Noisy neighbour children

[AvenueQ]

They spend a lot of time in the garden and are incapable of playing without CONSTANT screaming and shouting. The parents never ask them to play more quietly. Usually the parents are inside with doors shut.
Is there anything I can do???

[Wanderergirl]

Probably for the same reason you are

[Womendohavevaginasnick]

Why are you still going on. This post is from last year

[Wanderergirl]

@Womendohavevaginasnick haha to be honest I’m not that malicious smoker that I would blow into people faces, or do it to prove a point. I’m happy to move etc. I even quit smoking, but I have IBD and as crazy as it sounds, smoking helps it, so it took it up to settle the flare (no joke it is even stated on NHS even though they don’t recommend taking up smoking).

However, I hate hypocrisy. Families with children drive as big cars as they can afford, that expel terrible amounts of fumes into peoples faces every single day. Their environmental footprint is much bigger, than someone who is single. And then noise, harassment of their children drives everyone mad, but it’s just a child, you have to suck it up!

And then after all this, there is a neighbour that smokes 5 cigarettes through the evening and they find a problem with it. But when asked (nicely) to tame their kids they consider it unreasonable. Whaaat???

I’m not saying everyone is like that, I hate generalising. But just because you have children it doesn’t mean that everyone will care that little Jimmy has asthma, just the way Jimmys mum won’t care that I have migraines and can’t even open my eyes from pain somedays whilst Jimmy is screaming outside from joy of playing.

I think in general it is nice when neighbours are more considerate to each other. And that goes both ways I’m afraid. Smokers can move and kids can be asked by parents to consider noise levels, that’s all it takes. But usually one side just won’t budge.

[Wanderergirl]

Well I wouldn’t be a bad neighbour who ignores that my smoking is nuisance to some and I am more than happy to compromise. But if zoo in the garden is an ordinary noise for my neighbours, then smoking is an ordinary neighbour activity to me. And to be fair I wanted to compromise with my neighbours, but they feel their kids have rights in their garden more so than I do in mine. So...

And you are quite lucky they are not smoking in the house, because then you’d have much bigger problem there would be nowhere to take you laundry, because the house would reek as well.

[Womendohavevaginasnick]

@Wanderergirl you raised a zombie

[Tessabelle1]

Take up smoking skunk! My neighbour does and means I have to take my washing in and shut my door it's that bad. The bonus for you is, it might chill you out so ordinary neighbour noise no longer bothers you

[John69]

Have you got access to a tazer? I find this to be the most effective solution to dealing with unruly teens. Usually one zap and that's it... all sorted. Good luck :)

[Wanderergirl]

Since so many of you think screaming children in the garden isn’t a problem, I really hope you won’t find a smoking neighbour next door a nuisance too. Because I have migraines which flare due to excessive repetitive noise. So as much as my smoking might be health hazard to some, screaming children for 8 hours in the garden causes health issues too, without even mentioning stress levels.

[Tappering]

OP - I sympathise. My NDN have two girls about age 5 and 7 who are screamers.

This isn't kids playing making noise - it's standing in the garden screaming like a tin whistle for hours on end. I honestly didn't think it was possible for children to scream and screech so much without losing their voices!

I keep telling myself that it is a phase, it will pass as they grow up. The colder and wetter weather helps now, because they are outside less.
The kids are lovely wee things and my neighbours are nice, so I grit my teeth because I don't want to fall out with them, and lockdown must be bloody hard going as they don't have a lot of space.

It is really frustrating though because I can still hear the noise even with all the doors and windows shut, and it's difficult to concentrate whilst trying to work.

[Mittens030869]

* Personally I find constant dog barking far more disturbing while I'm working from home than children.*

I’m not bothered by dog barking unless it goes on constantly, which also means that the dog isn’t being looked after properly. I don’t have an issue with kids playing loudly outside, though I do remind my DDs not to be too loud.

What I really don’t like is loud music at all hours, except for an occasional party at the weekend.

I know some posters are being flippant when they say you should move to a house in the middle of nowhere, and most of us can’t do that, but you have to cope with some noise from neighbours. There needs to be some give and take from everyone.

[SorrelBlackbeak]

Most children are back in school now and it gets dark by 7 so there's very little time when children are going to be outside screaming. If they are, it's probably because they're babies or toddlers who unfortunately don't know any better.

Personally I find constant dog barking far more disturbing while I'm working from home than children.

[cyclingmad]

Being forced to work from home as offices are shut is no fun either, nowhere to escape from kids outside screaming all day long.

Its alright for some to say go live in the middle of nowhere but just remember it wasn't my choice to work from home all day everyday either.

Least everyone can do is be abit more considerate at the moment that people have to work from home, just as much as kids need their outlet too.

[SoloMummy]

@AvenueQ

They spend a lot of time in the garden and are incapable of playing without CONSTANT screaming and shouting. The parents never ask them to play more quietly. Usually the parents are inside with doors shut.
Is there anything I can do???

Get over it!
It's nice that they're outside while they can be.

[AwaAnBileYerHeid]

"If you have little to no tolerance for noise from neighbours (including children) then buy a house in the middle of nowhere"

Kids playing and having fun - fine. Kids (anyone in fact) screaming and screeching constantly and seriously disrupting others - not fine. It's about respect. I would be embarrassed to leave my kids to piss the neighbours off like this.

[RattleOfBars]

I hate screaming and screeching in the garden. Unless you live on a remote farm it’s so rude to let kids disturb neighbours.

But yes sadly some parents seem to become immune to the racket their kids make. And as the kids grow the noise gets worse!

If you teach them to play quietly in the garden from a young age they soon realise being noisy means they have to come indoors.

I’m not saying kids should whisper. Just normal voices and no yelling unless it’s an emergency/injury.

The park, woods, mountains and beach I let them make more noise but the garden is an extension of the house. And we have retired neighbours both sides who I’m sure want quiet enjoyment of their gardens or might take siestas!

[SuzieQQQ]

General noise from kids is fine. Squealing and screeching is unnecessary and I would be speaking to the parents about that.

[LilyR2019]

We live in an age of entitlement, where (some)parents (by virtue of their having children) seem to feel that their kids are so “special” and “unique”, that the world should bend over backwards to accommodate the endless shrieking & screaming from their offspring…. Shops, restaurants, neighbourhoods, it’s everywhere…. everywhere.

Where (some) parents develop this smug sense of superiority is anyone’s guess as excessive neighbour noise is known to be detrimental to other’s physical & mental health: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6849169/

This smug entitlement is 100% hereditary –(some) parents pass on this attitude to their children, raising more selfish, inconsiderate & entitled people (see “The Narcissism epidemic”).

But hey, as long as “Brat-leigh” is having “fun” that’s the only thing that matters, right?.....and because “They’re ONLY KIDS!” yes, they are only kids, kids that could be taught consideration for others, but why bother when parents believe their child’s whims are more valid than other people’s need for peace & quiet?..... it’s just a cop out from actually parenting them.

Lastly adult ADHD/Autism is a real thing too – you don’t grow out of it, and adults with such conditions, as well as those with HSP/SPS/misophonia/hyperacusis really don’t enjoy the sound of shrieking/screaming children…..in fact it affects their mental & physical health even more, so if the ADHD card is pulled (as it frequently is), perhaps parents of these children might just stop for a moment, and consider other people (adults) might also have this condition & don’t welcome the sound of their shrieking kids.

Pretty sure some smug entitled people will suggest I “go and live in the middle of the wilderness” & if so perhaps they would like to follow their own direction because if they can’t/won’t control their domestic noise levels, they are the problem not me, because excessive noise isn’t normal.

[StoneofDestiny]

happymummy
What your describing isn't just playing - knocking neighbours doors and running way, kicking balls at houses and spraying water over peoples cars is being a bloody nuisance! Chasing after cars is clearly unsafe.

[happymummy12345]

OP I sympathise completely, where I am a neighbours children and sometimes other children from other houses, all primary school age, are outside every time it's nice. Goes on all day from morning until 9 or 10pm, occasionally up until 11pm. Constant shouting and screaming, playing in the road on bikes or scooters, kicking and bouncing balls at other houses and front doors, playing with water and spraying parked cars, and trying to spray moving cars by running after them all with water and spraying, knocking on doors and running away. The list goes on. Parents are well aware and don't seem to care too much. And no it's not just because of lockdown it's been the same since they moved in. Every time it's nice out.
Fair enough children need to play and must be bored especially at the moment, but I'm 100% against this playing out. I hate it. I'd never ever let my child play in the street, just as I was never ever allowed to myself. Play out back or go to a park where it's safe.

[KatherineJaneway]

Luckily for me there are designated quiet times where i live - and they are enforced, by the community.

That sounds a good idea.

[Brefugee]

About 7.00pm when they were getting ready to calm down after 9 hours of "fun" I went into the house and opened all the windows and played Lily Allens "fuck you" (after a suggestion from here) full blast on repeat for about an hour. He stormed round and we had the most almighty row and I explained in finite detail the extent of the noise over the years

Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine also good for that…

I'm always astounded by the parents of screaming kids who think that everyone should put up with the constant assault on their ears because "that's what living in a community is".

Nope. Living in a community is being respectful of other people's right to enjoy their home and garden. And yes, that includes children playing in their gardens and making a bit of noise. What I always take away from these threads (and Sassbot here takes the absolute cake) is that people with children think the world revolves around them. Well it doesn't - it revolves around all of us.

My hope is that the screamer-allowers get to live next door to really loud people when they are older with no kids at home and can finally get why we should all have a bit of respect for each other.

Luckily for me there are designated quiet times where i live - and they are enforced, by the community.

[SionnachGlic]

@pollysproggle

There are just some daft people out there...poor little boy will start getting sidelined because of his mother's 'trendy' parenting...it is attention seeking in itself. He probably is a lovely boy & not a screecher like some on here... so hopefully you didn't have to quell the desire to say 'No' too much..

You know the ones that comes with the never ending list of (non medical) food restrictions & allergies. Or 'phobias' JC..your child is scared..strangely enough of thr things that see you go hysterical...

Sorry...veering into my pet peeves...oops...

[StoneofDestiny]

Yeah I think you are entitled to some quiet .. a few hours of shrieking . Hours and hours on end must be bloody awful!!

Yes it must. Unbelievable any parent can't have more consideration for their neighbours.

What a great payback it would be if they moved next to a noisy family with barking dogs when their kids grow up.

[stardance]

If mine are being loud because they're playing and excited, I might suggest they keep it down a bit. If they're fighting- which always involves shouting and screaming at each other- I make them go in. Which generally involves more shouting and screaming but has to be done.

[nekaTemanresU]

@BoxOfBabyCheeses They're probably letting the kids play outside whilst they do work, clean the house ect.