Am I overreacting? Kids being super loud where I live.

You're not overreacting but most will act as if you are. "Kids being kids" is the excuse to all parents that do a shite job. Every heard of taking them to a park like my parents did for me you lazy bastards.

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coastalkid92@reddit

This is why we once had offices 😂

I think you need to suck it up honestly, its half term and kids are allowed to play in their gardens. If its sustained shrieking for the sake of it, yeah its annoying but otherwise, let them run around half fun and get on with it.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

It isn't a garden it's a communal area.

Like I've said in other comments here some of them seem very violent. Got a video of them with a hammer bashing up the pavement and them going round near people's cars doing it

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coastalkid92@reddit

Yeah I mean, if they're bashing the pavement with a hammer, that's a whole other situation.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I know but I'm too scared to report it. There's been a lot of crime where I live in these flats

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wordsfromlee@reddit

What are you afraid will happen if you report it?

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

As I said there has been a lot of crime in my area and one house behind me got raided. My partner filmed it and unfortunately had to go to court because of the evidence (they thought they were just helping out)

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wordsfromlee@reddit

But what are you afraid will happen if you report it? How will they know its you?

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

They might not. I've emailed my managing agents so will see what they say, but they aren't very helpful.

I just worry as there is a lot of anti social behaviour here (in the car park someone's car got broken into, there have been fires etc)

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wordsfromlee@reddit

Call 101, not your managing agent. They can't do anything about it.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I would but this stuff happened a while ago so I dont know if they would even bother with it

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BeatificBanana@reddit

If it happened a while ago so presumably isn't happening anymore then what's the problem now?

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Short_Point_8179@reddit

Jesus fucking Christ. Get a grip, let kids be kids.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Wow.

Like i said in other comments it irks me as they have been violent.

You dont know my situation and I was only asking for advice.

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Humble-Usual7038@reddit

Ya. Violence isnt the issue. Youre back tracking. Get noise canceling earphones. Yes you're over reacting.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

😂

Lovely. I'm not back tracking. Just edited to explain the situation.

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BeatificBanana@reddit

If the violence was the main thing you were worried about you would've included it in the post right from the get go. Instead your post was all about noise and the title even says your problem is the kids being loud. Stop trying to defend yourself and make yourself look better, it's embarrassing. Just accept that yes the answer to your question is yes, you are overreacting

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Short_Point_8179@reddit

if the violence was the main issue, you'd have made your post about that, not about the noise.

I gave you advice: Get a grip, let kids be kids.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I've edited it.

Kids can be kids but they can be well behaved.

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DarkHavok80@reddit

So kids that make noise aren't well behaved?! Sounds like youre the issue here. Jeez

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Not excessive noise. They clearly get it from their parents who are now blasting music out of a car.

Sorry if you think I'm the issue.

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DarkHavok80@reddit

Music! Out of a car!? Oh the horror... Why don't you take that stick from out of your arse?

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

You sound delightful.

Do you have kids screaming outside all afternoon outside your window and music blasting out of a car for hours on end like it's a music festival?

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DarkHavok80@reddit

Yes! I live somewhere with a lot of children playing outside, often loudly. Also multiple houses that during the summer play loud music often for hours in their gardens. But I'm not a snobby dickhead who thinks they're too good to be around normal people. You on the other hand...

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Laumac8D@reddit

I totally get you with this. I’m not against kids playing and having fun but the pointless screaming is really annoying. It’s up to the parents to teach them to be considerate and unfortunately most of them don’t.

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Psychological-Bag272@reddit

God forbid people exist around you. Kids screaming while playing are totally normal. It is not their problem you do shift work. Unless they are banging on your door and screaming directly into your windows.

It is your responsibility to sound proof your home or get an earplug. I live right opposite to a play park, I just shut the windows.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Jesus chill out.

Like I've said in other comments in concerns me when they are damaging stuff around the complex.

My home is soundproof. I do everything I can do help that as living in flats is hard. But God forbid me having a window open when it's 23 degrees

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sunkathousandtimes@reddit

I get how annoying it is - I hate it too. But it’s perfectly normal and natural and they’re not doing anything wrong. So the question is about problem-solving how to live with it, and accepting that you can’t change it and enforce quiet.

You can either open your windows and just accept it (and do try not to ruminate on it because it won’t be good for your stress levels - I know it’s easier said than done, but we had years of noise outside our flat at night and eventually (after 3 or so years) I was able to tune it out. But until then, it didn’t help my health to get so wound up over it every night), or you invest in AC.

Our flat gets up to 40C+ inside in summer and getting a portable AC unit (not just a fan) made a HUGE difference, and it wasn’t as expensive as we thought - we bought a freestanding unit for about £300 and it has changed my life! If you can do that, you would be able to keep most windows closed and only have one open just wide enough for the tube. If you can afford it, it will seriously help with the window and noise issue.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thanks. I wish I could afford it but something to think about for the future.

I think for me it's just not a normal level of sound for kids playing... I have a nephew and other kids in my life and when they play it's not this level. I dunno maybe it's just me.

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

Your post raises two points:

i) kids being loud when playing - annoying if they're not your kids, but relatively unavoidable. You could try asking them to be quiet but I doubt it would help

ii) a young child smashing things up with a hammer - if you're seriously concerned about safety or vandalism, and it continues, this might warrant a call to the non emergency police number (who can refer it as an emergency if they think it is).

I'd also consider moving, but in the short term maybe set up a white noise app on your phone, get a pair of noise cancelling earphones, and maybe a bottle of Night Nurse. Depending on where you live, there's only 4-11 more days before school starts again.

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-scottishsunshine@reddit

Totally understand where you are coming from. I have families around me and their kids screech and scream, and their parents also screech and scream back at them. It's so noisy and I never have any pure silence, especially on a nice sunny day.

When I was growing up, I would have never been able to screech and scream, and I was taken to the park to play. I suppose it's not really safe for kids now to leave their parents eyes to go to the park, or play on the street, so I do feel for them and think it's just something we need to put down to kids being kids.

The kids are at that age now where probably next year they won't be interested in running about playing so fingers crossed they get bit quieter and no young families move in nearby... until I have kids and they are the ones making noise!

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Yeah same here. The parents are clearly home though so I dunno why they can't take them to a park...there is one literally 2 mins walk from where I live.

I hope so. I am planning on moving soon. I just get a bit agitated when I see one of them and their much younger sister using a hammer to bash up the pavement 😬

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ImaginaryParrot@reddit

I dunno why they can't take them to a park

Are they playing in their gardens?

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-scottishsunshine@reddit

I know, I had a go at my neighbours when I was younger. They were out of work and started to look after all their families kids and it turned into a childminders and they were always in their garden playing. It was exam time and I was needing to study so I had to go and say I need a little bit of peace and quiet even for a few hours a day because this was non-stop 8-6 every day... She was not happy with me but I couldn't even hear the TV over 10 kids screaming!

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Oh sorry to hear that. Thank you for actually replying to me as a decent human being unlike others on here 🙄

I think people in general just don't care at all

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-scottishsunshine@reddit

That'd the thing that applies to almost everything in life right now - people just don't care about others. It's so sad - life would be so much better for everyone if they thought about their impact on others.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Absolutely.

People are so selfish. I've worked in retail for 20 years and the abuse I got was wild.

People dont know what kind of day you are having... and when if affects your health or mental health it's hard to explain.

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redandbluebadness@reddit

Not sure I would say you are overreacting because I know how annoying it can be - but at the same time, they aren't doing anything wrong and there is no way you can compel them to be quieter.

I would suggest you invest ear plugs, white noise players, noise cancelling headphones, double glazing etc because that is all you can reasonably do.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I guess so, I just feel if my kids were playing outside I would expect them to be respectful? When I was little I was so shy. Maybe it's just a me thing.

I have all that haha but when it's warm I need to have the windows open

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ImaginaryParrot@reddit

I think this is definitely a shy person's view.

Many many kids will not behave that way. Nor will their parents.

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Miss_Type@reddit

Kids literally just scream. It's what they do. At one point I lived next to a primary school, and break times was just 15 minutes of screaming, there was nothing that was even vaguely a word, just scream. It's what kids do. That's kids playing.

My dad was a nurse and I worked for the ambulance service, both doing shift work. Just get ear plugs and keep the windows closed while you sleep.

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Positive-Mud-11@reddit

Not sure why you got downvoted - i teach my kid to be quiet and respectful, not many other folks seem to. You are right.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you

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nothingtoseehere____@reddit

Different kids play differently. It's better for them to be outside and making a racket with each other than headphones on staring at a ipad showing AI slop.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I totally get that and not against them playing outside at all. Just wish they (or their parents) would be a little more considerate since we are in a built up area.

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shadow-season@reddit

Yes it's unreasonable to assume kids shouldn't play loudly in the daytime during the Easter hilodays because you do shift work.

It is entirely a you problem and the solutions are fairly obvious - ear plugs, white noise, and getting the fuck over yourself spring to mind.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

It's not in their gardens it's in the communal gardens. And it's not loudly. It's shrieking screaming etc.

Get the fuck over yourself cos you seem to think you're better than everyone else.

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shadow-season@reddit

I'm not the one who has to ask if it's OK for kids to play?

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I didn't ask that. I have no issue with them playing.

I asked if it was okay for them to shriek and scream all the time

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Ok-Bag3000@reddit

They’re kids, it’s what they do

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Lexiepie@reddit

I tell my kids not to scream when playing as mindful of the neighbours but it’ll still happen sometimes.

It’s one thing screaming a few times in one’s own back garden when playing chase and another thing running around with a hammer though!

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you

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Mysterious-Sock39@reddit

Yes you are ,they are playing in their own gardens why should they curtail their enjoyment because you are a shift worker...

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

They're not playing in their own gardens. Their playing in a communal area.

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Mysterious-Sock39@reddit

So same communal tough

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Okay 😂

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BumblebeeNo6356@reddit

I think you are probably over reacting a bit, it’s nice for kids to be able to play outside, but also get where you are coming from. How you thought about getting a white noise thingy?

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NecroVelcro@reddit

I will never understand this dismissal. They're negatively affecting the OP and smashing concrete with a hammer isn't a standard pass time for a child or children with a healthy upbringing.

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BumblebeeNo6356@reddit

Because my comment was made before the update?

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NecroVelcro@reddit

The negative effect had been detailed before the update.

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BumblebeeNo6356@reddit

The negative effect of children playing outside (excluding the update)? Did you ever play outside as a child?

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NecroVelcro@reddit

Yes. I didn't scream and shriek like a hellion even in the local parks, let alone right by flats and houses.

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BumblebeeNo6356@reddit

We used to play football in the street, there weren’t as many cars as there are now. We didn’t mean to shout loudly but sometimes you get carried away. Children now don’t have the freedom to play in the street or go to the park on their own.

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Professor_Arcane@reddit

What I don’t understand is parents who think a road is safer than a park. Our road is 30 seconds from a park, and the road is still treated like a playground. You know, a place where cars drive all the time.

Not just inconsiderate, but bloody stupid as well.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Yup. It's literally by a car park where I am as well. One wrong move and then who knows what would happen.

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Professor_Arcane@reddit

Also, can we call out the absolutely BS logic that someone is going to kidnap their wailing banshee of a child from a park, but somehow the road has magical powers to repel kidnappers.

Kids scream so much, if they were being kidnapped from the street, no one wouldn’t even notice. The peace and quiet that followed might be the first sign.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you for understanding my concerns

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Yeah of course I have no issue with that. It's just the noise and damage they are causing. Yeah I have one

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dallaschickensh1t@reddit

I get it. I just have to empathise. I get kids are kids and they can play in communal areas, whatever whatever, but it doesn’t help me deal with it any better. Even if they aren’t aiming anything towards my home, just the noise and actions sets my nervous system on edge. I can’t help it! Ear plugs help and blocks it out but then I don’t think I should have to live in ear plugs with white noise machines - I just want peace in my four walls! Yes I’m probably over reacting but I am what I am and I’ve tried not to let it bother me!

I do think people are less conscious of others nowadays… there’s less community and consideration all round. Nothing you can do regarding them being disruptive and trying to do something will likely cause more agg. Just wanted to tell you I’m with you!

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much. I dont get why there are so many angry people here.

People are selfish, and from what I have witnessed, a lot of parents dont seem to care what their children do anymore. It's sad.

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Lazy_Cat1997@reddit

It isn’t just your world, everyone is living their lives too, it’s how they play cos they get excited and end up screaming. Better they’re doing it outside than in the apartments. Get over it

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I didn't say it was my world.

Gosh people on here are so insensitive.

If you read my post fully you'd get it.

Do you live with kids screaming outside for most of the day?

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SbisasCostlyTurnover@reddit

I did shift work for 15 years. Invest in some earplugs (3M off eBay) and maybe get a fan running throughout the day to blunt out some of the higher pitched noises.

Never, ever open your window. It's over if you open your window.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you

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genxerrr@reddit

The orange 3M.

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whereami-ana@reddit

Loop earplugs - life saving for me

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anonoaw@reddit

Depends on whether they’re screaming or just playing loudly.

Full on shrieking is unreasonable. Excited squealing and playing is fine. Better then outside running around and having fun than inside stuck on screens all day.

Either way, yeah it’s annoying but it’s life. Get a white noise machine and/or some earplugs.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Screaming very loudly.

True but we do live near to one.

I think I lost it when I saw one of them with her much younger sister beat up the paving slabs with a hammer

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20127010603170562316@reddit

We have some screamer kids a few doors down. Interestingly, they seem to be allowed to play in their garden until well after dark.

I don't have kids so I don't get why the constant screaming? It is a lot.

Luckily they're relatively far away and we can close windows.

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himit@reddit

start a local rumour about a monster who eats kids who scream and let the rumour mill do the work?😂

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New-Process-52@reddit

Hang a satanic poster over your home or something

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Alert_Ad_5750@reddit

Can u do your shift work at work rather than WFH?

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Jimbodoomface@reddit

Kids fucking love screaming don't they? They're mental. When I was a kid me and my friends would stand in a circle and just scream right into each others faces as loud as we could.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

That's lovely.

Now one of the mums is blasting music from her car 😭😭😭

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Key_Plum_99a@reddit

If you live where there are families you’ll get noise from children in the holidays when the weather is good.

If you live in an area with fewer children there’ll be builders cutting paving stones and lawn mowers going when the weather is good. Yes this is weirdly specific, that’s what I’m experiencing today.

The extra noises are frustrating when you’re trying to sleep, I can recommend MACK’s safe and sound or ultra soft squishy ear plugs. They make them in different sizes.

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bunnybunnybaby@reddit

We're extra lucky and get both round here. Lots of children in a housing estate backing onto a builder's yard. We're right by a hospital too, so sometimes sirens join in. Never a quiet moment!

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Sybretooth@reddit

You mentioned living in a block of flats- is there building management? I'd suggest giving them a call/email and explaining the situation if so, esp if the kids are damaging building and private property.
I live in a flat and had to deal several very rowdy kids on my floor last year (screaming and racing along the corridors when there's a communal garden literally two floors down, and screwing with the fire exit door), so I kept reporting it to the management office until they took action and spoke to the parents.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Yes there is, however the houses behind me aren't a part of it really? I mean they kind of are. I dunno how to explain it. But yes I will give them an email. Oh no sorry to hear that. Was it resolved?

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Sybretooth@reddit

It was, but it took a while and I reported to the office every time it happened (every day during school holidays over 5-6 months; the office people told me it was helpful later on, since they were able to have a full record). Basically the management determined it's a violation of the Deed of Mutual Covenant, esp with the fire exit bit. After multiple times of trying to reason with the parents, who refused to do anything about it, they finally got the legal team to talk to the rental company associated with the flat where the kids were running out from, which was when it got sorted immediately.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Oh okay. Well glad it got resolved eventually. I've just emailed my management company. Will see what they say.

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Sybretooth@reddit

Good luck!

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QuiteFrankE@reddit

I taught my kids that if they scream or shout when outside they have to come inside as other neighbours don’t want to hear that. They did it one time, and I brought them in. They never did it again. They made normal kid noise but they had absolutely no need to scream and shout unless someone was injured.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you for reassuring me that I'm not crazy

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QuiteFrankE@reddit

You will hear lots of people saying that it’s normal for kids to scream and shout. This is true, if they aren’t parented. It’s normal for you to not want to hear that and want to enjoy your own space.

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gettin-swole@reddit

God forbid kids want to be kids. Let’s lock em up inside on their iPads

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I didn't say that. I have no issue with them playing outside but when they are screaming loudly and bashing up stuff with hammers I have an issue

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gettin-swole@reddit

You never mentioned bashing stuff up with hammers. Call the police, with a bit of luck they’ll get sent down.

Get some earplugs or a different job.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I'm too scared too as there has been a lot of crime around my flats.

Have you seen the job market recently?

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Lassitude1001@reddit

They literally won't know who called the police. Zero reason to be scared.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I mean this happened a while ago now.

Do you think the police would deal with such a thing?

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Lassitude1001@reddit

People damaging property on purpose? Yeah.

Especially the trees, lots of rules around those.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Do you have any advice on how to approach this with the police?

Like I said this happened a while ago and whilst I do have videos of it I am a very anxious person.

Thanks in advance

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Lassitude1001@reddit

If it happened a while ago there's not much point reporting it now (maybe outside of building a file for repeated nuisances) unless there's visible damage and you have any semblance of proof who it was, you'd want to do it when it's happening.

As for the noise, unfortunately it's just one of those things you have to figure out for yourself. If it isn't kids playing, it's people doing road or building works, hammering, sawing, drilling, mowing, etc. - You can use things like sound deadening panels to minimise it and white noise to drown it out.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I guess so. But maybe I should still even to the property management? I have clear videos of them.

Yeah I know. I think today just really tipped me over the edge.

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Lassitude1001@reddit

You could report it to them sure.

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glasgowgeg@reddit

Part of the risk you take when you do shift work, I've done it for about 14 years now.

Get a pair of earplugs. There's loop, or the non-branded loop knockoffs for a out half the price. I use them during the summer when folk are constantly running lawnmowers and hedge trimmers outside.

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firekeeper23@reddit

I got some amazing sleeping masks with tiny speakers built in... even when not on they dull the noise down by 30-40%.. with music... 85% and you can't feel them if you side sleep.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Thank you

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sockeyejo@reddit

Kids round where I live emerge whenever it's not raining and run around shrieking and screaming and yelling and laughing. It took a while to get used to but it's just background noise now. I use it to tell the time. During the school term, when it starts, it's definitely after three so it's time for a cuppa and in the holidays, when it goes quiet, it's time for some grub. If there's no noise, either it's raining or there's something exciting going on in town. Fact is, they have absolutely no idea how loud they are, even the quiet shy kids.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

Fair enough. Guess I'm overreacting

I was a quiet shy kid and wouldn't act how they are.

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twerrrp@reddit

I would also be really annoyed by that but nothing you can do tbh so best just find a way to stop it annoying you. Probably not what you wanted to hear but that’s the way it is. As someone has said, it’s half term so hopefully it will stop soon.

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Perfect-Sun-9399@reddit (OP)

I kinda wanna go and speak to them but scared of the repercussions from parents.

Maybe things have changed but I wouldn't behave like that when I was small

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