Does the sound of children playing annoy you?

[newmane40593]

I could just be being paranoid. My neighbours seem lovely never had any issues. I have, however, noticed since lockdown DD has obviously been playing a lot in the garden. They regularly seem to go in when DD is out. She isn't loud but does chatter away to herself with whatever she is playing with although I wouldn't say it's constant. Would others find this annoying? TBH even if it was I can't tell her to play in silence or force her indoors all the time. There are other children playing in close by gardens aswell. Also there is an elderly lady who lives behind us who seems to enjoy DD presence and often waves and watches her.

Like most people general playing is fine, screeching (especially the high pitched screaming some kids do) makes my palms itch. We live near a pre-school and I like hearing little kids playing. When we moved to Aus and had a pool for the first time I was very aware of my three kids making noise as they were in it a lot but our neighbours were an elderly couple and luckily were of the "we miss hearing kids play" variety. They were not allowed to scream though 😁

I definitely notice it.My two are teens now so dont go outside and play anymore. I have become less tolerant of the noise as I now notice it. Which frankly is a bit rich seeing as my two were the same a few years ago. So yes sometimes I do go in or close my window whilst it's at its peak. But I certainly wouldn't say anything. I also feel a tinge of sadness as its such a short time they will do all that stuff and my two are obsessed with their laptop and PS4 now so it also brings back good memories.

My neighbours two year old however does a high pitch scream about every 10 seconds on repeat whenever she is outside. It cuts right through and drives me nuts. So whenever she is outside I go in and shut the window. I know the parents cant do much and its just a phase so I would never say anything but it's the most annoying noise. Better than bloody windchimes though which my other neighbour has.

I'm very sensitive to noise though.

Thanks everyone it is 95% of the time just chattering to herself as she has no other child to play with at the moment. Obviously the occasional cry if she gets upset but that isn't too often and no definitely no ball kicking or trampolines

No, I love it as long as it's happy play sounds and not screeching.

She's fine, don't worry about it.

It could be coincidence or as someone has already said, maybe one/both are shielding and aren't willing to take even the tiniest risk but there are plenty of hours in the day for them to get a bit of fresh air when DD is inside playing/eating/sleeping or else they could put a note through your door explaining their situation and asking if you'd be willing to arranging a time of day that they know no one will be in your garden.

Obviously there are other reasons they might find it hard to hear her playing, but that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong and if they choose not to talk to you about it then I'd leave them to it.

I would imagine it would be hard if you work from home/are wanting to enjoy a quiet time in your garden and there is screeching and screaming going on.

Where I live (in the grounds of a hospital) there is also a nursery. Key workers kids are of course there at the moment. I usually hear them from time to time when they are outside but of course there are not so many around at the moment.

I don't mind them and it used to make me grin, the same boy would be told not to do something - all a bit "George, don't do that" if anyone remembers Joyce Grenfall saying that??!

I love hearing the children play .

No we live opposite a primary school - it's a lovely noise...mostly.

I like the sound of children playing, my DS is 18 now and it never bothers me. Crying and screaming would send me indoors but I wouldn't complain as. it's normal family noise.

I think children playing untroubled by the current situation is a great sign of hope. Gentle, tinkering laughter is beautiful. A chattering toddler is sweet.
Screaming tantrums and spoiled brat behaviour, less so.

We don’t hear them often but if the village children (one family) are riding past chattering to the ponies, singing, or dropping off homemade cards to people, it’s lovely.

Guessing you don't have/don't want/never had children OP.....you sound pretty miserable if children playing is what's bothering you at the moment

@ivfgottostaypositive That's not what the OP said at all...

I don’t mind the noise of children playing out at all. Even screeching. I just tune it out.

Can’t stand it indoors though. Huge herds if kids screaming as they swarm through a play centre is my idea of hell.

My kids are teens but I live in between two schools in a very family oriented area. Hearing the kids play is lovely and doesn't bother me at all. However, there was one girl yesterday shrieking non stop for hours, but that was annoying and not every day. There is one lad who has a particularly high pitched voice and that is really irritating as he's out every day for hours and has no volume control. But that's just his voice it wouldn't occur to me to complain!

The sound of children playing is much better than loud music in the garden, my personal pet hate!

My children are so so noisy in the garden which I always ignore as long as it’s happy play. If it’s fighting or arguing I bring them in.

I like all the summer sounds that annoy many on MN, I even enjoy listening to other people's music coming in through my window I have two preschoolers but they're not allowed to screech and I bring them inside if they do. We have a paddling pool up at the moment so I have to police them more than usual. We're semi detached with few other houses in the vicinity, and all with children under 18 so a fairly tolerant area anyway luckily.

I'm not ok with other people's music and noisy cars, but I see the sound of children playing as a natural sound. It's a welcome sound for the most part.

Okay not quite so good if they are fighting/arguing, but even then I wouldn't begrudge them their time out in the fresh air.

Yes, I wish they’d feck off and play elsewhere. But they live here, so I’m bit suck.

Only at 7am when they decide to have a competition to see who can scream loudest....

But other people’s kids don’t bother me at all

As others have saidbits the screaming I don't like, but I'm old and was taught that screaming was only for when you were in danger or hurt.

Yes, @starfishmummy me too!

I don't mind play noise at all. Don't like the screeching/screaming. My ngn is a childminder and one particular child is a terrible whinner, but she only appears to be there a couple of times a week but I have been known to go inside when she starts.