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Original poster

What time is best to wait until to let your kids play in the garden?

181 replies

ObiJuanKenobi · 19/04/2018 07:31

Our dc have just turned 2 and since the weather has brightened up love being in the garden playing.
One of them woke up at 430 this morning and has been asking non stop to go in the garden and is now having a mighty tantrum about it Blush but I think it's not fair on our neighbours to have kids playing noisily in the garden early in the morning and they should wait until 9, DP thinks they can go and play now.

What time is reasonable?

OP posts:
UrgentScurryfunge · 19/04/2018 09:57

Most people getting up for work/ school will be awake/ getting ready/ long gone by 7:30. We have retired neighbours on one side, but the angle of their house is less direct than the others.

It's not a prolonged heatwave with people sleeping with windows open so a solo young child shouldn't be making sufficient noise to be a nuisence to other people within their houses anyway. It's hardly a teenage party with blaring music.

adaline · 19/04/2018 09:58

8.30 weekdays, 9.30 weekends I think. Yes families are up for school/work but that doesn't mean they want to be disturbed by kids screaming in the garden.

Chickychoccyegg · 19/04/2018 10:02

I literally can't imagine getting up at 4.30 am!!!!!!! X

4sausages · 19/04/2018 10:03

Not all kids scream in the garden - the springs on our trampoline are often louder than the kids' voices!

Springtrolls · 19/04/2018 10:08

Not before 9 on a weekday and 10 on a weekend.
Not all of us are up at stupid o clock even though we have kids. Not all of us want to listen to screaming children regardless of who they belong to.
Yes, children should play, however, this doesn't mean that everyone else should be disturbed first thing. It's not like they can only play then, they have all day to play.

Springtrolls · 19/04/2018 10:11

Or trampolines. Or balls bouncing. Or loud parents. Or ride on toys. Nerf guns. Water fights. Music toys. The cow goes moo
Just some of the early morning delights of a previous neighbour at 7 am weekday and 8 on a weekend.

CuppaSarah · 19/04/2018 10:15

Weekdays are different from weekends. 8am weekdays and 9.30am weekends is our rule. But our neighbours all do 9-5 jobs so there's less concern about waking people from night shifts.

adaline · 19/04/2018 10:16

I don't think kids should be out bouncing around on trampolines early in the morning either.

If they're bored and want to play, take them to the park or entertain them inside. Not everyone gets up at half seven or wants to be disturbed by noisy neighbours first thing in the morning. Sure, the sound of kids playing is normal but not first thing in the morning!

MoonFacesMum · 19/04/2018 10:16

Am I the only one who thinks it’s sad that so many people are saying 10 at weekends? Sunny weekends are for playing in the garden! Half the morning is gone by then!

FWIW I tell my kids no screaming in the garden at any time.

adaline · 19/04/2018 10:19

Take them to the park if you want them to play in the sunshine early in the morning.

I think 10am is late personally - I would say 9/9.30 at weekends. Yes, of course kids want to go out and play but if they can't be quiet then you need to take them inside or out somewhere where they can't disturb people.

speakout · 19/04/2018 10:22

Not all kids are screamers.

And I wouldn't allow noisy trampoline play so early.

Not all of us are incapable of policing the noise levels of our children, not all children are noisy and boisterous.
My toddler would happily sit playing in the sand pit or chalking on the patio making no noise at all.

LittleLionMansMummy · 19/04/2018 10:24

FWIW I tell my kids no screaming in the garden at any time

I don't think my 17mo will quite understand that - she's just taken to shrieking excitedly at any and all opportunities - bees, flowers, wind, water, the cats etc, are all welcomed by the high pitched shriek.

Best I keep her in till 9 I think! Grin My 7yo likewise doesn't come with volume control. The two of them together make a ridiculous din.

Noqonterfy · 19/04/2018 10:25

9am weekdays and weekends. Although I am surrounded by older people who are retired. I don't want to shatter their peace too early.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 19/04/2018 10:25

After 8.

lalalalyra · 19/04/2018 10:33

I normally say 9am at weekends. 8am during the week.

However, my neighbour (who is a HUGE complainer) washed his car with a noisy power washer at 6.30am last week and this morning cut his grass at 6am. So, it's game on here and they can now play out as long as everyone in this house is awake.

Neato · 19/04/2018 10:38

9/9.30 on a weekday & Saturday (but earlier if can be quiet play) and 10am on a Sunday. And incidentally, sod the neighbours, it's me who can't deal with loud children before those times!

Eliza9917 · 19/04/2018 10:57

Stick to reasonable noise hours, so between 7am and 11pm.

That being said, I wouldn't appreciate noisy children in the garden before 9/10am on the weekend.

4sausages · 19/04/2018 11:20

MoonFacesMum I'm with you. So glad that my neighbours are friendly people. Those with families are happy to hear other children playing outside, and the few older people living nearby are also lovely.
If nothing else this post has made me realise how lucky I am!

MereDintofPandiculation · 19/04/2018 11:33

9.00 or 10.00 am ??? Sometimes I feel like an alien.

On the other hand, they should learn that unrestricted noise is not acceptable when you're in an open space - learning this as a child might make it easier for them to understand you don't have a right in your 20s to have your choice of music blaring across half a dozen gardens.

WS12 · 19/04/2018 11:43

Heck let him outside, 7.30 is fine! Mine go out before that. I couldn't care less about the neighbours this is my children's home!

Namechange128 · 19/04/2018 11:51

Surely 8 is fine on a weekday? I wouldn't let mine shriek and run about in any case.

@WS12 earlier than 7.30 is still pretty not on for me... Our old neighbours did that and even if we were up ourselves it was always a bit of a stressful start to the day, her three kids shouting around on the trampoline or chasing each other and then complaining over who won - regular kid stuff, but too noisy and too early!

Nikephorus · 19/04/2018 12:13

I doubt your child will have a megaphone closeby and will be blaring away into it.
The children round here don't need megaphones, they're loud enough without them Sad
If children were capable of playing quietly then I doubt anyone would mind but these days they all seem to shout at the tops of their voices.
I couldn't care less about the neighbours this is my children's home!
And I'm betting that this is the sort of parent who has shouty children.... Your neighbours live there too.

UpSideDownBrain · 19/04/2018 12:14

9 am for us.
My neighbour was a bin man and was up at about 4 every day, so a lie in at a weekend was about 7am when he would start mowing the lawns.

adaline · 19/04/2018 12:40

I couldn't care less about the neighbours this is my children's home!

Well aren't you delightful? I'm bloody glad I don't live next door to anyone quite so selfish and inconsiderate.

ThymeLord · 19/04/2018 12:45

I couldn't care less about the neighbours this is my children's home!

How thoughtful. I hope you don't have night workers for neighbours. Or people with illnesses. Or a family trying to catch up on an hours sleep after being up all night with a screaming baby. Or a vulnerable elderly person who just wants peace and quiet first thing in the morning. How selfish.

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