Kids playing on a cul-de-sac?

[TwitchingNets]

Back story.....we live at the end of a cul-de-sac....one of those streets where everyone knows each other's business. Until 5 years ago, it was lots of people who had lived there for decades.....it's now lots of people with young kids. It's great, the kids all play together. No ball games, but sensible children playing.

So...the problem is a couple across the road who say that 'it's relentless...5.30pm to 7.30pm.......,' 'they might have to move,' and 'we're not being very neighbourly.' He said that they can't use their lounge and are wearing ear-plugs inside. The kids are between 4 and 11, doing a little scootering, cartwheels, playing with dolls etc, always with at least one parent watching. 7.15pm was too late tonight! Am I being unreasonable to think that children should be playing outside nicely at 7.15pm?

I made a post about the pros and cons of living in a cul de sac and this came up frequently.

7:15pm is too late to be playing in the road in the dark

I honestly don't understand people who want their kids to play on a public road tbh.

Similar situation here on a cul-de-sac. Playing is good for development and health. As long as there is at least one parent keeping an eye and the kids have been told to watch out for any cars.

…but a small group playing nicely, not a feral gang aggressively playing ball games or vandalising things.

Family’s choose cul de sacs as they are safe for children, so living in one, this is to be expected. If many of the homeowners have lived there for decades they may have raised there children there too. If it is getting neighbours down for whatever reason, moving may be for the best, as the children aren’t doing anything wrong.

Wouldn't worry me in the least, and my kids are grown up now. I like hearing small children playing out. But isn't it really dark now by seven o clock?

Recommend estate agents and removal firms. Tabu.

I’d say it’s too late in October in the UK because it’ll be dark long before 7.30pm. If you’re in Australia, can’t see the issue for the older ones at least. I’d expect a 4 year old to be getting ready for bed (or actually in bed) by 7.30 though.

I can see this from both sides, but probably would be on the side of the kids at the end of the day. They need to play out and doing so near their houses is safe and the parents can keep an eye.

I do get that it's irritating for people who don't have kids though, to have to listen to them scream and shriek. I once had a group of boys playing football outside my house and they would kick their ball against the wall for hours, it was so irritating!

So maybe you could just tell the kids not to get too close to that particular house, and also not to play with anything that makes an irritating sound.

But anything more than that I think is unreasonable, especially if it's only a couple of hours a day.

I would never buy a house in a cul de sac for this reason. They are great places for families with children, it’s generally safe for children to play outside.

If you’re an old person I can see why they wouldn’t like this, but you’re not being unreasonable at all. I don’t know what it is with old people dictating to their neighbours how they should live their lives. We have similar neighbours.

If your neighbours don’t like it, they are free to move.

I’m doing some work with a council and have been shocked to discover people making formal anti social behaviour complaints about children in a park in daytime and an after school club 4-6pm in an open green space. Some people are really miserable.
Thankfully the council is adamant children playing does not constitute ASB.

Thanks everyone-it made me smile! It had rained most of the day, so the children being outside in the fine, albeit dark, did them good.

It's half term too so 7.15pm doesn't seem that late. :)

We generally keep the children on our side of the cul-de-sac so there's a good.....30m...? distance....

I think we'll be mindful of any shrieking and try to keep that down but otherwise let the children have happy, sociable childhoods. Thanks again :)

Golden rule is for the kids to bugger off inside after 7pm.

@Rno3gfr

Golden rule is for the kids to bugger off inside after 7pm.

Why?

7pm isn’t late for older kids…