMcDoo · 05/07/2026 18:14

9am

earlier is anti social

aCatCalledFawkes · 05/07/2026 18:07

My kids are teens and I have no idea what time I used to let them out. We have big well spaced out gardens. I don't believe they were ever that noisy unlike the England music which is blaring out two doors down and highly likely to go on until the small hours - which is fine.

MummyToOrla · 05/07/2026 18:00

Ours are out no earlier than 8:30, if i can stretch it out I try and aim for 9:30 but they are 6 and 4 and are usually both up by 6:30. At the other end of the day, if normal British weather then back in by 5 for dinner and no going back out after. In the hotter weather we may say out at 8:00 and back in at 11:30, then possibly back out from 4-5 under the gazebo. We are all very fair and burn really easily, despite using factor 50+.

It used to drive me demented having a toddler who went to bed at 6:30 and couldn't ever sleep in the summer because neighbours kids between 2 and 12 were out careering round screaming their heads off till 10pm some nights.

WhitePudding · 05/07/2026 17:57

My old neighbours (new build estate) would be out at 5am. One of the daughters would sing loudly (lovely girl but very out of tune), the mum was a generally loud person as well, there was no time they were ever quiet really. Then as the girls became older, parties/karaoke on a Saturday night became a regular occurrence whatever the weather.

They backed on to us. Front neighbours didn’t have enough drive for their 4 cars so there was always coming and goings at all hours, they were South African and loud too. Even if they went on holiday, early hours there would be banging of doors and speaking at the top of their lungs.

I felt like it was in the middle of a noise sandwich. Left in the end, after a particularly bad weekend and cried. Now only have 4 neighbours and 2 are elderly. It’s quieter than quiet.

Dinosaursare · 05/07/2026 17:45

7.30 weekday, 8am saturday, 9am sunday
However we will walk to the park early if they are desperate to get out!

Inside for the night by 7pm latest

Lollylucyclark101 · 05/07/2026 17:41

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?

From about half 9am until about 8pm.

anything earlier or later than that (on a regular basis) is downright rude.

I work all week and like a lie it at the weekends, usually till about 9am. If I had neighbours making noise before then I’d be making noise at 9pm until they got the message.

Goodadvice1980 · 05/07/2026 08:35

9am Saturday and 10am Sunday.

I’m shocked how loud some children seem now, guess it’s part of the ipad effect 🤔 but even adults shout at each other having a normal conversation.

HelpMeGetThrough · 05/07/2026 08:33

Whatever time you like OP, it’s your garden.

Original poster
Chexton · 05/07/2026 08:21

Small spread of responses but so far no one as inconsiderate as my neighbours it would seem!

OP posts:
nooneliterallyspatouttheirtea · 05/07/2026 08:20

9 am.

MyLimeGuide · 05/07/2026 08:20

8am

Marwoodsbigbreak · 05/07/2026 08:19

8

itsgettingweird · 05/07/2026 08:18

private garden? Probably 7am but I’d expect there to be parenting with regards screaming and shrieking (at any time of day!)

Yes, a lay in at the weekend is great. Personally I’ve never found others noise to disrupt that as I do what I need to do to personally achieve that.

SometimesTheIntrusiveThoughtsWin · 05/07/2026 08:16

Standardly 9am. Heatwave 8am

BigWig78 · 05/07/2026 08:14

8/8.30am and 9/9.30 pm would be my rough times. But we don’t get that much sun here in Scotland so it’s not like it’s constant at all.

TroysMammy · 05/07/2026 08:13

Ha ha, my Facebook memories from 13 years came up today of a family of kids shouting and screaming on the street at 9.30 at night with the youngest one aged 3 having no road sense, the next one up about 5, others under 11 and no parent around. They weren't early risers though but could be a nightmare throughout the day. They don't live here now.

RosalieRosa · 05/07/2026 08:12

I agree with most pps 8-9am maybe.

I never hear kids on my street before that....but I do hear my annoying neighbour a lot earlier than this letting his dog out. He is 60+ and talks loudly in a baby voice to his yappy whatever poo and it is annoying. "Do wee wees for daddy, do wee wees for daddy" 🤢🤢🤢.

(He is annoying anyway - I may not mind otherwise)

Lexibletheflexible · 05/07/2026 08:12

Honestly, I dont let my kids outside making noise in the garden until 12ish. If it's one of those days and they want to be outside, we will go to the park. But no I don't have them outside from 730am. People work unsociable hours and weekends are their only chance for a lay-in.

Ponoka7 · 05/07/2026 08:08

9 am on a sunday. Parents need to go back to telling children to be quieter, or take them out, until later.

thejelliclecats · 05/07/2026 08:06

9am at weekends.

Blueseudeshoes · 05/07/2026 08:06

9am Saturday 10:/10:30 sunday, my kids are 5&4 and can be very loud so I like to be considerate

Georgieporgie29 · 05/07/2026 08:06

9am

notgettinganyyounger · 05/07/2026 08:05

8am