How much garden noise is acceptable? Will they hate us?!

[squashedfly]

We are soon to be moving into a semi on a quiet country lane in an idyllic little village. We have 3 boys aged between 2.5 - 11, who love playing outside in the garden and can be very loud at times.
The couple who lived in the house before us are young professionals, with no children so probably the perfect neighbours in that respect.
Worried our new neighbours are going to get a big shock when we all rock up! Any tips to prevent them resenting our arrival?! I really want to settle there and become part of the village community and am paranoid.
I am always telling the boys to keep the noise down here, and we haven't had any complaints (ever) but this new place is quite different and seems so tranquil in comparison - help!!

Well if you're already concerned you sound like a very considerate person! Obv it depends on your neighbours but I would say that the timing of the noise is important - early mornings and late nights are no-nos, but children playing during the day is normal.

It depends what the noise is - they'd have to be pretty gittish to object to 'normal' playing noises, but constant screaming isn't good (used to live next to a family with two children who would spend hours at a time screaming in the garden - really screaming, not just normal loud play) and an hour or so of continuous kicking a football against the fence is bloody annoying too.

But as fresh says, if you're already concerned then it's not likely to be a problem!

Oh I agree with the comment about the football against the fence. This should be used as a method of torture!!!

I am sure it will be fine.
We moved into a quiet cul-de-sac a year ago and our DC are the only children livingthere. As I met each new neighbour I told them how pleased I was that the DC could finally play out in the back garden and in the close but that if ever they felt there was a problem with noise or games then it would be sorted out.
All my neighbours have since told me how lovely it is to hear children in the close again.

Noise that starts before 9am at the weekend is not acceptable. Ditto screaming. Ditto footballs kicked against fences or bounced repeatedly on a hard surface. All things our previous neighbours did constantly

Other than that normal playing out noise is fine.

Well that's reassuring - I really do try and be considerate and constantly tell them to be mindful of the neighbours, but ds5 is quite a cry baby when playing with the eldest and can dissolve into very loud tears at the slightest thing - I mean really loud! Thats the thing I worry about most because it is such a horrible noise - he always has to come inside if it happens (as does DD11) but the noise has been made by then, you know?!
Wouldnt dream of letting them play in gdn before 10 am btw - I'm always amazed that people do - especially on a Sunday!! And latest out is 7pm, normally about 6pm - so I s'pose we're not too bad!! Its just I worry. And I don't want them to complain - I'd be horrified!!
Thanks for the replies.

Honeslty, the fact you are thinking of your neighbours and worrying about this suggests it will be fine.
My DC3 (2yrs old) is a squealer, does my head in when I see the neighbours I often mention it and they always say "don't worry, we remember those days, it will soon pass".
I find neighbours are considerate to you if you are to them (generally, not including neighbours from hell)

Introduce yourselves at the first opportunity, say that your boys can be a bit noisy and to let you know if it's too much. Chances are they won't because you've been so polite to start with.

One small thing though, what annoyed me more when we lived close to a loud family was not the children playing/screaming/fighting, it was the parents telling them to be quiet!

The noise of the kids around here drives me to drink/indoors some days. But I accept that kids will be kids and its their right to play in their own garden.

I agree that introducing yourself to the new neighbours and asking them to let you know when it becomes too much will help. Just show them you are aware and will control the worst excesses. Time of day is important, and also try and make sure it is not all day every day so they get some respite. Also completely agree that the parents shouting and telling them off loudly is even more annoying than the kids. The parents two doors up from me shout "no oliver no" so often that I thought that was his name.

Just general children's noise is fine. But not screaming. And dogs barking constantly is a lot worse I think. And loud music is a pain. This happened to a friend of mine. She now can have no peace in the garden as loud music from next door all the time. I agree with introducing yourself and time of day is important. Noise in garden before say 9 am not good!

Think it depends on your neighbours tbh.
PILs are being driven to distraction by children next door: parents moved in when childless, have 2 kids now, toddlers, allowed to simply WHINE all bloody day long and to constantly try to engage PILs in conversation. They like the neighbours but allowing kids to chat chat chat to quiet garden-loving people all day is not really on. Big new fencing going up. I suppose that's when you'll find out!

(And another thing)
I think some noise is inevitable, it's when it's constant, daily uproar that people get upset.
Gardens for the Brits are a haven and a pleasure and the neighbours should be allowed to be able to use them that way, even if not all the time.