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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Kids playing outside at 9.40pm

125 replies

Jas5mum · 20/05/2022 21:44

Do you think its acceptable for primary school aged kids to be playing outside at this time of night??
My kids can't settle as they can hear them out there shouting and bouncing a basketball. They often kick the ball at my house and I have to tell them to move on. Why do their parents think its acceptable to be out there past 9pm?
They have 2 babies living next door, they also have a baby.
I let my kids in the garden from 10am until 7pm.

OP posts:
DaisyQuakeJohnson · 20/05/2022 21:47

Primary school covers a wide range.
5 yr old? No.
11 Yr old? Possibly since it's still light and it's the weekend.

grenlei · 20/05/2022 21:51

I agree OP it's far too late, but you'll get the usual kids will be kids brigade defending it.

My neighbours kids are often banging their ball against my fence til 930-10 at night this time of year, shrieking and screaming. The parents sit in the lounge at the front of the house so conveniently don't hear the noise at the back.

ApolloandDaphne · 20/05/2022 21:53

Well age 4 is very different to age 11 and we need to know this information

EmeraldShamrock1 · 20/05/2022 21:54

It depends on their age, if someone is watching and the noise level.

It would be late for my primary aged child though he is 7.

Overall the weather is good, it's Friday night no school tomorrow.

It bothered me when DD was little.

Ginandslippers · 20/05/2022 21:54

I think it's too late, as I have the same issue round here. The sad thing is I know some of them don't even live on the surrounding streets, and will be walking >10 mins home at this time of night. Awful.

Svara · 20/05/2022 21:55

I think until 10pm is fine, same as if it was adults socialising in the garden talking and laughing. Balls against walls I can't stand no matter the time of day.

LIZS · 20/05/2022 21:55

On a Friday evening, 7+ fine. Under 7 probably not,

QuotetheLaw · 20/05/2022 21:56

Far too late, many people want to go to sleep by that time. Completely inconsiderate to allow kids to be outside screaming and playing at that time.

Original poster
Jas5mum · 20/05/2022 21:56

I don't know there exact ages but I'd say 5/6 and 7/8. Some days they're out there before school as well its like the parents want them out of the way so send them out.

OP posts:
Crankley · 20/05/2022 21:57

It's Friday, no school tomorrow, nights are lighter, perhaps a 10pm cutoff would be reasonable.

EmeraldShamrock1 · 20/05/2022 21:58

Kicking a ball is unacceptable.

General noise in the spring/summer evenings can't be avoided living in a residential area, it's annoying when you've young DC trying to sleep.

My DC sleep at the back of the house.

Topgub · 20/05/2022 22:00

In their own garden?

Course it is

DSGR · 20/05/2022 22:01

let them play out, there’s only a few months a year when the weather is good enough!

Evilista · 20/05/2022 22:14

I think before 10pm in the lighter months is ok. 11pm is the cut off for social/antisocial noise for most councils though, and I think 7am in the morning. And I'm happy enough with that.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 20/05/2022 22:19

Chill yer beans.

Thinking2022 · 20/05/2022 22:23

I agree with you. It's too late and unfair
on everyone else. We need to think about the impact our actions have on others **

TooManyPJs · 20/05/2022 22:25

Everyone used to be out until it went dark when I was little - so 10pm in the summer. Very normal.

SirenSays · 20/05/2022 22:31

10pm in summer was pretty standard when I was little. On a nice night like this we may have been camping out in a tent in the garden.

GrandSlamFinale · 20/05/2022 22:35

Completely normal. I come from Spain and kids are up until 11/midnight, especially in summer. We’ve all survived and our kids are also still alive.

Figgygal · 20/05/2022 22:36

Christ my 5 and 10 year olds are in bed by 8.15 friday night or not so i would say that's late

LoveSpringDaffs · 20/05/2022 22:38

Fine until 10 if they're playing, not having screaming competitions.

godmum56 · 20/05/2022 22:39

In the street, no, in their own garden on a friday night...well I'd prefer they didn't but its such fun for children to be out after dark...... and yes I hate footballs crashing up walls or fences at any time.

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 20/05/2022 22:40

QuotetheLaw · 20/05/2022 21:56

Far too late, many people want to go to sleep by that time. Completely inconsiderate to allow kids to be outside screaming and playing at that time.

There was a thread last week about kids playing outside at 7am or 8am at weekends and the consensus was that’s fine.

DD has always been an owl (as are me and her dad) and would be awake and full of energy past 9pm at most ages.

If it’s okay for larks to wake owls, then surely it must be okay for owls to wake larks.

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 20/05/2022 22:50

Figgygal · 20/05/2022 22:36

Christ my 5 and 10 year olds are in bed by 8.15 friday night or not so i would say that's late

I’d have been checking my DD’s temperature if she was in bed at 8-something aged 5!

FreyaStorm · 20/05/2022 22:55

Too late for the ages you mention, and also it’s antisocial if they’re disturbing neighbours at the time. My NDN has 5 children (youngest is 4) and I hear them up screaming and running about past midnight on school nights. I don’t know how those poor kids function on so little sleep 😔