To despair of new neighbours' shrieking children?

[saraclara]

It's been a glorious afternoon, but I've had to spend it indoors, and even with my doors closed I can hear them. I don't know how they can shriek for this long without having really sore throats. It's not ordinary play shouting, it's just pointless daft shrieking as far as I can tell. They've been out there for at least four hours. There was a break for about 20 minutes, then it started up again. I'm guessing from the tone of the shrieks that they're about 7-9 years old?

There's nothing I can do about it, is there? This is it for the spring and summer.

I could weep.

Kids these days all sound like banshees, dh was even saying it himself and he normally doesn't give a damn. The kids nd to us always sound like they've discovered dead bodies. The parents of these shriekers need a slap. I never let mine screech like that, anyone I know would have pulled their kids up. It's not normal playing, it's like being part of a horror movie.

Anyone else recently moved house and worried it's them?

I get paranoid about annoying the neighbours but ours seem quite pleasant and I've asked them to let me know if children get loud...

I hear you and sympathise.

Our kids were never screamers and I just don’t get it, at all.

It’s probably going to have to be headphones.

Anyone else recently moved house and worried it's them?

I have young DC and I can’t stand them shrieking for no reason continually so I feel your pain. I’d pop my head over and say “is everything ok? I can hear screaming and thought something must be wrong”

You have my sympathy, I wonder if they are our old neighbours who recently moved. Over lockdown the kids constantly kicked a football against the fence and their df inflicted his music choice on the neighbourhood. It’s so quiet now and hope it continues.

There are so many threads about noisy neighbours, kids screaming, parties, music playing all day. When did peace and quiet become unfashionable and people become so selflish

Mine are loud but cant abide shrieking. Any screaming it's in the house for 5 mins.

There is a world of difference between normal play (even if it's loud) and ear splitting screeching.

The kids a few doors down are out in the garden now shouting, singing and generally having a good time, they are not bothering me at all but if they were constantly screeching it would be a bit much.

Hopefully your new neighbours will settle down but if they don't you might have to say something otherwise you could find your garden unusable during the summer and that's not really OK.

I’d say something quickly before they think it’s ok and acceptable.

I can assure you that even shrieking is better than incessant bouncing on a trampoline...

If you can't stick your head over the fence, but you can hear them, then presumably they could hear you?

I'd be tempted to bellow Stop screaming before I come round there and speak to your parents! at the top of my lungs.

I am a bad tempered old woman.

Empathy. Exactly the same issue here. I’m thinking of moving house. I can’t enjoy my garden. Pointless continual high pitched screaming all day. When my children were young they were told to keep noise down and to consider others. I’ve tried playing music to drown if out but it feels passive aggressive.. I have MS & so need to sleep in the day. I’ve resorted to headphones but I don’t always want to listen to stuff. Feels unfair. The parents have multiple loud power tools too & use them excessively while ignoring the kids.

@user1493413286

I have young DC and I can’t stand them shrieking for no reason continually so I feel your pain. I’d pop my head over and say “is everything ok? I can hear screaming and thought something must be wrong”

You could say that to my DC every day of the week and they wouldn't understand what you were getting at. You could also tell them 10 times and they wouldn't remember to be quiet next time.

Think you need to be very kind and patient but direct.

Ooh I’d speak to the parents before screeching at the children 😬

I’m wondering if you’re my neighbour op . And yes it’s bloody irritating.

@LizBennet

Ooh I’d speak to the parents before screeching at the children 😬

This. I'm a good neighbour and would tell my kids to be quiet but if someone shouted at them without talking to me first I'd give them carte Blanche to carry on and be louder if they wished

I know normal play noise from pointless shrieking

If its pointless why are they doing it?

I'm cautious here because I sat with a friend in a garden last week and she muttered constantly about the neighbouring children "shrieking" the whole time. I was there. There was a mix of chattering, giggling, occasional shouts and squeals but it really was just.... normal noise of 3 children playing.

If they really are making absurd levels of noise repeatedly, have a quick word over the fence. If it really was "pointless" unusual levels of noise it probably won't be a repeat occurrence, could have been over excitement at a first playdate in months or something.

Kids have a lot of social energy pent up to release. Honestly after a year of lockdown I find it a bit sad that people begrudge children a happy afternoon playing in the sunshine, squeals and all.

would you rather they be indoors glued to the tv?

um, yes, I definitely would prefer that

Its probably because relative to the past gardens are tiny.

You go to older houses and they've got these great long gardens, kids could probably get lost down the end out of earshot of the houses/patios. Pity today's kids growing up with gardens you can't swing a cat in.

If you can’t afford the luxury of a detached house with land then you can’t afford that luxury, if you want silence you need to “buy it”. If you live in a house with other houses around you then of course in nice weather you will hear kids screaming dogs barking and radios playing, that’s just other people living their lives.

I feel for you, my neighbours grandchildren have been round every afternoon this week. I know all their names and they don’t talk to each other, they shout and one screams and gets louder and louder to get attention. Luckily they don’t live there but are round every time its sunny. I took a radio out with me this afternoon and it really helped to drown out their noise.

would you rather they be indoors glued to the tv?
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um, yes, I definitely would prefer that

God how sad.

You sound like my neighbours. They are constantly moaning about my children and their noise playing. 2 of them have SEN and despite our best efforts are very loud sometimes. She has even tried reporting us to the police and the council but they said nothing they can do about children playing.

I disagree that it's normal. I don't think it's normal, nor acceptable.