To think kids should be able to play outside on the street?

[Anon171880]

So we live on a little cul-de-sac and sometimes the kids from all the nearby houses play outside together. Neighbours have been complaining however about children, even reported some to the police for anti-social behaviour.

If my children are acting like idiots I will tell them to get inside but all the kids around here just usually play on their bikes and don't cause any problems other than getting a bit loud and excited.

When we were growing up we used to play on our estate with all the neighbours children and nobody ever complained.

They just get scalded from a neighbour for playing outside at 8pm, he said he has already reported to police. I was outside finishing some cleaning up so was supervising and didn't realise the time but then it is also the school holidays.

@AngryGreasedSantaCatcus doesn't look like they will be able to play out on the estate much longer with these miserable neighbours honestly. It is nice though to see all the children playing together and nicely too. I love seeing kids enjoying themselves and not getting into trouble.

When I was a kid our grumpy neighbour called the police to tell them that youths were messing with cars outside of his house. It was me and my brother, running our little tonka cars in our hands in and out of the gutter puddles. I must have been about 7 and him 4. Neighbour got a telling off for wasting police time. Grumpy bastards have always, and will always exist. As will good kids playing nicely, and not so good kids causing trouble.

Why do parents these days need to have their children playing on the street right in front of the house if there are parks etc close by that they can play in more safely without the annoyance to neighbours?

The parks in my neighbourhood are all
surrounded by houses. If children were playing unsupervised then people would still criticise parents.

@Mushroom2023 we used to play on our estate when younger. That way we could play with all our friends who lived nearby. And I think I've seen more trouble on parks with nasty and horrible bullies than I have when my kids are outside my home. Parks often have groups of teenagers hanging around and some can be nasty.
I take my children to parks and on days out but I can't do that everyday. And whilst I'm doing the garden and they are playing outside I can keep an eye on them too.

But they'd be playing in areas dedicated for children playing and not right next to the neighbour's car which might get run into with bikes, scooters etc. Plus children's play areas will be car free unlike most cul-de-sacs? So safer for the kids.

When I was little (80s), yes, we got to play outside and without adult supervision, so we weren't restricted to playing directly outside the house.

However, I'm from the north were children maybe can have a bit more freedom.

Yes, my parents have always said I should go and live in the middle of a field 😂

But they'd be playing in areas dedicated for children playing and not right next to the neighbour's car which might get run into with bikes, scooters etc

some places do have off street parking though so playing on the street doesn't have to involve being close to a neighbours car.

Well for me (in my child free life) I would have no issue unless they are cycling into my car or bouncing balls off it 😂 what I would say which is a MN crime, is I don’t like it when the kids are out too early because when playing they are loud due to excitement so I would do a 9am-9pm rule re outdoor play from my own selfish self 😂

You can't assume this though. Many family-friendly estates require at least one of the cars to be parked on the road.

Why do we expect children to play outside under the immediate supervision of parents these days? In days gone by we were not in immediate sight of our parents and not playing on the street straight in front of the house.

We had much more freedom

Kids have a right to play and a right to use public space. The idea that them just congregating and being kids constitutes anti-social behaviour is awful.

@Mushroom2023 the issue isn't even the cars or anything though. It was about noise, which I said they were just laughing. They don't go near any cars and no they aren't allowed near anyone's cars either. The nearest park round here is not somewhere I want my children going alone too either.

How old are they?

Our daughter lives on a street where children as young as 3 are outside unsupervised by adults. It’s bloody dangerous.

I think one of the things that makes children antisocial are all the adults who won't let them play. If they grow up in a community where the adults watch out for them and allow them their space, it is easier for them to understand the benefits of society.