Noisy children.

I quite agree, the noise levels of the children opposite me could break the sound barrier. The father is forever shouting above the noise. Maybe if posters lived with the noise they may have a different view

Its a tough one I work with 30 children so I can tolerate my neighbours kids easily as Im used to the noise. Are you home alot? Do you belong to any groups or can you not move around still? Try listening to the radio talk back shows they are always interesting or have tv on or soft rain sleep music in the background just enough drowns out loud noise

I have neigbhours. One has grand chidlren and I can hear them playing most weekends. But they are just happy children noises. Not annoying or upsetting,
But the other side have a daughter who screams continually. They never say anything. Neighbours who are further away have asked if she is alright? The noise is very annoying but they are not the sort of people that you can speak to.

I sympathise Anne. It's a shame there couldn't be some sort of communal rota where just for an hour or two every day people could enjoy some quiet time in their garden, and the majority of the time left for those who enjoy making a lot of noise in their gardens.

Children should be taught from an early age to consider other people's feelings. If they grow up thinking that they can make as much noise as they like, they become the adult neighbours from hell that all too common now.
It is up to parents to achieve a balance - allowing their children to let off steam for 15 - 30 minutes and then insist that they pipe down and allow the neighbours to enjoy their gardens in peace.
Mental health is deteriorating in our crowded society and much of that is down to excess noise and a belief that you can do as you please.

MiniDriver56

We complained about football outside our house! Was told they are family homes what do you expect? I expect children to be respectful of other peoples properties, knocking down plants etc, equally scratching our cars in our own driveway! We have a two year old who plays in the road up to 7pm! My grandson is in bed by 7pm and he 3! Some children are allowed to do what they like!

Yes I once asked some children to stop screaming and shouting directly outside my window at gone 10 O clock one night and to move onto the communal green which was a few feet further away. The attitude of one of their fathers was 'you bought beside a green so what do you expect?'

You need to keep a diary of when and for how long at each occasion they scream, cry or kick a football against your fence to establish a record so you have evidence to backup your complaints. If it is for a prolonged period then you can ask you neighbours if they could take their children to the local park to play football with friends.

Completely agree with you moorlikeit

You really do have my sympathy. Great that the parents join in the children's play and generally very pleasant hearing children enjoying the outdoors but when it's as bad as you say it would drive me round the bend. I would definitely keep the hedge high to help drown out the noise but basically there's not much you can do without a major fall out with neighbours and even that probably would not change things.

I also don’t think you should have to wear noise cancelling headphones to enable you to sit in your own garden.

If it’s that bad, constantly, then the neighbours are simply being too noisy.

Sounds terrible and I feel so sorry for you. Hopefully, they'll soon discover gadgets and play on those indoors instead. Many people today are so selfish and inconsiderate, and many children are just feral, and that's from a young mum I know telling me this. You have a right to enjoy your home too. Have suffered at the hands of bad neighbours in the past and it's a difficult one indeed. I once politely and diplomatically tackled someone else's rotten neighbours for them, saying the lady was unwell and finding the noise etc stressful. Amazingly, it worked. I REALLY hope things improve for you soon. xx

Sara1954 - yes I completely understand parents desperation during lockdown, which is why I haven’t said anything to them. But I have a right to some peace in my garden too!

If you’ve not been bothered before by children next door it could be that the chronic pain you’re in is making you excessively irritated and sensitive about what sounds like the very normal life of a family of young children. Best not to say anything unless the ball is being kicked against your fence then have a gentle word about that. It is hard to be patient and mellow when you’re in pain and I hope you can get medical treatment soon.

Some people live in their own little world and just don't realise that their noise that they see as self expression is upsetting to others.
I think it's time to have a quiet word or even pop a note through the door explaining that because of your health problems, you find that the football and screaming is spoiling the enjoyment of your own garden.
There is no reason now why they can't take the children out to a nearby park where they can run off some steam and scream and yell to their heart's desire!
Either that or try the classical music thing every now and then !

Thirty years ago I had to put up with two noisy boys next door and another at the back. Balls continually being kicked against the fence and coming over. Even though we are only a few hundred yards from the recreation ground.
They are now married and have left home but I still get no peace. Next door neighbour and one over the back are DIY fanatics. Even on Sundays there is drilling banging and sawing from morning to evening. Their wives are indoor types.

Neighbours can be such a curse. People have this "I'll do what I want in my own home" mentality. Wrong.

I really sympathise - I have had the neighbours from hell with 6 children for 3 years. Not just children noise, parties for ours with loud music. It’s not just me that had complained - everybody has and the police are involved a lot!! It has ruined the last few summers when you want t sit quietly but I found noise cancelling headphones a godsend, listen to some music quietly and read a book and I can’t hear them at all! I should say I’ve fostered for years and have my own children/grandchildren but this was on a different scale. Thankfully they are being moved but I am well aware that a 5 bed house will attract a big family but no-one could be as bad. Unfortunately it’s a new build estate so three storey houses too close together so I suspect the headphones will be in use again- they really are a lifesaver!!

Annsixty I sympathise too. We have three boys living next door and they play out in front of the houses straight after school and whenever it's not raining.

I like the sound of happy children playing but not when it always involves screaming, roaring and re-enacting shooting style video games around the houses. Unfortunately, the Dad sometimes plays too and joins in with the yelling. Sometimes they retreat to their back garden and put loud music on to go with the yells!

It never seems to occur to the parents that other people live in their street who might be disturbed by the racket. No point in complaining, after all, they are just children playing, but thank you for giving me the chance to vent!

I completely sympathise, annesixty. Children playing is one thing, but screaming and ball kicking against the fence is unacceptable. The parents are to blame entirely.
I don't think you can do much about it, I doubt if they would be reasonable. So it's either ear protectors or move house. Or , with any luck, perhaps they will move away.
I hope so for your sake. Best wishes.

I totally agree with houseseller and Kryptonite.

If that child screams all day, she must have a very sore throat.

I dont think there is much you can do annsixty . Children are noisy! When my GC visit they make a noise and I do ask them to calm it down a bit because of the neighbours but this is only every so often. It must be annoying when it’s every day and all day, but as the others have said, play your music loudly and perhaps they’ll take the hint.

I think kids are noisier than they used to be with their screaming, roaring and bellowing. I wonder if something like CBeebies is to blame but I’ve not investigated further.

I wonder if anyone thinks that playing radio 4 or classic fm loudly and deliberately is actually worse as you are doing it deliberately to annoy other people rather than noise that happens as a part of life. It. Certainly wouldn't encourage me to keep quiet not that I'm noisy I have to say.

Just wondering if you had children as you say you lived in your house for 45 years and these people have moved in your old friends house.
Children playing is a delight to hear. Have you considered how hard they've had the last year being stuck indoors?
Teenagers swearing & gobbing off in the garden I would agree with you on but children, come on