To expect young kids aged 6yrs old to be in bed by 9pm

[Ripeberry]

And not running around screaming down the neighbourhood with their older brothers and sisters who will be staying out until at least 11pm tonight....again.
We live on a usually very quiet estate but the big familly down the road seem to think it's Ok to let the kids stay out really late.
There are not many street lights here so they are out there with torches at the moment and pushing each other around in their granny's wheelchair (not joking).
Every day and night that wheelchair is out there doing wheelies and they pile themselves onto it.
Just lucky there are no hills here

[iwanttolearn]

YANBU

[MissSunny]

Message withdrawn

[Mezley]

I don't think you can dictate what time people should put chn to bed but if the noise is a problem for you EVERY evening, I can see why you are grumpy and have every right to be. We all like some peace after a long day and although we do have late nights during the holidays with the dcs we also cherish "grown up time". So kids in bed by 8.30!!!

[cjones2979]

I don't think you are BU.

We have a big green next to our house where kids play, often very noisily, kicking footballs against our fence (or into our bloody garden ) and this annoys the hell out of me as DS2 (11 months) is in bed at 6pm, and DS1 (5.9) is in bed at 7.30pm, so all the noise keeps them awake.

There is nothing wrong with kids playing out in their own gardens, but at that time of night I don't think they should be out in the street.

I also feel it is important to keep to some sort of routine through the holidays, whereby they are allowed to stay up a little bit later, but not a lot as it is then more difficult to get them back into their usual bedtime routine when school starts again.

[Mezley]

Hi cjones have you spoken to the kids who kick footballs at your fence? They are unlikely to realise that you have young children and their playing is an issue. If you offer the compromise that you will always given them their ball back, they are much more likely to co-operate.

Otherwise, are you in a position to move house? Living next to a green ourselves, we recognise that children playing noisily is part and parcel of our location. When your kids are big enough to "play out" you might be grateful that they are close enough to keep an eye on and yet have some freedom to be children on their own terms!

[cjones2979]

Hi Mezley. Yes we have spoken to them on several occasions. We are always polite & ask them if they would please be careful that the ball doesn't hit the fence as the kids are in bed, and to be fair, they always apologise, but it then starts again the next day !!!

They used to ring on my doorbell a few times a day too to ask for their ball back (which always seemed to coincide with me just getting the baby to sleep !!), so in the end I told them to just go into the garden & retrieve their ball and not to worry about knocking first, but asked that they closed the gate on their way out because of my children & also because we have a dog, yet this also seems to be disregarded and the gate has been left open on several occasions.

[Mezley]

Next they ring at an inconvenient moment, make sure the gate is locked (from the inside). Smile sweetly and say you will throw it back in 5 minutes, but you are busy at the moment. Then make them wait half and hour lol. They might get the message!

[cocolepew]

YABU it's the holidays! My DD is 7 and stays out until 9.30 the older children, in the street (11 and 12 yo) all stay out until 10.30. They're stuck inside enough in the winter.

[BonsoirAnna]

YAVU to expect 6 year olds to be in bed at 9pm but YANBU to expect children to be quiet in the streets by that time.

[Mezley]

Are you laughing at OP because they live on a council estate (rather unkind I think) or in ironic sympathy because you recognise the symptoms?

[MissSunny]

Message withdrawn

[slowreadingprogress]

I think it is unreasonable of people to leave kids out playing till 9, 10 or 11 o clock every night.

so yanbu in my book and I'm really surprised so many people think it's ok in the holidays. I think it is not too much to ask that there is some respite from kids playing noisily. There are other ways to create precious holiday memories than making noise and disturbing the neighbours day in day out.

[ApplesinmyPocket]

I live in a lovely quiet Cotswolds village but now you come to mention it I can hear my near neighbour's visiting grandkids out in the garden - playing cricket! Having fun! shrieking! This is so not on, I'm going to send round the childcatcher.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

yanbu - its the same where i live

plus they are out on streets 7.30/8am yelling as well

children need routine - have never understood why some parents allow their children to stay up much later on school holidays

when its school time again you have to re train them to go to bed at normal time - plus have grumpy children when you haul them out of bed at 7am

6yr should be in bed by 7.30 the latest - if they arent tired then can look at a book and wind down till 8pm

and if they really need to be up till 9pm then they can be inside their own house and not screaming outside mine!!

[cjones2979]

Too right Blondeshavemorefun !!!!

And as for the notes about the OP living on a council estate, this is just rude to assume this KerryMumbles.

I have problems with kids playing on the green next to my house, but I don't live on a council estate !!!

[boyngirl]

I must def have carrots up my jacksy as I never let 5 and 7 dc up past about 8pm even in hols (and they don't play out at all mainly cos not v friendly road). I am quite shocked at how many of u r ok with super late nights, but it's made me think maybe I should loosen up a bit.
But dc get proper grumpy if up late so that's largely why and because I want my evening/wine

[floatyjosmum]

i hadnt realised some of you live on my street!!

ive literally just this second had a 5 yr old knock on the door to see if the kids are playing!! wel the 4 yr old is in bed (well upsatirs wandeirng about and being a pain) and my 8 yr old is currently dragging bedtime out as long as possible!!

have to say aswell, at 6.15am (YES AM) last sunday we had kids playing out the front!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

6.15 am and out the front playing

obv we all know children shouldnt be seen or heard till 7am at the very earliest!!!