Neighbours with kids all day on the street. Is it ok???

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JustJoshwaa@reddit

Personally, I’d say get to know them and become friendly. Those kids and adults, one day will benefit you.

Say someone tries to rob your car, steal a package or piss about with your garden/door, those kids and their parents will instinctively defend your house like it was their own because they have that sense of community and will protect their own, regardless.

Also, once you’re friendly you can literally turn to the kids and say “Do us a favour, piss off down the street, I’ve got a headache” and they’ll do it out of respect for you.

Give a little to gain a lot.

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bellabanjsk@reddit

Yeah this absolutely. Someone came to pick up some stuff I’d left for them down the side of my house while I was out once, and I hadn’t warned the neighbours they’d be coming, and all of a sudden I got a load of photos of them from my neighbours, and their numberplate, and they assured me they yelled at them 🤣 oops

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Its not ok, but typical parental selfishness thinking we should all love to be around their brats. Unfortunately, it's not illegal to be in the street as it is a public space, but noise nuisance can be reported to counsel and if you are worried about the safety of the children you could always report to children socail services.

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Canipaywithclaps@reddit

Agreed!

Far better they be sat alone in their rooms doom scrolling. How DARE children go outside and meet in person in our lords year of 2026!

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GrownDandilion@reddit

And they can't do this at the local park? Sports centre? Cinima ? Food place? Football field? Bike track? Swimming centre?

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cheflifecdf@reddit

Of course they can, but those places might be far away, and most cost money.

Your street is public, and if it's safe and they're not being antisocial then absolutely hang out there!

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GrownDandilion@reddit

I've never known a park to charge, but your right distance might be a problem. op didn't give a location.

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cheflifecdf@reddit

That's why I said most, over half of your examples are paid entry

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GrownDandilion@reddit

You are right fuck it, let the little bastards do what they want then absolve parents of all responsibilities (including ensuring they have enough money to support their crotch goblins) or the attention span to raise them or dont its clearly not anyone's responsibility or fault

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

You have serious, serious problems Miss Trunchball.

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Canipaywithclaps@reddit

Sports centre, cinema, food place and swimming all cost money.

Depending on your area and the age of the children there is a good chance there isn’t any of the free options close enough

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Good point, someone else all ready made 33 minutes ago. Nice talking, though.

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Canipaywithclaps@reddit

I don’t have the best signal so the chains aren’t loading and you replied directly to my comment so I got a notification, you sound like a bundle of laughs

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GrownDandilion@reddit

I am let's go sand in front of a strangers house and talk more 🤣

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Why don't you go and sit in the local park to get away from the kids?

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Luckily for me, I dont have to leave my house to avoid other peoples ferral children as I live in a nice area where adults actually give a shit about their offspring.

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

So what are you crying about?

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Nothing at all questions asked on a forum, question answered .. welcome to redit .. It's lots of fun, almost as fun as standing in the street outside someone else's house listening to music. Why dont you try it.

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Try what? Standing outside someone else's house listening to music?

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Yeah .. you do that ill go to the local park deal ?

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

But why would I need to do it outside someone else's house when I can do it outside of my own house?

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GrownDandilion@reddit

Then what are you crying about ?

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Who's crying?

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

You can’t be serious? 🙄

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

I've had some pretty down days in the past but I've never been this miserable.

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Gold-Creme-9597@reddit

Lord same. And hope I never get to a point where I’m involving the social just for kids being kids. Wild.

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Glum_Cod_8376@reddit

I will 100% guarantee that all the replies saying "you are the problem", "go join in" and "I wish it was more like this" do not have this on their street, fact. My peaceful cul de sac was ruined by one single parent who let her kids do what she wants, this in turn empowered the other polite and quiet kids and their lazy parents to do the same. I played as a kid but never screamed, kicked balls at houses or cars and blasted music.

I hate the noise puts me on edge all the time, kids should play but parents should also be responsible for occasionally taking them elsewhere instead of being lazy.

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Pockysocks@reddit

If they ain't harassing anyone or being destructive, it sounds like a good neighbourhood.

You should try to interact with them and get to know them. You're going to be living with them for a long time. Don't make yourself miserable.

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Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit

It's you.

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Lion-Resident@reddit

It isn't. People have no class and no respect. We call them the dregs of society

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FunkyYoghurt@reddit

Families in a neighborhood having a good time and letting kids play in the streets are the dregs of society? Please be joking.

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

For being outside and not stuck inside watching tv? Gosh, how dare they be outside! Those hooligans!

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Cam2910@reddit

Kids outside: fine. Adults outside: fine. Football: fine. As long as there's no damage to cars etc.

Persistent loud music right outside living room: not fine.

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FunkyYoghurt@reddit

It's half term. The sun was (kind of) out. Sounds like a lovely place to live. How dare kids play out on the street! Completely normal back in the day and it's nice to see it in an age of kids scrolling on tablets watching brainrot.

Yes it's ok. You miserable git.

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seven-cents@reddit

You're up shit creek without a paddle.

If you object then you'll become a target, because that's what they have been doing for a long time. You're a stranger to them.

The only way to deal with it is to become friends with your neighbours and part of the community. Then and only then will you be able to say to them "stfu, I'm knackered and you're making a racket, can you take it inside please"

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Randomfinn@reddit

Sounds like a lovely community! Grab a drink and go out and join them.

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-aLonelyImpulse@reddit

Genuine question, but how often do you do this? It's just so far outside my idea of a good time that's I'm actually intrigued here. Do you just approach and ask if you can join the group, or do you sit outside in your garden and things just naturally progress into talking the more you see each other?

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Randomfinn@reddit

I’m friendly and have no problem talking to strangers. I go up to strangers and start talking to them if I like their vibe. I’m also an older woman so I appear less threatening than some people.

I don’t ask to join a group, in this situation I would go over and introduce myself, compliment something about the neighbourhood, show enthusiasm for living in the cul-de-sac and show that I’m not a huge weirdo. I’d be friendly to the kids without being too friendly (I worked with kids for decades so I relate easily, plus I have a lot of “young” interests - Minecraft is usually something we can relate over). I check the vibe, and leave when I’m tired or bored or if they actually turn out to be ppl I want nothing to do with, like raging racists or TERFs or serfs.

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ContactSpecial8612@reddit

They don’t do it 😂

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Brilliant_Bowler_994@reddit

In the 80s this was life.

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JustJoshwaa@reddit

Same for me in the 90’s

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

I miss the 90’s!

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JustJoshwaa@reddit

Me too. T’was much simpler times

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Squadrone_Rosso@reddit

And what a good life it was❤️

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Hayles1066@reddit

I am dreading the summer. I live in an ex council house. Opposite me is a small block of flats and they share a large square of lawn, directly outside my house.

I get on with many of my neighbours. A few have become so good to me that if I go on holiday I always know I have a cat feeder. I help out too. I’m not stuck up, I grew up on an estate too…. But the summer fear is already beginning and it’s only April.

All summer I will have kids in and out of my front garden collecting a ball. I can’t plant anything or have nice things out front as it’d get trashed. All summer they will erect a giant communal paddling pool just outside and will sit out there in dressing gowns smoking, drinking and screaming at Chantelle to ‘get some fucking clothes on and stop sweating or I’ll wash your mouth out with soap!!!”. Usually from about 7am.

The warmer nights mean more drinking and more screaming arguments at 2am. The amount of times I’ve woken up to “get out you cheating bastard!”. The music carries over as if the stereo is in my bedroom.

ALL SUMMER, every day at least once, a ball will thud into my window shaking the entire frame and making me jump out of my skin. I swear one day it’ll come right thru.

Last week, on the hols, the kids entered my garden, setting off my ring doorbell, at least 30 times in one day. They’ve even started leaving me unsavoury messages while grabbing their ball, too.

It’s worrying me hugely as it approaches but I also know that saying or making a fuss about it too much will make things much worse.

If all I had to worry about was a little social gathering out the front, I’d be a happy person.

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

Yeah, Chantelle really should stop that sweating. I have told her before.

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Hayles1066@reddit

That sweaty Chantelle!! Honestly!

Explains the need for the permanent paddling pool.

My particular favourite part of that is when it goes green and still sits out there for another month ❤️

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Lion-Resident@reddit

I am sorry you are having to live amongst the dregs of society. Some people have no class and we're dragged up, not brought up.

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JustJoshwaa@reddit

Imagine judging others as dregs of society and fucking up your grammar. How unfortunate.

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ExaminationDefiant13@reddit

I’d be happy for them! As long as they’re not breaking the law then it’s great that kids are outside. In the 90’s we were always outside having fun.

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Mroldsk00l@reddit

This is a normal and healthy behaviour for a neighbourhood. You’ve become disconnected with reality

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petemorley@reddit

Agreed. It’s the sign of a good neighbourhood. Kids should be able to play outside safely.

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princewinter@reddit

It's nice they're out there playing but music outside my house would drive me absolutely nuts, no matter what time of day.

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Spiritual_Tie3348@reddit

You're going to be the arsehole neighbour that every street has.

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Lion-Resident@reddit

The middle class neighbour from a good background and upbringing who can't (and shouldn't have to) tolerate uncouth louts.

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Gold-Creme-9597@reddit

This is what life used to be like, so yes I’d say it’s pretty normal. In summer the kids on my street play out all night, do I sometimes wish they wouldn’t scream when they’re playing, yes. Do I also listen to music loudly in my garden sometimes, yes. We all chat to each other and exist pretty harmoniously. I wouldn’t consider it a problem unless it seriously impacted me, ie someone playing drum n bass at 2am. This is called being part of a community. If you hate it, suggest you move. It’s what most people are searching for. Connection.

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C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit

I live in a street very similar to yours.

Sadly nothing you can do other than speak to them and hope to come to some sort of arrangement.

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Lion-Resident@reddit

Type letters to all neighbours, including yourself, asking them not to congregate or make noise (politely). Post them all. All the neighbours will get one and so will you, so no one will know who sent them.

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Briggsy16@reddit

If someone has just moved onto the street and these letters suddenly appear, it's would be rather obvious who they'd come from.

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Lion-Resident@reddit

Use the old imagination and write something like, I have recently had a diagnosis and want to remain anonymous but the diagnosis makes it difficult for me to tolerate noise all day, every day outside the house. Or, I have recently had a bereavement, please keep the noise down. Thank you for understanding. Something like that.

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West_Procedure_1310@reddit

Yeah, but it was all fine until one person moved in... I'm sure they'd suspect.

This does how remind me of a Netflix documentary called the perfect neighbour. The new neighbour didn't like kids playing, and it all ended tragically.

The kids in the street won't be the same age forever. Childhood is fleeting. Let them play.

If there was loud music, to the point I can hear the television (volume up a bit). I'd ask them to turn down a bit, I can't hear the Tele.

Really any complaint has to say what the impact is. Rather than I don't like it.

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shamone_mofo@reddit

Aint even summer yet thats gonna get later and later and probably more and more anti social .

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Prudent-Pool5474@reddit

I don't think you understand what anti social is

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Sad-Lawfulness-1637@reddit

They’re literally being social

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shamone_mofo@reddit

Silly cont I live on an estate that's rated highest poverty in my county .

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r33c31991@reddit

Some people don't like it, some do... I personally think there's a reasonable cut off.. we previously lived on a new build estate, naturally kids started appearing year after year to the point the parents all became friends which then progressed into street parties - I loved the neighbourhood feel but they crossed the line when they kept it down til the early hours.

As long as it's all wrapped by 9-10 id say it's fine, as others said - try and get chatting with a few of them, you may make friends.

If you'd prefer to keep yourself to yourself and can't live with it, move somewhere more remote / quiet

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Is this a joke?

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Bec21-21@reddit

Noise can be extremely triggering for some people, me included.

If the kids are just playing and not doing anything antisocial (kicking a ball against your house, sitting on your car etc) then you need to leave them be. It is good for kids to go out side and catch up with kids their age.

If they’re always outside your house and not another house, I guess your place has a wider verge or something that makes it more appealing than other parts of the street.

Try to be friendly with the kids and their parents, that will help you later if things get out of hand.

Consider what you could do to limit the impact of their noise on you - can you spend more time in a part of the house away from the noise. Turn on the tv/radio, get thicker curtains, etc)

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Moash_For_PM@reddit

Bloody kids being outside and not on their ipads in their room. Irs a disgrace

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Momotaro6@reddit

I mean...that's what we did decades ago in my long lost youth. It's fine.

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dinkidoo7693@reddit

I grew up in a culdesac and was always out and about with the other kids in the street.
If they aren’t causing trouble, being abusive, drinking or using drugs and breaking property i don’t really understand what the issue is?
Maybe you should try and get to know your neighbours

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Belterhaze31@reddit

You don’t own the street sadly mate

When I was a kid we’d all be out on the street until the street lights came on. Can’t remember the last time I saw anything like it and I certainly wouldn’t care if it went back to them ways

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The_Chosen_Eggplant@reddit

Not much you can do.

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PKblaze@reddit

Depends on how close they are to my house/ what they are doing and whether the music is loud.

For the most part I would not care, but if they're being reckless around my property or absolutely blasting music, it would bother me if it were every day.

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bellabanjsk@reddit

Get to know them a bit and once you are familiar with them you can tell them to stfu when it goes on too long and they’ll (more often than not) listen. My neighbourhood is like this - for me it’s just because it’s a working class area and everyone knows everyone - which is kinda nice as long as they’re not being overly rowdy and they knock it off at a reasonable time. If you don’t like the vibe of the neighbourhood it’s not something you’ll be able to change, you’ll have to adapt or leave. But like I said, if you get to know them and build some rapport there, they are likely to be a bit more respectful and listen to you if you find it’s too loud or any of it is obnoxiously in your face.

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