Neighbour’s children being loud

[IzzieStevens]

I work from home, in my living room to be precise. With the gorgeous weather we’ve had for the past week, I’ve had my windows open for air.

I live at the end of a cul de sac and everyday at 3.30pm like clockwork, a group of 5 kids turn up to play with the children who live on the house opposite me. Which would be lovely if they weren’t so loud - shouting, screaming, kicking balls around etc. They play in the road so it’s right outside my house.

Is it unreasonable of me to ask their parents if they could keep the noise down during working hours, or play in the garden?

I’m fully prepared to be told I’m being unreasonable, I’m just at the end of my tether with them today.

Be glad they are away most of the day. Not that long till the holidays...

@AngelDelightUk

I can’t understand why they don’t play in back gardens. One of my neighbours let’s their children play out in the front garden and I don’t understand it. It annoys the rest of the street

It's better for playing with friends, on bikes ((roller skates, scooters) better for posing with balls, loads of reasons.

As longs as they aren't trampling gardens or kicking balls into cars/plants and are playing outside their own homes as well then stop being so grumpy.

Some kids have to be in at 5.30pm for dinner, then homework, bath, bed.
The Op said they're out till 8- 8.30

Oh dear kids being loud call the police !

Kids can’t breathe these days without someone moaning they are too loud. They’ve had a shit year too, it’s not their fault you are working in your living room so how about you change rooms and leave the poor kids alone!

I agree it’s so annoying. We played out as children but would have got a severe telling off for annoying the neighbours or being disrespectful. Children these days are allowed to do whatever they want and their parents think the world revolves around them.

@DailyFailstinks

I agree it’s so annoying. We played out as children but would have got a severe telling off for annoying the neighbours or being disrespectful. Children these days are allowed to do whatever they want and their parents think the world revolves around them.

Equally though, people didn't complain so much about children playing. We used to play as a gang in the 70s and no one ever complained (we would have known about it if they had!)

YABVU

They are kids playing outside after school in the sun. You need to close your windows and get a fan (or work in your garden, or in the kitchen counter or whatever else).

It's part of life.

YABU. There are lots of perks to WFH but this is one of the downsides. If you need quiet during office hours then rent an office space, you can't have your cake and eat it by asking you neighbours to treat the street like a workplace. When I worked nights for years I had to put up with being woken by deliveries, children playing, people mowing their lawns, DIY. It never would have occurred to me to ask people to stop doing completely normal, everyday things to fit in with my schedule.

I agree it’s so annoying. We played out as children but would have got a severe telling off for annoying the neighbours or being disrespectful. Children these days are allowed to do whatever they want and their parents think the world revolves around them.

But there is nothing in the OP to suggest these children are being in any way "disrespectful". They are just playing! As for "annoying the neighbours", yes the OP is annoyed but that's because she expects to be able to work at home, in a residential area, with her windows open and not hear noise. That's not a reasonable expectation so it's unfair to assume that the children are badly behaved or poorly parented because OP finds them annoying.

It's also not difficult to understand that it's not the crime of century to ask! I wouldn't be frothing at the mouth thinking my neighbour is a loon for asking this - doesn't mean I'd do anything about it but it's certainly not unreasonable to ask a simple question of your neighbour. If you don't ask you don't get.

Arg - was responding to @AlmostSummer21 !