What's an acceptable level of noise from kids playing outside on sunny days?

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Sea-Payment-8989@reddit

There’ no better sound than happy kids playing and enjoying their time, anyone who complains needs to get a life.

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Ohbc@reddit

I think it's generally fine but sometimes I can't tell if they are having fun or getting murdered. At that level, I have to go inside and shut all the windows

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arashi256@reddit

It should be fine, unless they work nights or something. Kids playing outside in the summer is part of the vibe, surely. You'd have to be pretty miserable to object to that, especially on a weekend.

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RealLongwayround@reddit

I work nights. That’s a me-problem. I own earplugs.

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With my daughter I have a rule that noise as a result of playing (laughing, screams etc) is fine but noise for the sake of noise isn't allowed. So they aren't allowed a screaming contest or to just shout or hit things for the sake of making loud noises.

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RealLongwayround@reddit

This is a great attitude. There are few sounds more delightful than that of happy kids playing.

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DarkNinjaPenguin@reddit

Yeah, when I lived in a housing estate the grown adults who would play music outside were *way* more annoying than kids having fun. Kids are kids, they make noise but they weren't being rowdy. People playing music are making loud noise *on purpose*.

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Affectionate_Ad6864@reddit

I personally wouldn’t be bothered. So long as they’re not swearing or doing that hideous high pitched shriek kids tend to do. I guess you could pop out and remind them that other people are trying to enjoy the sunshine and try not to be quite so loud - it also shows you’re considering your neighbours even if it doesn’t actually make a difference to your kids volume.

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Toucani@reddit (OP)

Tbh I've been out there with them most of the time and it's been a great day but I became aware in the brief moments of quiet that we are making all the noise in the street. I've obviously repeatedly stopped the screaming but dear god they are loud when playing! Appreciate the responses. Hopefully we get a few more of these sunny days

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DigitalStefan@reddit

There are people who will post to Facebook about "incessant noisy kids making it impossible for me to have my windows open on a hot day" and those people forget that they were once a noisy kid. Children are allowed to be noisy. That said, mix things up a bit. Drag them to a park / playing field occasionally as well, because it's not 100% a case of "kids are noisy and this is our house like it or lump it", there's no harm having some consideration for neighbours who probably would appreciate a bit of quiet time to enjoy the weather in their gardens as well.

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Sirlacker@reddit

As loud as they want as long as it's them having fun and not screaming at each other in anger. Anyone who says different can absolutely go and fuck themselves with a rusty, barbed wire clad, broom handle. Kids should be having fun, they should be outside laughing, singing and creating a joyful din. The fact that most of the gardens around us are quiet is a little upsetting, considering we live in an area that has lots of children. Everyone should be outside when it's nice. Background music should be coming from gardens, adults chatting, kids playing, BBQs happening, bubbles floating over fences, the odd little spray of water from kids having water fights.

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NortonBurns@reddit

I'd be in "put up with it every once in a while" territory. If it gets to be weekly or even daily, i'd be tearing my hair out.

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DogtasticLife@reddit

As someone who has 2 girls next door that have spent all day outside screaming their bloody heads off, yes it’s bloody annoying!

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littlebird2446@reddit

Annoyed. When I was a child me and my siblings weren’t allowed to scream and shout in the garden. It didn’t do us any harm. We were brought up to be respectful of other people. It didn’t impact our ability to have fun. We still played and had a good time. Children can learn to play at a reasonable volume. They don’t have to be silent but screaming and constantly shouting isn’t necessary. Everyone should be entitled to enjoy their garden with some level of peace, how are people supposed to do that when your kids are constantly screaming? Parent your children better. Have respect for your neighbours. Cue the downvotes from parents.

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Icy_Mixture1482@reddit

Downvotes from reasonable childless people too.

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littlebird2446@reddit

I’m unreasonable for thinking children should be raised to have respect for other people and shouldn’t be screaming and screeching constantly? Neighbours don’t have a right to enjoy the sun in their garden without endless screaming do they not? Is that reasonable? Genuinely people like you and OP are why we have so many disrespectful little shits running around. It’s basic manners to mind your volume when it might disturb others. Kids screeching and screaming isn’t necessary, I wasn’t allowed and it didn’t impact me at all. I was brought up with manners and to consider others. No one is saying children must be silent. But screaming and shouting incessantly is not on. If you want to scream, go to a kids playground. In the garden where your neighbours are mere feet away also trying to enjoy their day - lower the volume. This is literally basic decorum. It’s not a difficult concept to grasp.

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ClassicPart@reddit

> I wasn’t allowed and it didn’t impact me at all Other than growing up to post bitter comments online, that is.

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CasualGlam87@reddit

My parents always taught me and my sister to be respectful of other people and not make a lot of noise. Even as a child I hated how loud other kids were. Never understood why other kids had to scream and make so much noise. I do currently live next to a family with kids but they're not overly loud so it's fine. I do also live next to a construction site and railway line so I've got used to blocking out noise. There's always going to be noise in an urban environment but there is a point where kids screaming and shouting can get annoying.

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repair-it@reddit

Respect your neighbours, train drivers, airline pilots, night workers need some peace & quiet

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Healthy_Pilot_6358@reddit

I used to love the sounds of kids playing outside….then some people out the back (quite far still, not my immediate neighbours on a 360°) moved in with those screaming type bastards and it’s ruined everything. For the past few years they are out there screaming instead of the happy playing noise that most kids make.

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LazySector@reddit

Kids playing outside on a sunny day is my favourite sound.

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zakik88@reddit

Kids gotta play. A bit reassuring when you think about the alternatives being glued to a phone or computer screen.

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On_The_Blindside@reddit

Shouting jumping and being excited is part of being a kid, zero issues with that. the only thing we've decided to tell our daughter when she's older is that screaming is for when you're in danger and not just an excited noise

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CrimsonEnchantress@reddit

Almost literally all forms of noise from children is acceptable when they are outside playing. Don’t give 2 fucks what the neighbours think girl

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Over-Space833@reddit

My toddler is 2 years old. I moved to the area we live in specifically because the kids are able to play outside, ride their bicycles, build snowmen together in winter and generally be kids. On a sunny day, children playing is music to my ears. Saying that, we seem to get along so I would be comfortable speaking to their parents if things got out of hand. We don't get many sunny days so why would anyone begrudge kids out playing on the few days we do if it's not harmful or them destroying stuff.

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C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit

I’m childless and live in a new build street that sounds similar to yours. I don’t mind it when the kids play outside as long as they are actually playing and not screaming and shouting for the sake of being loud, that being said if it becomes an all day, daily thing it starts to be a bit of a problem. The families around me seem to have a break from outside time for about an hour or two in the afternoon so this might be worth considering - this is when i tend to go outside so that i can enjoy it with as minimal sound as possible. It makes the compact space of new builds more tolerable.

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ihavetakenthebiscuit@reddit

If i was bothered by the sound of kids playing (I'm not) i would put music on or wear headphones. Relax OP, let your kids enjoy playing in their garden.

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Aggressive-Waltz1126@reddit

Constant screaming no. Shouting , singing and lauging, with the occasional bit of screaming, fine. If theres an issue a neighbour should politely tell you so. For example if I was your neighbour and had a migraine, I'd probably come down and let you know.

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Suspicious_Tax8577@reddit

The screaming can get to be a bit much - how are you supposed to know something bad has happened if they're screaming and shrieking as part of standard operations?

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MembershipKey1520@reddit

I live in a block of flats with shared grass lawns out front and drying greens at the rear. 2 or 3 years back there were 3 or 4 primary school age kids from an adjoining block further back playing at front & rear of my block. Most of the time they were messing about but they regularly broke & smashed up anything lying around e.g. mops & buckets, vacuum cleaners. The level of screaming & yelling was astonishing. I frequently looked out to see which child was being savagely attacked in some violent manner (by the sound of it) and usually amazed to see they were just running about playing tag or playing with a ball. I couldn't understand how their parents weren't concerned or keeping an eye on them at all. I haven't seen or heard them for a year or two now so I can only assume the parents moved away or had the kids taken into care for neglect. Just got motocross bikes racing about the demolished schools waste ground site next door now 6 or 7 days a week. Deep joy, as Ren & Stimpy would say.

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MembershipKey1520@reddit

[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPna1AugBw&pp=ygUVRGVlcCBKb3kgUmVuICYgU3RpbXB5](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ghPna1AugBw&pp=ygUVRGVlcCBKb3kgUmVuICYgU3RpbXB5)

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Suspicious_Tax8577@reddit

I've got no problem with children being noisy, but its the screaming to the point you don't know if they're screaming because actually they need any grownup in earshot.

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Super-Craig@reddit

When it comes to children I've learned two absolute truths. If you can hear them, then everything is fine, and there's no need to worry. If for some reason you can't hear them, or worse, they suddenly go silent, then you should be concerned.

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Puzzled-Job9556@reddit

There's a big difference between the noise of kids playing and kids misbehaving. Crack on.

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twxst616@reddit

Get over it. My neighbours spent my whole childhood popping footballs, whinging and just being outright cunts. Now their grandkids are doing the same shit, I always make sure I let them know they’d be miserable if I was half as much as a twat as they were

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Master-Trick2850@reddit

children are meant to scream and play, the only people who complain about it are karens

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onionsofwar@reddit

If it's a lovely sunny day, why not get out of the house?

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PigletAlert@reddit

So as someone that really values my peace and quiet I genuinely appreciate you asking this question. I think it’s a case of reminding them that they have neighbours and to be considerate, but not stopping them from enjoying themselves, I’d draw the line at shrieking and screaming.

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GooseyDuckDuck@reddit

It's the screaming that wears me out, just shut the fuck up.

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Personally I'd be fucking delighted to hear the kids playing! Let them go wild, it's the most normal and healthy thing they can do.

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rshslake@reddit

I just want to know where in the UK it is currently BBQ and paddling pool weather?! Aside from that I think any amount is acceptable in summer honestly. As someone with kids other people's noisy kids do still annoy me sometimes. However that's a me problem and if I don't like it I should go inside or go live somewhere without close gardens. As long as they're not shouting obscenities I can't see the issue

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SensitiveReception15@reddit

where i am in the southeast its gourgeous weather that i am completely ignoring in favour of reddit

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Amateur_yoghurt@reddit

I close the windows of the noise is too much for me 🤷🏼 Kids should enjoy themselves and I'm happy to hear them having a great time, sometimes it's just too much because I want read or hear TV. Not an issue and most of my neighbours have young children.

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smushs88@reddit

Kids playing outside and being loud naturally due to excitement etc, fill your boots. Kids outside high pitched screaming and shrieking all day will undoubtedly get tiresome.

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Frosty_Leg4438@reddit

I don’t have kids/am a quiet person, and understand your frustration but at some point you chose to: “ live on new-build development where houses are on top of each other For some reason (finance, location etc) and this is the downside you’ll have to accept. Go out to a wood/park if you need quiet outdoors.

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Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit

You could just ask your neighbours 🤷‍♂️

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GoldieBones90@reddit

Move. Why did you move to a family with children? I.e similar comments I got to my post the other day 🤷🏻‍♀️

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stranger-is-a-friend@reddit

As a child free person, currently sat in the garden with a beer in a new build estate listening to my neighbours kids playing i have absolutely no issue what ever. If they were horrible kids maybe, but kids having fun is a nice sound. Enjoy your kids enjoying this weather if they have an issue thats on them!

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Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

Some people actually enjoy the noise of kids having fun.

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No-Photograph3463@reddit

Occasional shout or scream fine, constant shout and scream I'd be pissed off, as its basically equivalent to a dog constantly barking or someone playing loud music that all the neighbours can hear all afternoon.

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Ok-Constant-2683@reddit

It's fine, it's just part of human existence

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TippyTurtley@reddit

Did they have a break for lunch?

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Cauleefouler@reddit

Honestly you're worrying too much. Go get on the trampoline with them and have fun!

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crsj@reddit

Enjoy it man. Get your wireless speaker cranked up, couple of cans in the garden and bit of banter with the neighbours over the fence 🍻🍻

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WastedYouth39@reddit

I could not care less about kids having fun outside, our neighbour could have 30 kids and a bouncy castle on the go and i would be fine. However we have one kid who fancies themselves as a footballer, they kick the ball against our wooden fence, which makes a huge bang then their net is against the fence so we get another boom.

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Canipaywithclaps@reddit

I live in a town and have neighbours, children being healthy children and playing outside in the day is something I’ve signed up for. If I didn’t want that I would have bought a house in the ass end of nowhere.

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Extreme-Composer8452@reddit

As long as its not 1am on a school night like my neighbours kids do. I doubt it's a real issue. We were all kids once.

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Postik123@reddit

I'm not sure it really matters unless you have a neighbour that works nights. If someone wants absolute tranquility 24/7 then they need to buy a house in the countryside far from anyone else.

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smurphinden@reddit

As long as it's not constant high pitched screaming you're fine.

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AJMurphy_1986@reddit

Just tell them off if/when they do that horrible high pitched scream

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charlie_boo@reddit

I obviously let my kid play outside and make noise, but if levels get too high, I ask him to bring it down a notch. Just basic manners. For me, playing kids are fine - it's the ones constantly crying and screaming and throwing tantrums that do my head in.

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BowiesFixedPupil@reddit

Some neighbours will be pissed off but they are kids, it's why we buy houses with gardens so they can have somewhere safe and close to play outside. Sometimes I'll sit in my garden and the sound of the birds is interrupted by children or by a lawnmower and I wish I could afford a nice detached house in the Country, miles from other people. But I can't afford that so I put up with what my budget affords me and that is neighbours. Nice neighbours fortunately but we'd all prefer to be alone sometimes. Enjoy the sounds of the feral little shits causing mayhem, you'll miss it when it's gone.

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Crazytimesinlove21@reddit

Don’t stress it, I used to be out from 8am and not back til 9pm

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Gullible_fool_99@reddit

The only thing that annoys me about the neighbour kids is when they scream. The yelling, singing and calling to each other I'm fine with but screaming is not good to hear.

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mister_meaner7@reddit

15 decibels

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thorn312@reddit

I live in an area where all the gardens are kind of linked, I find children playing noise much more preferable than what I usually hear, loud ass music, howling dogs, people yelling, etc. It is a bit irritating when young kids are crying and shrieking super loud, but kids are kids and the sounds of playing are totally different. Neither one tends to be a long term issue anyway! Just my opinion as a child free by choice person.

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Derfel60@reddit

If you can hear them inside with all windows/doors closed then theyre too loud.

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Asleep-Software-4160@reddit

They're kids playing outside during the day, let's them have at it.

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eldeem@reddit

People know what they’re buying when they live somewhere built up. If nobody’s complained yet, and you’re not so embarrassed you want to move to a desert island, then you’re good.

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rubberbandhands@reddit

I wouldn’t worry too much. I hear my neighbour’s kids out in the garden when the weather’s nice, I’m just glad they’re outside instead of being stuck indoors behind a screen!

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R3ddit300@reddit

Loud noise is fine. In fact it's nice. Constant screaming would be a pain in the arse though. Hopefully you're out there encouraging them to stop screaming.

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Lanky_Bus_1221@reddit

Fook me let them enjoy themselves stop moaning . They are not kids forever and you can’t get the time back

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firerawks@reddit

unlimited

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ashyphoenix9043@reddit

while yes there is a certain level of noise you should stay under; if they don’t like ANY noise, they shouldn’t live in a place filled with houses with kids in them

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Aggravating-Web-3050@reddit

Go have fun with your kids.

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