Earliest reasonable time for a five-year-old to play in the garden

[DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat]

What is the earliest reasonable time a child should play out in the garden?

We live on a VERY busy main road - even at 2am, there are always cars and lorries trundling past.

DD is 5 and has a naturally loud voice 🙈

Do they lock the gates overnight? Not heard of parks having opening times

From how you’ve described your neighbours I think you’re fine as soon as she gets up

Yes, absolutely they do.
Several of the parks round here get locked overnight. Means much less broken glass where the kids play!

Coming home from my dog walk at 8 am on Sunday, I was surprised to hear children bouncing a ball in the garden, with adults present. They also have a dog that barks every time you walk by. I thought that was a bit inconsiderate. 😬

Yes, God forbid someone should work a night shift.

7am is definitely too early for half term. Some people are off work and older kids will need to catch up on sleep. Luckily I don't live near any kids and DS is 16 so doesnt affect me.

No DC here, I've been in the garden, having breakfast and working on my laptop since 7.30 and haven't heard a sound from any neighbour, just birds and the hum of the dual carriageway that is about 500m away. This is a 1990s new-build estate, so whilst most of the houses are detached, it is only by a small amount, and my small garden adjoins 5 others.
I know that there are small kids around, although the house that is immediately behind has changed hands, and the trampoline has gone.
Even the yappy dog has not been outside this morning.
I'd have no problem having DC in the garden from 7 on weekdays and 8 on weekends.

Which is worse a loud toddler or a dog barking?

I wouldn’t mind my neighbours kids playing outside very early in the heatwave - 7 am is fine. They can buy earplugs if they are that sensitive and I say that as someone with much older kids.

Mine were both fairly quiet and I even had one neighbour comment during lockdown that they are so calm compared to the other kids on the street! 😂 She didn’t know how they were inside at bedtime!!! 😂 I live near a school and really love the sound of the kids playing!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is our weekend, we don't need to be up by 7 and I'll be buggered if I'm sleeping with earplugs in because people can't keep their kids inside till a bit later.

She doesn't have a "Naturally loud voice", she's just annoying. I bets he doesn't have a naturally loud voice at school... If she isn't actually deaf then teach her to STFU and then she can play at 6am. How much noise does she need to make with a mud kitchen?

7am is far too early. Many people will be up but there's a big difference being up and being subjected to screams, shouts, ball bouncing etc at 7am in the morning.

I'd say no earlier than 8.30 on a weekday and 9 at the weekend. People deserve peace and quiet early and late in the day.

7:30 week days, 9 at weekends

Also, it's called having fun. Perhaps you should try it.

Everyone (apart from a tiny percentage of people with particular SEND needs) can modulate their voice to suit an environment, time of day, who they're with, social constraints etc so it's not that she has a naturally loud voice - she's just not learnt or been taught these social boundaries. 5 years old is more than old enough to be taught this.

Who's to say she hasn't got SEND? Very judging of you 🤔

Are you always this defensive?

She may have SEND but I highly doubt she's someone with the very specific SEND needs that means she can't learn to modulate her voice.

Stop being so defensive because people might actually have a point - just because you disagree with it doesn't make some a dick or wrong.

Some 5 year olds find that much harder to do than others though. Not because of SEN, or bad parenting just because they are 5.

(says an early years worker who is forever encouraging indoor voices!)

Agree. We live right by a playground so we go there earlier as no houses right by it

Why so defensive? She might have MORE fun if you could teach her to quieten down, so she could go out to play earlier...? Wouldn't you both rather she was outside playing?

Why so judgemental of a 5 year old? 😂 She loves being outside and is very loud outside, hence the thread. Some kids are noisier than others. Many people I know are teachers and they will say the same thing.

Thankyou! It's definitely not for the want of trying 😂