Noisy children.

Children have always been noisy tbf. Think because of the lockdown which must seem alien to them, we have to just accept it, what must it have done for their mental health
Personally I love to hear them playing, when you’ve had a son who had cancer at the age of 3, it’s great that they’re healthy and alive

Live and let live. We have some noisy children over the fence, but that is preferable to the loud music the parents put on. Noise cancelling headphones help, and you can listen to soothing music
When our GC come they ride in a battery powered car thst we bought to amuse them - now that really is LOUD!

Noise cancelling headphones or eat defenders. They really work.

My neighbours children were like this , parents took no notice at all. If the noise was getting to much I would take my radio outside, pop it up on the joining fence and put Radio 4 on loudly. It always did the trick. Parents got fed up having to listen to my noise so went inside and kids followed. Job done. They have moved, thank goodness and the new ones are completely different.

You have my sympathy annsixty we had a similar problem some years ago, DH asked the neighbours if they could quieten down a little, that evening we had a visit from a number of 'bullies' including neighbour who proceeded to give DH a good hiding.
We moved within 3 months. The police weren't interested.

annsixty - I completely understand and sympathise. We have had the most wonderful neighbours over the years in this house. Two children, boy and girl have grown up next door and have been playing in their garden every day with the minimum of noise or fuss. The odd shriek and lots of laughter. A joy to hear.
For the last few years a neighbour about 3 houses up the hill has been looking after her 3 grandchildren during the school holidays. They have a trampoline. The screams, yells, shouts, crying, arguments, even louder screams and almost constant boinging sounds carry clearly to our garden.
One day last summer, our young neighbour (now 14) told me they were the noisiest children he had ever heard and were driving him nuts!!

I can sympathise. Next door is technically an illegal childminder and at times tfe screaming and shouting is horrendous. No banging with balls though. If the fence belongs solely to your neighbour then don't think there is much you can do other than point out how annoying it is. If jointly responsible then that's different you can insist it stops in case of damage. Yes chikdren haven't had access to a lot of activities in the past year but surely your neighbour's chikdren have been able to play outside, go to a park so they haven't been cooped up like some. I'm convinced we will have a generation of adults with hearing difficulties soon given all the noise children are subjected to. Notice how loud adults speak on phones when outside - there is already a problem with them.

Gwiz5
You sound like perfect neighbors!
12jade34
Agree with you completely

We are surrounded on all sides by noisy children barking dogs and student neighbors. We put our radio on in the garden , invite the neighbour next door for bbq’s give him cake and dinner and take his dog out for walks . Our other neighbours have 3 generations living there, so we send birthday cards to the latest addition, invite them round when we have our grandson to visit ( pre covid ) and We laugh at the kids having fun and match our noise to theirs. It’s not ideal but I’d never be driven out of my garden so it’s a trade off. I find that there is more awareness from them when making noise because we are nice neighbours too.

How fab that the parents join in and the children are having fun. They won’t be young and screaming long. The ball banging is another issue and your well within your rights to ask for that to stop

This problem is what keeps me from downsizing - the fear that I would end up with an intolerable situation. We all know and appreciate that children need to let off steam and enjoy freedom to do so. However they must also learn to respect other people's needs. Playful laughing is acceptable, constant screaming is not. One of the reasons I never go on holiday during school holidays!!

Children are noisy...but its just a phase, they are growing and changing and it wont be long before this noise will stop , and they have just been let out after a winter of being in not seeing friends etc......

Lemsip
I take my youngest granddaughter to the local toddler park most weeks, and we invariably have it to ourselves.
During lockdown there was a playing field in a neighbouring village, which for some reason hadn’t been closed.
We would take a ball and a picnic , same thing there, never met a soul. Where are all the children?
Don’t tell me, in their back gardens annoying people!

You have my sympathy OP. I can't bear the sound of screaming children. Ordinary calling to one another and laughter is one thing but I know the kind of hysterical, high pitched noise you're referring to and goes through me like a knife. When we lived in a village with close neighbours, when mine were little, such noises were a cue for me to call them in, dispense drinks and just let them calm down for a few minutes whilst stressing that persisting in such behaviour would result in being called inside indefinitely owing to disturbing the neigbours!
There's too much treating children like demi-gods these days and the attitude that, "kids will be kids" is all pervading. Not in my house it isn't. Children need to learn a little self control or they grow up not understanding that they can't just please themselves all the time.

I feel your pain! My neighbours have noisy children because the adults are noisy. They are out morning til night. Music playing, smoking and swearing. Today’s delight is a bouncy castle in the garden. I don’t mind the noise of kids playing I’ve had my own children but this is just inconsiderate. Oh and they light fires on a regular basis that stink. Which means sitting out in the evening isn’t possible.

Sounds extremely annoying to me, they are spoiling the amenity and peace of your garden. I don't think that there's much you can do about it. I would consider the noise cancelling headphones, using them to listen to the radio and music. Like all children they will grow up, which is not much consolation.

Why do children have to make so much noise? Screaming should only happen when in fear and certainly not just to be heard, and a child throwing a tantrum should be very firmly taken indoors until they have calmed down. I have 3 children next door to me. They play in the garden, they chatter and laugh and are an absolute delight - certainly not restrained in any way, so it can be done.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I firmly believe that children should be seen and not heard. There's no need for screaming and I don't think kids realise how dangerous it is.

A couple of years ago a friend was walking past the park when she heard screams, she was just about to dial 999 when she realised it was the kids chasing each other and not someone being attacked. Now, thanks to screaming kids, anyone in genuine trouble might get ignored because people think it's just kids 'playing.'

I just want to set a hosepipe on them when they start screeching, there's no need for it.

Agree with previous comment. Keep the hedge high. It will help muffle the noise. I have some sympathy, as we all like some peace and quiet in our gardens during the good weather. But unfortunately children can be noisy and I think are entitled to run around and enjoy being outside, especially following winter and lockdown. If you don't work, under normal circumstances, presumably you will be able to enjoy your garden whilst the kids are at school. The only way you could probably guarantee peace and quiet would be to move to a house where mainly older people live. But bit drastic.

Annsixty
Sorry to hear you're having this problem from your neighbour's children and I have nothing but sympathy for you.
I know children need to play and let off steam, but I think they need to be taught to be considerate to others from an early age. Of course it is up to the parents to do this, and in turn that depends on how they were brought up.
Have you tried to talk to the parents, explaining how disturbing it is for you.
If our DGD is too noisy, I tell her that our neighbour has a sleep at that particular time which seems to quieten her.
We are very lucky with our neighbours, our side of the road we are all older, the young families ate on the other side so we rarely hear anything.
Good luck and try not to let it upset you.

For the same reason of noise I am moving to a over 65 new build bungalow development. However I realise I am able to as I have no ties and am not sentimental about the house or area I live in. I also know that the grass in not always green on the other side but having known somebody in this development, the noise is not in your face. Kids should be seen and not heard thankfully is not widely used anymore and I for one am happy about that.

Annsixty you say you asked this question before and you were not very pleased with the response here. Are you expecting something different this time? I have a school at the bottom of my garden. It has been eerie quiet for so long. I am delighted to hear happy children are back again acting like children. Please try to embrace the childrens' sounds as sounds of happiness and health.

familes don't seem to take their children to the park any more do they........I live in a flat and just at the end of the road is a large open park where people walk through to and from town/work etc it has river running through with fish and ducks waiting to be fed. also swings slides ect.
Next door flat has two small boys 3 and 4 ..been their since born. have never been to that park. just scream and shout on the balcony.......I offered to take them but was turned down. They need to run on the hills and get rid of their 'steam' while having fun

Cossy and Pamcuthbert
I think you make very good points, lockdown has been horrible for everyone, but take it from me, with three young children in the house, it’s been extremely difficult to keep them occupied. I am so grateful for this sunshine, yes they are outside now searching for Easter eggs, running around and shouting a bit, but I really can’t see anything offensive about it.

I think many of you are missing the point here. Poor Anne sixty ! It’s not a one off squeal of joy or fun- those kids are undisciplined and are a bloody nuisance . Those parents sound to be lazy of any discipline and totally inconsiderate of everyone else but themselves & their little darlings. Kids having fun outdoors is great - shrieking foghorns who are not told to keep the shrieking down - is rude inconsiderate and enough to cause great upset to a peaceful neighbour. I’m with Ann on this matter - walk in her shoes before you criticise her feelings.