AIBU to struggle with neighbours' children screaming while working from home?

[fld]

One of the few things I am not looking forward to the next few days are screaming kids.

Two families that moved late last year and earlier this year have 5-6 kids between them and all they do is scream! They run outside and scream. As the properties are in an odd shaped quadrangle, their screams bounce off the walls. Making the screaming even more intense. The kids’ ages, c3-9 years old.

My job is hybrid, so didn’t get this issue last summer as properties the kids live in - one didn’t have kids and the other had kids and behaved.

I had to close a window to keep the screaming down. There is no way I would close a window when it’s 31c.

I do wish parents would tell their kids that screaming is not acceptable. My work is two thirds on calls ti various customers, other staff in other departments and my team’s colleagues. I can hear the screaming from wearing the call headset.

Any tips will be appreciated

There's a huge difference between children playing and children screaming. Playing out is fine (apart from my neighbours kid with his fucking basketball net) but constant screaming isn't.

As someone who likes peace and quiet, I would think you were just as boorish as the shitty parents 😂
What lucky neighbours you have.

My kids were not allowed to screech and scream full stop, and I cannot understand why other people allow their kids to do so. A bit of noise from lively playing is fine, but it’s the shrieking that goes right through you. It’s a nightmare if you are trying to work from home or are shift worker needing to sleep during the day. If you allow your kids to make a god awful racket then please have a bit of consideration for other people and teach them not to scream.

This and children do make a lot of noise. That is part of playing.

Depends. Is it actually random screaming, or shrieking as a part of playing? The latter is kind of to be expected, random screaming for the sake of screaming for hours on end is not. And would be quite random behaviour as well.

Do you have children?

Get some noise cancelling headphones. They are children playing in their own garden. If they don't start screaming at 6:00 in the morning or keep screaming until 9:00 in the evening, then this is a you problem to solve.

I take it that you are not a parent?

Being in your home doesn't give you the right to be selfish, inconsiderate and entitled.

apparently it does if you work from home !!!

You have not read my posts! Many offices have more people on their books working in the office than desks. Including the call centre I work in 20 years ago!

Until this year, two families have moved in and their kids scream.

You have no idea how just changing two families can change things

Wow

It’s not reasonable to expect office conditions when you are working at home in a residential area.

I don’t really think that’s what the OP is expecting…………..

Haven't voted as it's so subjective isn't it.

If its kids running round for two hours having fun and occasionally the volume spikes, then thats kids being kids isn't it. Despite what some say about past discipline and current parenting, kids have always been loud at times.

If all they do is shriek for two hours - not playing a game leading to shrieking then of course thats off. It may or may not get worse over summer. More hours may mean more noise but on the other hand, them not being at school may mean they're not needing to blow off like they are doing.

I sympathise OP but all you can do is mitigate. Noise cancelling headphones etc as many have suggested.

Park? That would involve parenting. Much easier to turf them into the street .

Screaming is unacceptable unless you have been captured by a child-killer or similar. So is crying for no real reason. Goodness knows how you’ll know if it’s serious if you allow your kids to scream (unless there is a medical/sensory reason of course). Excited glee or high pitched laughing is absolutely to be expected in gardens - they are children. Get some noise-cancelling headphones or go to a nice cafe.

How dare the kids enjoy the outside, they need locking away in the house so you can continue to work from home.

We have dogs barking all day every day and the Scottish School holidays start in a week or so….god have mercy.

They are at work!

Have you ever worked from home yourself?

Screaming is absolutely not acceptable. You cant expect children to be silent but no screaming.

What do you think people did before the Industrial Revolution?

Yes - they worked from home!

I mean theres a reason why people aren't allowed to eg weld outside on the pavement in the middle of the suburbs.
Because work should not impact on people's right to have their homes and residential lives.

Or is it different when you have a middle class job? Then suddenly you get to curtail people's enjoyment of their downtime?

I work from home...to keep outside noise down I have purchased an air conditioner, keeps you cool and the windows shut.

We have hot summers where I live and opening windows when it's over about 27c isn't a good idea. A portable A/C unit is the way to go. We have central A/C and don't open windows during the hot days except for early morning/late evening when it's cooler.

I think that noise-cancelling headphones are also a good idea and I'd also let their parents know that you WFH regularly and it would be great if the children could keep the noise down until 5. It's not a huge ask for a short period of time.

But I talk to my neighbours so feel comfortable doing this. They've also mentioned things to me in the past that we've addressed.

Our neighbours have children that happily scream and shout while they are playing in their garden, and several neighbours have babies and toddlers that we hear. It’s just part of living near other people, I can’t be mad at them living their lives in their own homes and it’s not their problem that we are working from
home.