Neighbours homeschooled kids play out ALL day. AIBU?

[EdwinaMonsoon]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Looking for a bit of advice if possible.

We live in terraced housing in a family area, so since Summer holidays started most of our neighbours kids have been out playing in their gardens during the day, which is absolutely fine, it's Summer holidays so that's to be expected. But even when the new term starts next week, the children who live next door to us will STILL be playing out.

The family moved here in March(?), they have 2 children who I assumed weren't old enough for school yet, but in a recent chat with the parents we found out they are, in fact, homeschooled.

They're out in the garden from about 10am-8pm every single day. They're not the type of children who scream and shriek, which I appreciate, but it's the constant chattering/playing noises for 10 hours every day, and not having a moments peace in my own garden (or when my windows are open, for that matter!). They have breaks in-between, which I assume is for food, but then come straight back out again. This has been ongoing since the day they moved in.

It's the fact that this is going to be an all-year round thing, not just school breaks/holidays that's bothering me. I understand they are entitled to use their garden as they please, but aren't we (and the rest of our neighbours) entitled to some peace every now and then?

We're not particularly familiar with the parents, we've only chatted with them in passing a handful of times, so my husband and I haven't raised this with them. And we don't know if this is even an issue we're entitled to raise.

If we did mention this to them, what could we say without coming across as offensive to their kids?

No way can op know that though - firstly she admits they do go in through the day. Secondly she refuses to elaborate on whether the parents accompany them outside. And thirdly, unless she has also sat in her garden (through rain and shine) 10 hours a day for the past 6 months with no job or hobbies or any other commitments she doesn’t know that they are there for 10 hours every single day.

I’m going to be more sympathetic than the majority and say that this must be very annoying for you. Continued, regular noise of any kind can become irritating and I’m sure most people would find this frustrating if they were hearing it from their own garden day in, day out.

That said, I think you know you would be very wrong to report them to the council with faux concerns about their ‘curriculum’ because their noise is bothering you. Many posters have confirmed that it’s absolutely possible that your neighbours are home schooling their children in an age-appropriate way even with all the outdoor playtime. You’re not truly worried about the their education, you’re trying to find a way to reduce the noise they’re making. A malicious complaint to the council isn’t the way to solve that.

Noise is unfortunately part of living with neighbours and it’s somewhat the luck of the draw as to who you get living next to you. You could easily have a WFH neighbour who takes all their Zoom meetings in the garden, for example, and that would be just as irritating, but you wouldn’t have any grounds to complain to the council about that.

Unfortunately I think you need to find ways to make peace with the noise, as you’re only
going to drive yourself insane if you let yourself get more and more wound up by it.

Children of that age are able to make themselves busy and happy for reasonably long periods of time, if thats whats encouraged in their life. Most British children I have met cant do this very well because they are spending lots of times in front of screens and entertained by adults, be it at home or at school. For such children it perfectly fine if their adult it in the house or doing gardening in the garden.

I dont know OP why so many people are being so harsh on you. I wonder whether its because they have to put up with noisy neighbours themselves.

I think most people agree that it would be annoying though. I would prefer to use my home and garden in perfect silence at all times. Unfortunately it’s just not possible. I’m not saying that it isn’t annoying - I’m saying that it’s not unreasonable. And pretending to be concerned about their curriculum so you can ‘report them to the council’ is just daft.

You could easily have a WFH neighbour who takes all their Zoom meetings in the garden, for example, and that would be just as irritating, but you wouldn’t have any grounds to complain to the council about that.

Actually you would. You could try talking to the neighbour first and then if no change happens, you could absolutely go to the council about it. The council have mediation services regarding noise. They may not directly impose anything, but they absolutely could write to the householder about it.

The OP ought to explain the situation and her concerns to the neighbours, and in turn, they should seek a reasonable compromise. They live in a close proximity dwelling and should be aware that rights also include obligations.

That's the problem with having a home with a garden in a "nice" area , other people will insist on using their garden as well. And the effrontery of them letting kids out rather than plonking them in front of their electronic babysitters....<removes tongue from cheek> could you possibly enjoy your outdoor space while playing your radio/digital listening device at an acceptable level ? I find that even if not actively listening to it , it distracts from other chatter/DIY noise/traffic

Even if you move rurally you’ll still get noise just different noise so it won’t be silent at all. I should know I’m rural and it can get noisy oh boy can it lol!!

so @EdwinaMonsoon you think it’s 10hours a day every day when in fact you don’t know. It’s only when you go out they are there in their garden chattering or is this when indoors too?

There are outstanding private schools that have their children outside all day, regardless of weather. They dress appropriately, do their work outside, as fit as fleas!

No lessons? How do they teach science if they need to do chemistry experiments?

Well, I can tell you, when my 7 year old was conducting chemistry experiments, we ensured she was equipped with nothing but the best equipment, of course.

No lessons? How do they teach science if they need to do chemistry experiments?

Seriously....can you really not conceive of the idea that chemistry can be taught exceedingly well with household items? That's certainly most of how we learned as children....ok...there were the unsupervised bits where my brother and his friend set a bush on fire with a magnifying glass and another time when my brother concocted a pound of gunpowder with household ingredients....

Do children aged 5 & 7 do chemistry experiments? I didn’t do anything like that until secondary and neither did my kids. Even so, plenty of home educators do unschooling or start formal lessons at an older age.

They are not doing anything wrong. It's quite normal for children to play in their back gardens for hours when the weather is fine. Be thankful they are not playing out in the street which does happen in some areas.

If you don't like hearing their chatter, buy some good ear plugs.

Have you had a chance to have a word with your neighbours yet OP? Did you also invite your old neighbours that lived next to you whilst your own dc were growing up - in complete silence of course.

Priise your knickers out of where they are giving you discomfort - life is for living after all.

omfg people literally slate parents for letting their kids watch TV/ ipad whatever and then the other half are moaning about quiet children talking in their own garden. Fucking hell.
England really is anti child isn't it? nobody wants them anywhere.

op I spent 7 years saving to get my kids out of a flat and into a garden, if you said anything to me about my kids being in their own garden I would start them off every morning with the loud garden games. hope that helps.