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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be sick and tired of children who are incapable of playing without screaming like animals?

68 replies

bringincrazyback · 07/09/2018 16:11

Let me just clarify. I'm not talking normal, excited kids'-play sort of noise, and as far as I can tell, none of the kids concerned have any 'issues' that would lead to this. I also don't mean the kind of screaming that could flag a possible concern. I'm talking about the 'isn't it fun to see how much horrible noise I can make, and how loud, and for how long' competitive type stuff when they play outside. And it's not just occasional either. And it's not just one or two kids.

AIBU to be sick and tired of this and to wonder why some parents don't ever appear to do anything to discourage their children from it?

OP posts:

abbey44 · 07/09/2018 16:53

The sound of children playing is fine. Lovely, in fact. Children shrieking like they're being ripped limb from limb...not so much. My next door neighbour's children do this (they're 11 and 13, so I'd have thought they'd have grown out of it by now, frankly) so thank God term has started again.

LollyPopsApple · 07/09/2018 16:54

YANBU. It’s horrendous and extremely selfish on the parents’ behalf.

stripeswitheverything · 07/09/2018 16:54

I agree with others on this one - when I was a kid we all had the story of the boy who cried wolf drummed into us. We had consideration for other people drummed into us as well.

If kids are going to be allowed to scream blue murder all the time, how are we to know if something is terribly wrong and they desperately need help?

CuntyMcFuckerson · 07/09/2018 16:55

There's a group of kids round my way that are absolute screamers. I very very politely asked them to keep it down a little as the noise was scaring my pets (true) and they were so affronted at my request they came back several times over the next few weeks to throw stuff at my windows.

Such lovely children.

I finally followed the screams home (literally could hear the from a different street) and spoke to a parent. Obviously all the children lied but were dobbed in by a truthful younger sibling!

Peace has reigned since.

The noise absolutely shreds your nerves and if you're posting that it's just children playing and we're over reacting then you've definitely never heard the type of noise we're talking about!

DC06 · 07/09/2018 16:56

Yanbu theres a group of kids that scream comstantlt right outside my OH's house and I must admit I ran out on two occasions as I genuinely thought they were hurt or in danger but they just like screaming I suppose. Their parents must be able to hear it as I'm guessing they are on the same street but don't step in or check on them. Shouting, laughing and a bit of noise when playing outdoors is great but it gets taken too far by some kids trying to be disruptive... also need to add the kids on his street are wild in general. I've had to stop them terrorising wild life etc x

youarenotkiddingme · 07/09/2018 16:56

I live opposite a park.

I know exactly what type of screaming you mean.

It's unnecessary and socially inappropriate and someone needs to tell these children their wang to scream like a banshee doesn't overpower someone's right to live in relative peace!

SnuggyBuggy · 07/09/2018 16:58

I know what you mean. My parents house backs on to a nursery. I was home one workday and heard a cacophony of screams and ran to the window thinking that a mad axeman had broken into the playground or something but DM just said it's always like that at playtime.

I'm not suggesting we played quietly in the playground when I was a child but we didn't all scream, all the bloody time for 15 minutes.

Undercoverbanana · 07/09/2018 16:58

Some children may have hearing problems and not realise how loud they are. I still get told I’m loud, but I’ve no idea.

Bbbbbbbb2017 · 07/09/2018 17:01

My 3 year old no matter how hard i try is incapable of not talking at a million decibels..short of shoving a sock in her mouth i am out of ideas and trust me, it drives me insane too she is just loud.

CuntyMcFuckerson · 07/09/2018 17:02

That's true, banana, and if there's just the occasional loud child I'll remember that next time, it's a good point.

But I don't think there's groups of hearing impaired children roaming the streets of the UK screaming the place down.

CuntyMcFuckerson · 07/09/2018 17:06

One child, or one roaring toddler isn't what we mean.

It's the older ones that are in groups. The get hyped up and egg each other on and it's a completely different thing to a noisy baby/toddler/child with sn.

Lemurville · 07/09/2018 17:06

Yanbu there’s children’s pure joy and natural excitement and then there’s screaming of the type you describe.

Wonderwine · 07/09/2018 17:07

I blame trampolines.
Nothing like a trampoline to encourage hours of blood-curdling screeching ...

amusedbush · 07/09/2018 17:13

The children who live in my street are sent outside at sun-up and are allowed to scream like they are on fire until well after 10pm all weekend and during holidays. It's not normal playing sounds, it is top-of-their-lungs screaming and if you dare say anything, their parents turn up and shout and swear at you.

Apparently it's their street and they can do what they like. Selfish cunts.

Smellybean · 07/09/2018 17:13

YANBU.
I had family over yesterday and one of the kids was screaming to the top of his lungs Non stop. His mum didn’t once say to keep it down. Pissed me right off.
The thing is the parents don’t like anyone else discalining their child.
I have a migraine today

Mulberry72 · 07/09/2018 17:15

YANBU

SnuggyBuggy · 07/09/2018 17:16

Do these parents not worry about a potential boy who cried wolf type situation?

SusannahL · 07/09/2018 17:22

Oh how I agree. So many parents fail to realise that a scream is meant to be a sign of distress and be acted on.
I certainly wasn't allowed to scream as a child and I didn't let mine do it either.

Yet another sign of lazy parenting I'm afraid.

BlueTyger · 07/09/2018 17:22

Every now and again I hear high pitched screams in the supermarket. If it keeps up I will go and have a look at the situation. I always wee a parent who is staring off and totally unengaged with their child

Me too.

Occasionally, if it warrants it, I'll ask if Little Johnny is OK. Partly concern. partly to say Are You a Shit Parent? but I'm also aware some children have issues. its tricky.

GerdaLovesLili · 07/09/2018 17:22

We all thought little Tarquin was expressing his joy! And what a marvellous blessing that was for all our neighbours.

Unfortunately we didn't notice that he'd tripped over into the hive, and been stung on his glorious rosy cheeks by pissed-off bees. Apparently, he expresses both states by making the same noise!

whosafraidofabigduckfart · 07/09/2018 17:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

babbscrabbs · 07/09/2018 17:28

Well YANBU but I have a school age screamer and despite trying numerous different ways to deal with it he still persists - he often does it when his sibling is getting attention, and I think it stems from the fact the baby had awful colic and screamed for about 6 months and obviously got lots of our attention in the process. I hate it.

BUT - Our current tactic is to ignore it given that it often seems to be about attention, and to a outsider that would look like we are doing fuck all.

There are two things very tricky to control - what someone eats and the noises they make.

pandarific · 07/09/2018 17:29

I have no idea why parents allow this. Add to that roaring at full volume at a bus stop at 7:30am in the morning when talking quietly would be more appropriate. and parents beaming beatifically and winding them up further instead of a gentle 'shh, yes keep telling me, but not so loud'.

Volume control is something I'm planning on instilling in my dc pretty early on. Hate bloody loud people!

babbscrabbs · 07/09/2018 17:30

And yes I've had the "boy who cried wolf" conversation about 100 times. We've even got a book of it.

Easy to be a smug parent labelling others lazy when you've not had to deal with it.

crimsonlake · 07/09/2018 17:32

I agree some children seem to go outside to see who can scream the loudest. My neighbours grandchildren come round and bounce up and down on the trampoline next to my patio ( I can hear them from inside also wherever I am ) and the noise is ear piercing ! I would not erect a trampoline next to any neighbours patio and if my children ever made that kind of noise I would be the first to tell them to play quieter. People do not seem to consider others these days.

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