And lo, the screaming in gardens has started

[Lludmilla]

Kids have been off school 1.5 days. That didn't take long, did it??

(And yes, I know this is a polarising topic on here, but today I'm really struggling to wfh due to constant screaming from kids playing in gardens. And no, I don't mean shouting or laughing or giggling, none of which I'd have a problem with... I mean full-on, top-of-the-lungs screaming.)

I get that we have to make allowances/keep things in proportion etc etc at a time like this, I really do. I also get that it's nice that we at least have some sunshine during all this, and I think it's great that kids can play in their gardens. But the SCREAMING. It's like this every single year in my street as soon as the sun dares to show its face, it gets to me and makes it hard to concentrate on work, and sometimes I need to vent even though I know I'm likely to get a pasting for it.

Surely it can't just be me?

My 3yo is a screamer. Apart from that he's lovely and a really funny little character.

I think some just scream and as a parent having to listen to it and deal with it really tests you. I've screamed back. I've been in tears because of it at least 3 times - the amount of times I calmly say "DS - use your words... calm down.... stop screaming..... if you don't stop screaming you're going in a time out.... I'm not talking to you until you stop....." and he stops. But then something else will trigger it later.

I've found myself wanting him to grow up quicker more and more lately .

I hate it and I hate even more that many parent sseem to encourage it as I sign their kids are enjoying themselves its SO inconsiderate

ps something I found worked due to shock tactics - sing opera, loudly. badly & off key in the garden (but get in quickly as neighbour on otherside may use hose (especially if they are a mumnetter ) & we will have another thread complaining about a next door neighbour...)

Upstairs dad is pretty loud all day and sings Lion King at his little girl, roars like a lion and chases her around as she squeals (then generally falls over and screams)

That would get right on my paps @Lordfrontpaw

Kids outside playing and laughing and kicking a footie about, is a WORLD away from shrill and nasty howling and screaming that SOME kids make. (And SOME parents LET them make.)

And we all know what kind of families they are ... Let's be honest.

And I think anyone who suggests getting 'noise cancelling headphones' or earplugs is part of 'this type of family.'

I thank GOD I don't live next to your type. (I did do and it was hell, and your neighbours have my sympathy...)

I have had my noise cancelling earbuds in playing chill-out music, which has been helping. Sadly can't switch to another room as I need to be at my desk in my office. Just wanted to clarify that I wouldn't dream of complaining to them in the circumstances the country's currently in. (Even if I could tell which garden it was coming from. ) Of course it's going to be hard on us all, kids included. We're all having to navigate a 'new normal' at a frightening time.

I still maintain there's a difference between laughing/shouting/the general noise of play, and top-of-the-lungs screaming, though. Generally speaking, I enjoy hearing kids playing outside - just not that awful ear-splitting protracted 'let's see how much horrible noise I can make, and for how long, and how loudly' thing'. (I do realise additional needs can affect this kind of thing BTW, and accept that that's a different kettle of fish.)

Straycatstrut try the word 'no'. It's much shorter and easy to understand.

Your tolerance isn't the issue OP. Nuisance screamers are.

I don’t believe children have screamed for decades in gardens or when they want attention. My parents would have been mortified if we had done this. We were expected to play nicely and screaming wasn’t allowed. We had elderly neighbours and we were not allowed to upset them.

I’m always amazed parents are deaf to their screaming DC. If I see one screaming in the supermarket, I have now perfected the “death stare”. Child is quizzical but stops screaming. It’s about teaching DC to have consideration and care for others. We now have some parents who only think of themselves and are too lazy to parent. They certainly do not consider others.

Playing, laughing, giggling, having fun and being children is fine. Screaming isn’t. Especially right now.

Enough of this children hating. At least someone is enjoying this debacle. Unless you're on a conference call, then you have my sympathy.

Where did I say I hated children? I like them a lot. Doesn't mean I have to like every sound that comes out of their mouths.

I hate it and I hate even more that many parent sseem to encourage it as I sign their kids are enjoying themselves its SO inconsiderate

Oh my god WHY would you happily encourage that noise. That's insane. I feel guilty that my 3yos Nursery teachers have to listen to it but apparently they have other screamers - all boys weirdly!

if at all possible binge watch tv/paint you kitchen/whatever and then do work later.

I cannot believe what I've just read Why do we have to work around the brats? All these people stuck WFH on calls and video meetings with a lovely background of undisciplined rugrats It should be the other way around, let the animals kids out to shriek outside of 9-5. Absolutely ridiculous everyone pandering and buying noise cancelling headphones, moving their workspaces, all because neighbours are too lazy to parent?

It's pipe the fuck down or get inside. People are trying to work. You know, keep the economy going, pay their bills, kind of more important than 'poor little things, their world has been turned upside down let them scream'.

Fuck that. Respect each other and the people who are now trapped in your surroundings.

I can’t stand screaming! Parents should be telling them to zip it!!! If the parents aren’t parenting just shout over to them to stop it!!

@BubblesBuddy I agree. No WAY did kids used to behave/be allowed to behave like they do now - pre 1990s. And parents were much better/much more responsible and considerate.

I'd have got a fucking back hander if I behaved like SOME kids do now. Then again, many parents are shit now, and don't give a fuck what their kids are doing, or what affect they are having on people.

How original of you @helgahelga to make such a snarky little assumption. But nope... My kids are a bit old for that now. I just think that at a time when normality has been shattered for a lot of families and people are just trying their best to get on with life a little understanding might not go a miss. There are bigger things for folk to stress about.

Music?

I live opposite a playground and I feel your pain OP.

The sounds of children playing is lovely, but the screaming is something else.

So we are calling children "animals" and encouraging "back-handers" - who the fuck are you people?

@AmericanAdventure

Raw nerve firmly hit.

I expect it is worse than normal at the moment as parents are trying to work from home and can't give the children much attention. My children are inside but it is hard trying to do stuff that you would normally do without a small child competing for attention. My guess is the parents are trying to keep the kids out of the way (in the garden) so they can try and do some work. Also, the children need some fresh air and vitamin D and the garden is the only option for most for now. Yes, its very inconvenient for you so it would be perfectly reasonable to have a word but also to understand what the parents may be contending with at the moment. Therefore, if you can block it out with headphones you would be cutting them some slack at a difficult time.

The people talking about how it was different when they were young/ how they wouldn’t have been allowed to get away with it. I can guarantee running around the school playground during lunch/morning breaks you would have shrieked and shouted. All school playgrounds since schools existed have been filled with noise, even if the same children were quieter at home. You can’t compare these times to when you were children because we never experienced this as children. Vent all you want, but also consider that everyone is facing challeneges and needs to have allowances made for them, including children

Do you think these children scream throughout break and lunchtime at school?

@AmericanAdventure It's people like you, who cause people to suffer from stress, with your lack of care and compassion for other people.

Thinking the behaviour of these kids is OK, and the OP should get over it, and adapt her lifestyle, to accommodate this horrible selfish noisy family and their hideous kids, speaks a million words about you.

You should be utterly ashamed.

Thank FUCK you are not MY neighbour. Any neighbour of yours has my pity. And any neighbour of your offspring does too.