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?

I'm really sorry, but this is something you'll just have to accept. If peace for a certain portion of the day is a massive deal to you then you have to buy a detached house with few houses close by.

So you want to contact the council to "express some concern about their curriculum." Yeah, right.

You sound like a nasty piece of work, OP.

Completely U and very petty. You don’t give a monkeys about the “curriculum” you just hope to start some trouble! Seriously see how it goes over the winter and count yourself lucky that they are not some of the people you hear about on this site, smoking weed, having parties/ cinema evenings, 3am after parties, car repairs, rats nests and hot tubs. If you are this sensitive to a bit of chatter from young kids you really need to consider whether a terraced house is for you. Or invest in some ear-speakers.

I meant express some concern about their curriculum

That poor family.

You have NO idea what their story is. You have NO idea what unfair stress or worry you might cause. You possibly don't care.

At 5 and 7, they wouldn't even be in school in many countries. School at 4 is way too early for many kids.

You have a choice here. I really, really hope - for their sake, but perhaps ultimately yours - that you do the right thing and enjoy your new neighbours, instead of being so startlingly callous as to report them because of 'your concerns about their curriculum.' Which is utter crap, obviously.

Incidentally, at 5 & 7, the council won't do a darn thing. That family could decide to educate autonomously for years, perfectly legally.

What a horrible thread.

Beak out, OP. Thank you.

Are you planning to sell your house in the near future at all it’s just that if you make a complaint it gets registered and any future buyers of your home will be privy to that. The reports just say noise complaints they don’t go into any detail as to whether a 16 piece brass band is rehearsing in the living room or some children are playing in their garden nicely. Just some food for thought

All other things aside, it's their garden and they can use it do however they want. You would also be a mahoosive dick if you reported them to the council.

” Iwonder if a call to the council about the situation might help?”

who are you planning to call at the council? I highly doubt anything you’ve mentioned would lead to any action by the council.

Why are you at home every day all day? I can understand why the DCs are in the garden but I don't understand why you never leave the house. And if you do leave the house, then all of this annoyance is just an exaggeration because you don't know where the DCs are when you're not at home.

Op if the children are not out until 10am you have ample time to enjoy the peace and quiet of your garden. At other times when they are out you could use headphones? Not difficult to come up with a solution. Calling the council isn't one of them I'm afraid.

This. YABU

Hi -we home Ed our 2 children- I'm really surprised they are at home all day every day? We are always out at home Ed meet ups, social events and trips etc.

Maybe it will change over time? If you get more friendly you could chat about home Ed with them in an intrigued kind of way and enquire about groups etc. If they haven’t been in the area long then they might be finding their feet. You could suggest a friend of a friend home Ed too and they have said there is so much going on locally just to join the Facebook groups etc.

I can understand your frustration but a little bit of understanding and the fact that it won’t be forever wouldn’t go amiss

If you DO report them OP, trust me, the council won't do a thing. They are not required to and they have better things to do than follow up nasty little nothing complaints like yours.

Also, when, at some point, you find yourself with really, really horrible neighbours - loutish, hard-partying, loud, swearing, music-playing nightmares; you might well wonder what the FUCK you were doing trying to punish a perfectly nice young family for quietly playing in their garden.

You should thank your lucky stars, frankly. Your thread is just so, so horrible. I hate to think of people like you out there, itching to cause hurt and upset for bloody nothing.

My neighbours on both sides don't have any kids, but on one side they're retired and on the other side they work funny hours, and both have been using their garden as their lounge almost all day all spring and summer long. That's just life in a terrace, I'm afraid. Most people wouldn't be bothered by it at all, and it would not prevent them from enjoying their own gardens in the slightest, but if you are that bothered by the presence of other people in your vicinity then you need to move somewhere more secluded.

As for the kids, in Finland children don't start formal learning until aged 7--8 and they have the best academic results in the world, so maybe the parents are adopting that strategy, but if you are genuinely worried, you could call the council anonymously to make sure they're on their radar. But that would not altar the neighbours' right to use their garden as and when they please.

It’s very rare to have neighbours who are silent.

I’ve had neighbours with kids screaming all day, babies crying, couples arguing, people playing music in the garden all day, adults sitting outside smoking weed all day and dogs barking every time you go out.

Your neighbours don’t seem that bad.
I’m struggling to understand how chattering is affecting you enjoying your garden.

Also I’m not a massive fan of homeschooling but a very good thing about homeschooling is that you can do it any time you want.
And it would make sense to have them play outside when they can and then come in and do their work in the evenings.
It sounds like they get much more exercise and sunlight than children in schools which is very healthy for them.

We live in terraced housing in a family area

Why? Why choose to live where you live if you can’t stand the sound of children in close proximity?

Parents who home school their children are check on once per year by the Local Authority but dont have to engage in that check at all

Parents dont have prove anything.

It's annoying not to have privacy or peace in your garden, but I'm afraid they have the right to play out in their garden for as long as they want. I suggest getting decent earplugs.

Have you just moved from a flat with a dog next door?

Also - it's not like they are playing loud music or have dog that's constantly barking. Maybe it's of little comfort, but this situation could be so much worse.

Swap you them for my dope smoking neighbours.

There's nothing wrong with the area. It's not the sound of children in close proximity, most of our neighbours have children. It's hearing them all day everyday since March and knowing it will continue indefinitely that's upsetting. I never even had to hear MY OWN kids for this long, they were out at school 9-3 at that age.

The winter thing is a good point though, hopefully they will be indoors a bit more in the colder months. Also my windows wont need to be open as much so wont constantly be hearing them.

So you're at home all day but don't want them to be? Could you go to work?

Hahah you just really can’t stand children!

Don't they ever go out?! No days out?

Whilst they may be fine in the garden, thats not ideal surely. My kids and I are out more than we're in seeing people and exploring new places.

I dont think you can say anything really.