Children playing out in the street

[dunfightin]

At the start of the summer holidays, all the kids on our street began playing out together. Different ages, but mostly primary with a couple of early secondary kids but lovely mix of ages and a couple of different schools - from year 2 upwards.
As parents we have kept an eye on them collectively but at a distance. It's a quiet side street in suburban very family orientated area. We think it's lovely that they get chance to work out how to play collectively and work out rules between themselves.
A couple of the neighbours object, including oddly one of whom has a toddler.
Kids are playing, laughing and occasionally shouting but all normal volume but neighbours want to come home to peace and quiet.
So are we being unreasonable to say it's ok that kids play out after school? As one of the DCs said it's my human right to play on the street it's my childhood.
Should agree times or ask them to be in when the childless come in from work around 6pm?
As another parent said it'll soon stop as nights draw in and weather gets worse.
Apparently someone on the street also contacted the police - .
Um not anti-social behaviour or excessive noise. Am now drinking

That's just it, the "rights of the child" often gets mistaken for ,"I the child have more rights than you", too much self importance isn't always good for kids.

I am a total Sheldon Cooper about noise but even I would suck this up - children playing in the street (just playing, not vandalising, drinking or intimidating others) is just part of life. They are not hurting anybody, breaking any laws or stopping anybody from doing anything.

YANBU.

It depends on the children and how they are playing and how much noise they are making.

There's a group of children near my house who shout and scream until 9pm and spend their time doing lovely things such as: repeatedly kicking a ball at someone's fence until it broke, climbing trees in someone's garden so the trees had to be chopped down and running across the road in front of cars as a game.

Arrgh, I think all the inhabitants should share the street. Most of the adults park their cars on the street and it seems ok for people to drive above the speed limit on the nearby bigger road, kids want to use the pavement to play on the street in which they live. As long as their behaviour isn't anti-social or damaging then should they be kept in at all times or only be allowed to play in special areas when supervised by adults?
I don't have a car, would never dream of not walking my children to school, clear the snow for neighbours and make an effort to get to know them and play a role in the community. I guess I want the streets to be used for things other than driving cars up and down. And if the kids are around and about then it's not a dormitory ghost street or parking lot. And if anyone wanted to break into houses then they probably wouldn't choose our street because since early summer there have been people out and chatting on it, front doors open and perhaps people driving through will stick to the speed limits?

So I will ensure that my DC behave appropriately when out, are respectful and aware of everyone who lives here but I won't be keeping them in before tea

Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture): Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide
range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.

From UNICEF summary of the Convention of Rights of the Child

but also note

Article 15 (Freedom of association): Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and
organisations, as long as it does not stop other people from enjoying their rights. In exercising their rights,
children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others.

Perhaps the little boy who mentioned human rights might be interested. He could be a budding human rights lawyer in the future

Why can't the children play in the garden or in a park? Can the parents take turns to supervise them in a park or playground in the evening?

I think you're being selfish. The neighbours are being disturbed by the noise yet you don't care. A group of children playing noisily right outside your house can be infuriating (we had this before we moved, I was studying for exams and wanted to cry some evenings! I'm all for kids playing, but using the street as a playground is unfair on other people!)

I expect the parents of the toddler are trying to get him to sleep. I would be livid if my 2 year old was repeatedly woken by noisy kids or ball games in the street.

Noise is very intrusive. Most people want peace and quiet in the evenings. They want to relax in their home without kids shrieking and shouting outside the windows, or riding bikes up and down the same bit of gravel, or worrying about balls bouncing off their cars.

I think you need to compromise- bring them in at 6pm. A couple of hours playing out after school then give the neighbours some peace!

If I’m honest, I agree with the neighbour who is clearly stressed out by this situation. For all you know, someone might be experiencing severe physical health issues and wants to enjoy their own home without kids screaming outside and riding scooters etc. so they can recover from illness or someone could have PTSD and is struggling with the noise so I would be more thoughtful and have more respect.

if you want your kids playing out then have it outside YOUR property, not other peoples and if that isn’t an option then play in YOUR garden, that way no one can moan!

Should have moved to the middle of no one if you want to be so ignorant and disrespectful to other people.

As the original post was seven years ago, I expect the kids that were playing out are now either off to uni, or are sat in their bedrooms playing online games.

The thread is from 2017 so they're probably past the age of playing out. Check the dates before posting.