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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours children?

87 replies

worried23xxx · 02/06/2020 19:10

The past couple of weeks the neighbours children about 6 girls have been playing out outside our house screaming loudly all day going up and down on their bikes. They have no road safety and are weaving in out in front of cars. They are loud all day until about 8 o clock at night and you can hear them shouting even if the windows are closed.

AIBU to mention something to their parents?

OP posts:
understandmenow · 02/06/2020 20:08

@worried23xxx as I've said "sigh" mine are grown up and I didn't parent through a pandemic.... so I don't know what would've happened!

I MAY have relaxed the bedtime rules, I don't know!

Nymeriastark1 · 02/06/2020 20:09

@understandmenow are you the girls parents by any chance? Grin

understandmenow · 02/06/2020 20:09

@OnlyFoolsnMothers OP doesn't know their ages, she's no contact with their parents and six girls ALL aged 6/7 in one area outside the house, more likely a rave of ages?

Original poster
worried23xxx · 02/06/2020 20:10

@understandmenow That's fine its clearly different circumstances so if you 'don't know' you don't need to have such an aggressive opinion about what I'm saying. Lockdown ofcourse has made things difficult for everyone parents included but that doesn't mean that you should leave your children outside for hours to be disruptive and potentially in danger. That is a reasonable thing to say.

OP posts:
Original poster
worried23xxx · 02/06/2020 20:11

@understandmenow As I've said I'll happily do a birthday chart for each child if that would make you feel better. The cheek of me to guess their ages rather than collecting a questionnaire!

OP posts:
Original poster
worried23xxx · 02/06/2020 20:12

I also said they were up and down the street but seem to congregate a lot outside of my house...

OP posts:
Lynda07 · 02/06/2020 20:12

All day every day is a bit much. I'm surprised at their parents allowing it even at times like this. Where I live kids don't play in the street and when you see children on bikes, they are going somewhere. I don't know what you can do about it though. As restrictions are gradually being lifted, maybe put up with it for a bit longer.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 02/06/2020 20:13

understandmenow ok so the OP could be out by a year or 2, I don’t think many of us would confuse a 6 year old and say an 11 year old! regardless no one cares if your kid doesn’t go to bed until midnight, but anti social behaviour that restricts others from enjoying their evening, every evening is fair to be addressed.

Lynda07 · 02/06/2020 20:15

Goodness me, Ive just seen they are probably age 6-7. Far too young to be playing unsupervised on bikes.

Fishfingersandwichplease · 02/06/2020 20:25

If that was my child causing annoyance to someone else, or putting herself in potential danger, l would appreciate someone telling me...obvs it is all about the way you say it, don't go in all guns blazing. Not sure why you are being attacked for being concerned - much better to be safe than sorry l would have thought. Imagine if one of them did have an accident, you would never forgive yourself for not saying something.

Runmybathforme · 02/06/2020 20:25

The parents sound awful, so it’s unlikely they’d do anything. Sounds horrendous for you. Kids have to have fun, but they should be taught to have respect for others and not disturb their neighbours. Lazy parenting.

Diverseduvet · 02/06/2020 20:27

It's a tricky one OP. Personally I would maybe bring up the noise but not the danger. That's likely to get the parents backs up, which could cause all sorts of problems for you, seeing as they know where you live. Couldn't you just ask a couple of the families if they would mind asking their children to keep the noise down a bit? Be prepared to be told to 'f off' though

Bluetrews25 · 02/06/2020 20:33

Just tell them you've had a phone call from Santa, and he's asking them to keep the noise down a bit as they are disturbing the baby elves in Lapland who go to bed at 6pm. Wink

MagnoliaJustice · 02/06/2020 20:45

The good weather isn't set to continue, so I'd be inclined to let them be for now. I would also be wary about pissing off your neighbours for such a minor reason. Kids play out, kids are noisy.

Starcup · 02/06/2020 20:48

I mean it’s terrible they are up and down the round as that’s an accident waiting to happen so the patents are at fault there and especially at such young age.

As far as the noise, well they are children and that’s past and parcel of living in an urban area. There’s nothing the council would do about kids playing. It is really hard for parents at the minute. They’ve been off school for almost 3 months and it doesn’t look like they’ll be going back soon. So you’re going to have to try to ignore it OP.

Rosebel · 02/06/2020 20:59

It's inconsiderate to let your children make noise for hours on end and bordering on neglect to let your children play out when they have no road sense.
Wait until tomorrow though, the weather won't be so nice do maybe the children won't be out so much. If they are I would mention the noise to the parents. If they are decent they'll hopefully take notics, if not there isn't much you can do except hope they go back to school soon.

GnomeDePlume · 02/06/2020 21:00

The road safety bit would bother me. Accidents can happen in the quietest road. Delivery drivers going a little too fast. Neighbours overly confident of the road.

My DD was knocked over by a car driving into our small close. The slowest road traffic accident in history but when a large metal object connects with a squidgy organic object it is the squidgy organic object which comes off worst every time.

The accident was DD's fault, she ran out straight in front of a car. Fortunately she suffered only a broken foot and permanent damage to her knee. She was 11 at the time. A little bit younger/smaller the outcome could have been so much worse.

MostlyHappy4 · 02/06/2020 21:04

I agree with Starcup - I don't like the potential danger aspect for the kids but I would not be complaining about them being noisy. This situation is intolerable for many parents - incredibly stressful in that many don't know if their job is safe/viable in the long-term, many are trying to work as well as home schooling kids, etc. It's unprecedented and very difficult. I would not complain about noisy kids - they need to let off steam.

JamieLeeCurtains · 02/06/2020 21:13

I think the weather's changing overnight so that might affect things. We've got rain and much cooler temperatures forecast for a wee while now.

species5618 · 02/06/2020 21:26

Never mind worried23xxx, it'll be the summer hols soon ...... probably not what you wanted to hear Grin

BooseysMom · 02/06/2020 22:22

rave of ages?

Is that like rock of ages but for ravers?! Sorry! Blush

Pinkkgaga · 02/06/2020 23:14

YABU it’s lockdown, let the kids play

Lynda07 · 03/06/2020 04:13

Not in the street on bikes at such a young age.

k1233 · 03/06/2020 04:28

worried23xxx you could try what I did one day. Middle of winter, neighbours kids had friends over. Kids were about 11/12. Decide they're hopping in the pool. After half an hour of squealing and screaming because it's freezing cold, I yelled out "can you please be quiet" in my best, carry across a 20 acre paddock, voice. Well cue a total Disney moment. There was not a sound in the entire neighbourhood LOL Neither crickets nor birds chirped, no dogs barked, no people spoke. I felt a little bad, but their parents were home and half an hour of solid screaming because you're in a freezing cold pool is not neighbourly.

SionnachGlic · 03/06/2020 05:00

OP,

If it is going on for 6 weeks then I expect the parents know well enough. I have to say the safety aspect would prompt me to alert them to it for my own peace of mind. The noise, whilst annoying, wouldn't be my priority at all...young kids screech & roar & these are not usual times so I'd be giving a bit of leeway on that. If they are outside my open window constantly instead of in their own gardens/homes & at unsociable hours, then I could get irritated by it.

However, I wouldn't think twice about saying it directly to a child if I saw a near miss or had a concern for safety. You don't need to give chapter & verse just that it is very dangerous to play on the road & they should not do it or they could cause an accident & be badly hurt. Some people are very precious about anyone speaking to their children & I understand legitimate concerns...but if it a safety issue, I'd do it. I have done it once or twice...but in fairness- not after 6 weeks of seeing it daily .

The context in my case...big grassy green directly outside my house (row of houses fronting onto green, car/laneway access at rear) plenty of room to run about, play football.& very safe. Estate road abuts the green on one side only. Normally quietish road but still ..lots of deliveries these days, folk driving to get shopping during day when otgerwise at work. I've seen kids dash out for stray footballs or because they see a cat across the road from the green... if I'm out or passing, I'll point to my house & say very nicely (not cross) thst I live in there (so parents know not some creepy random stranger) and you shouldn't run out on road like that, you could be hit by a car & hurt v badly. That they should wait & ask someone bigger to get the ball or stop & check the road v carefully first (dep on age). Usually kids are a mix of ages...v little ones would have parents watching them anyway. So if you feel strongly about the safety aspect, say something... the screeching, well that's up to you but I think it is a secondary issue.