Worried neighbour

[Worriedneigh]

NC’d as may be outing.

My next door neighbours have 3 DC aged around 4, 5, 7 ish.
The children scream and cry in a distressed manner such a lot. I hear so much screaming and sobbing morning, noon and night from all the DC.
The parents frequently shout loudly at each other and at the children.
I know everyone has different parenting styles and shouting isn’t always abuse but this seems so excessive and the children just seem upset so often. When I see the children in public they are polite and quiet.

I don’t have DC so I’m in no place of expertise but have had my sister and my DN’s stay for extended periods of time and her children hardly ever screamed and sobbed at that age, but I know all children are different.

I just don’t know what the level of acceptable is. Should I mind my own business? Contact the DC’s school? Talk to the parents? Social services - that seems like it may be extreme but I just don’t know. I just want to do the right thing it’s so distressing hearing them scream and sob their hearts out every day.

You don’t have to decide what is acceptable, there are people who can gather all the info and who are trained and supported to make that decision. Your job is to recognise you are concerned and to share your concerns with SS.

Ok thank you, so calling SS is an acceptable thing to do in this situation? I guess I wanted parents to confirm this seems above a ‘normal’ / acceptable situation with children.
I would be mortified if a child in my care was sobbing regularly like that but I would also hate to report wrongly.

As in parents on MN!

I think in any situation its better to be safe than sorry, if you've noticed it enough to write a post I'd probably ring them x

I reported a neighbour of mine, he was similar. Shouted and called the children names from morning till night. He'd be the first voice I'd hear every morning and he was honestly vile. They had a visit after my call, I don't know what was said but he shouted less for a while then gradually reverted. They moved but I think about those kids sometimes and hope they're ok.

Trust your gut instinct. You don’t have to be a parent to know that children aren’t being cared for properly - if it feels wrong, it probably is. Report to SS, it sounds like the family need support. The shouting and frequent distress is worrying.

Call NSPCC. You can anonymously discuss and report.

If there's nothing wrong then no harm done.

If there is something wrong then you may prevent further harm

I would report. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you. It seems that it’s not within the boundaries of ‘normal’ then so I will ring NSPCC tomorrow.