To ask to stop your children ‘play’ screaming?

[JediKnightingale]

I live in a cul de sac where we have around six families with small children (weirdly, all girls - not relevant I know) that range from ages 2 - 7. They all walk to school together with parents and at home time they congregate in the middle of the close. Mums chatting and the entire gaggle of tiny noise machines run around screaming for absolutely no reason for about 30/45 mins depending on the weather. During the holidays or at weekends they can be out there for hours at a time.

I and quite a few others work from home in our road - my home office is in the front part of my house and I literally cannot take or make phone calls due to the racket. Normal play noise is absolutely fine but WHY do parents put up with this stupid screaming? When my 3 were small I would never have allowed it but it doesn’t seem to even register with these parents.

Do you let your children play scream and if so would you be put out if you were asked (nicely) if they could play WITHOUT THE SCREAMS?

My kids were taught that screaming is not okay. I can't abide screaming. I don't understand why any older girls think it is okay either. I never found the need to scream when playing.

YANBU! Absolutely no need for screaming. Children playing, laughing, even shouting is fine, but there is never any need to scream. I don't let mine do it, if they start screaming they have to come inside, end of story.

Unfortunately there are too many wet blanket parents around who either:
-Think the world revolves around their dc and that everyone else should just accept their disruptive behaviour
-Are actually scared of their own dc and do everything they possibly can to avoid a tantrum
-Can't be arsed to put any actual effort into parenting

These parents are the bane of everyone else's lives.

@MississippiAF you did good Mississippi

Could you plan your work day to be in a different room or wear headphones and no calls for that 30/45 minutes? I used to live beside a primary school and it felt like most of the kids spent all their time shouting when they were outside. I never felt my children or their friends were so loud (but maybe I just screened it out)

YANBU at all

I intervened and stopped squealing or screaming as soon as it started. It’s bloody awful for anyone that has ears and completely unnecessary.

I had a friend whose daughter was a squealer. She once said to me (as I told off her daughter) ‘it’s what kids do’. Well, yes if their parents are feckless and inconsiderate.

I've never allowed my children to scream and as a teacher I pull screamers up immediately . A child who screams signifies danger in my line of work and it always startles me and I act accordingly .

Can’t accept the truth?

Screaming is annoying but really it’s 30 mins out of 24 hours; they won’t be little for long; kids are hardly ever let be outdoor kids any more. Get some noise cancelling headphones!

Hell is other people and their screaming children

Yes - the screaming is bloody irritating. When you live in a row of semis, and the gardens aren't that wide, it is like they are standing next to you.

I totally agree. I have a boy and a girl and have never tolerated screaming. Absolutely no need.

Kids can be noisy and have fun and play without screaming- way worse than shouting.

Different set of issues, but I also have parents congregating outside after school, and when something becomes unbearable I've had some success in speaking to the child directly.

E.g. child is throwing rubbish in my garden while mother chats and ignores them, I'll just wander out and, all sweetness and light, explain why the behaviour isn't acceptable and ask them to stop it. Thank them, turn around and go back in, having never even acknowledged the presence of the mother. The kid usually freezes in shock, the mother, embarrassed in front of her mates, quietly whisks them away.

It works in other situations too, like when kids approach my dog in inappropriate ways. Just be the parent that their actual parent can't be.

I have to admit @JediKnightingale I 100% agree. I am not going to sugar coat this. I fucking LOATHE kids screaming/squealing. It's jars me so badly that I feel like shouting at the top of my lungs for them to STFU. Mine NEVER did this. I am not saying they were perfect kids, or I am a perfect mother, but they never screamed like banshees.

There are 2 small kids in a family opposite me (5 and 7) who scream like bastard crazy every day, and the mother seems to not hear it. She just lets it continue. Thank fuck they are both school age now. I was sick of having to go in the garden with my MP3 player on to drown it out. I do feel sorry for the couple joined on, as I can hear the kids screaming inside the house (with their windows shut!) So GOD knows what it's like for the neighbours joined on! Why the HELL do these parents not tell their banshee children to SHUT UP?!

Hi,
try some noise cancelling headphones with a mic for phone calls (that plug into your mobile phone). You could wear them other times to reduce the noise either silent or with quiet music/white noise.

You're one of those selfish parents, aren't you? Think the workd revolves around your screaming brats.

I mean, the OP also thinks the world revolves around her. She can work in the office in an area without screaming children, but she chooses to work from home - no doubt for her convenience, but why is it everyone else’s problem? Just because adults now want to WFH for their own benefit it doesn’t mean that the world should start revolving around them to minimise all domestic noise

Noise cancelling headphones?

It’s a residential area FFS, it doesn’t matter if she’s working or not, NO ONE wants to listen to kids screaming. Is there no consideration for other people left? So many selfish, entitled, lazy parents around.

There is (should be) noone in residential area except parents, kids and some curmudgeons pensioners who should get a grip (because life certainly doesn’t revolve around them even if Tory party makes them believe otherwise)

I only have one brat and she doesn’t scream, so unlucky.

It really is spot the twatty folks that are failing at parenting on this thread

Interesting that folks are thinking that someone who commented on people being unsociable is the one that’s getting the blame (don’t wfh, but things like headphones and soundproofing that you don’t need)

The world doesn’t revolve around your screaming kids and just makes you look like a bad parent. And before you say it this doesn’t include those with medical needs but not all screamers are doing that uncontrollably

Er, what? I’m neither a parent, kid or a curmudgeonly pensioner- where do I go?
I used to work night shift. You’re right that normal life can’t stop but screaming outside my house for half an hour every afternoon?
Also, people are “curmudgeonly” because they don’t love the sound of screaming? Do you hear yourself?