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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How early is too early to let kids play in the garden?

48 replies

Gogglebox2020 · 01/06/2020 10:06

I normally let them out to play after lunch 1-2pm. Today they went out to play for a bit at 9.30am after breakfast . They're normally a bit loud especially on the trampoline. I had to shhh them a few times 🙈 I'm normally paranoid over these things, don't want to be a nuisance to my neighbours Blush

OP posts:
Gogglebox2020 · 01/06/2020 10:23

@Anon20201 awww sorry to hear that! They woke up really early today and wanted to get out after breakfast at 7am but managed to distract them with a puzzle Blush I know how loud my children can be in the garden and the sound of the trampoline, I just couldn't do that to my neighbours.

OP posts:
Gogglebox2020 · 01/06/2020 10:24

@gabrie113 it's very hard to let kids play in the garden for ONE HOUR per day, when it's hot and they're home all day!

OP posts:
ListeningQuietly · 01/06/2020 10:25

If people do not like the sound of children playing in a garden they need to give their heads a wobble.

Couple of years back, 7am on a Sunday, a few gardens down
DADDY ! ARE YOU AWAKE YET?
I could hear laughter coming from several houses
including that one.

Signalbox · 01/06/2020 10:26

The building site next to us are allowed to use their breakers and other power tools from 8am. Unless your children have very strong lungs I’d think any time after 8 is fine :)

FrancisCrawford · 01/06/2020 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/06/2020 10:29

8am around here. That's when the shooting started yesterday...

(Army camp, not random gunfire!)

TwilightPeace · 01/06/2020 10:29

10am at the earliest, and not for more than an hour per day.

😂 yes lock them inside all day in the scorching heat! Heaven forbid children are allowed to exist in society and make noise.

raspberryk · 01/06/2020 10:29

9am and nothing after 7pm either, it's awful putting kids to bed when half the street ar4 still screaming in the garden.

SallyLovesCheese · 01/06/2020 10:29

My DS is only 18 months and wakes between 5am-6am every morning. So by the time 7:30am comes around, he's had breakfast and wants to go outside. Bless him, he does get upset when I don't let him, but if I did I know he'd been "talking" loudly, getting excited and pointing at planes and shouting and stuff. I know no-one wants to hear him that early.

I think after 8:30am is absolutely fine, OP, unless there are shift workers in the nearby houses that you know about. Most people are up and about by half eight, otherwise? Maybe after 9am for the trampoline, though.

cabbageking · 01/06/2020 10:30

Think it depends on any shift workers and how loud the children are.

But letting them out at 9.30 I would say was fine.

Before 8am I would consider it too early.

KingOfDogShite · 01/06/2020 10:31

8 - whenever in the week
10- whenever at the weekend.

ComDummings · 01/06/2020 10:31

9am (maybe 8am when they’re old enough to be quiet without being shushed) for us. Once it gets til 7pm they can play out so long as they’re quiet, if they can’t be quiet they have to come in. 8pm is the latest. They’re 4&6

Ratbagratty · 01/06/2020 10:32

8am weekdays as its when they start walking to to school, plus they get a good hour or so in before it gets too hot. Weekends I try to let them out later but if it's a hot day I'd do 8:30am - 10 ish.

It's difficult to balance but they need their time in garden to let of steam too.

ComDummings · 01/06/2020 10:32

Weekend I tend not to let them out before 9.30

Signalbox · 01/06/2020 10:32

If people do not like the sound of children playing in a garden they need to give their heads a wobble

I suppose that people can‘t really help what sounds they like or dislike. I can’t stand the sound of children screaming and it’s not something I can force myself to enjoy just by telling myself I’m being unreasonable.

CaptainButtock · 01/06/2020 10:36

8am?!! Christ...I'm thankful that the screaching and shrieking doesn't seem to start till afternoon round here...

8am..I'd be murderous.

Mammatino · 01/06/2020 10:39

I agree with the general consensus of 9am, if you go out a bit earlier take your coffee out and supervise them. The fact you care about this shows you are a kind and considerate neighbour so don’t worry too much.

julybaby32 · 01/06/2020 10:42

I am working from home and I think 9:30 is fine. I think 9am is fine. I'd be happier knowing children are getting their most energetic play done early in this sort of weather, and if it was so noisy I had to shut the window for an hour because I had a meeting I'd rather do that at 9am than 3pm to be honest. An hour at a time of noisy play (but maybe more than once a day! )sounds reasonable too. You sound lovely.
I have treasured memory of overhearing a pretend game.
"I'll be Robin Hood." "I want to be Robin Hood" "OK we can both be Robin Hood" "I'm going to be Robin Hood too." "OK then, we can have 3 Robin Hoods, but we need at least one Little John."

Non- quarrelsome, cooperative noise is lovely sometimes :)

katmarie · 01/06/2020 10:43

I tend to stick with the noise regulation times, which, for round here is not before 8am. We have a construction site three doors down, which is not quite so considerate, so I dont worry too much.

Home42 · 01/06/2020 10:45

9am is my start time!

Seeline · 01/06/2020 10:54

I think 9am weekdays is fine, may be 9.30 at the weekends.

I have no objection to the sound of children playing. What I do object to is the sound of constant screaming and fighting. When mine did that, they were straight back indoors for half an hour until they had calmed down. They soon learnt what was appropriate in the garden.

mrsm43s · 01/06/2020 11:30

I would say 9 on weekdays, 10 on weekends and bank holidays.

Normal playing noise is fine (chattering, giggling, general noise etc), but they shouldn't be shrieking or screaming or making excessive noise at anytime tbh. Remember many, many people are currently working from home at the moment, and lots of children are studying from home.

Ifailed · 01/06/2020 11:34

The shrieking & screaming normally starts at about 8:30 am here, as teenagers walk past on their way to school.

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