NY - Parents May Face Jail Over Kid's Backyard Noise

[whitywendy]

It's not just one neighbor who complained. Apparently these girls' screaming and/or squealing is abnormally loud and annoying. Children can shout and have fun in a pool without disturbing the lives of their neighbors.

Their parents should have seen that they turned the noise level down when they were approached by several neighbors about the problem. Just because they are children does not mean they should be allowed to make public nuisances of themselves.

These are probably the same sort of parents who allow their children to run around wildly in restaurants and destroy merchandise in stores. They can't be bothered with the effort of teaching their children to be thoughtful of others and they're afraid of even temporarily displeasing their children.

If they love their children, they should do the hard work of instilling some character in them.

Are you trying to say that because they allow their children to have fun in their own backyard, which might include yelling and screaming about in a pool that they are not instilling character in them? How in the world can you come to that conclusion just from a neighbor complaining that these kids are too loud for her and her 5 dogs (oh man I can't hear my dog barking!). MOVE TO A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY if you can't stand kids. You won't have to worry about it then. BUT you might have to put up with the hearing disabled speaking to loud for ya.

IMO be careful about what you complain about. One day you may wake up and not be able to hear anything let along a kid enjoying their life.

 

[JBean]

Are you trying to say that because they allow their children to have fun in their own backyard, which might include yelling and screaming about in a pool that they are not instilling character in them? How in the world can you come to that conclusion just from a neighbor complaining that these kids are too loud for her and her 5 dogs (oh man I can't hear my dog barking!). MOVE TO A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY if you can't stand kids. You won't have to worry about it then. BUT you might have to put up with the hearing disabled speaking to loud for ya.

IMO be careful about what you complain about. One day you may wake up and not be able to hear anything let along a kid enjoying their life.

Why would you want your kids to scream in the backyard? I do not understand this.
My kids had a ball in our pool growing up and I was very relaxed about noise. But they didn't need to scream to have fun.
I think the lack of character comes from not considering the community as a whole.

 

[JBean]

My neighbor used to call me and tell me that the sound of the ball hitting the backboard while the boys were shooting hoops was driving her crazy!
Should my boys be allowed to play ball in the frontyard? of course. Should the neighbor be allowed to enjoy her yard without a noise nuisance? of course!
So, even though my kids were not doing anything wrong, we respected her problem. When she would call us, we would say the boys will be out for another 1/2 hour or whatever and then they will stop ok?
Then we would do that.Just common courtesy.

 

[whitywendy]

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I have a much higher noise threshold than most. I come from a family of 8 and after 5 kids of my own , heck i don't even hear it anymore. But not all people are like that and I respect it.

Regarding the dogs, was there a complaint about them? I don't know what that has to do with noisy kids?
I don't think this should be handled in court. I think the parents need to undersatnd that they don't live in their neighborhood alone and should be more repsectful of neighbors.

Because the neighbor who filed the complaint has 5 dogs. SO, HOW DOES SHE CONTROL HER DOGS FROM BARKING?

 

[JBean]

Because the neighbor who filed the complaint has 5 dogs. SO, HOW DOES SHE CONTROL HER DOGS FROM BARKING?

Has their been a complaint that the dogs bark? I only watched the video and they didn't mention a probelm with the dogs. If they are also a nuisance , they need to deal with that also. Barking dogs and screaming children are 2 legitimate nuisances. Don't add to the neighborhood probelms, try and solve them.

 

[whitywendy]

Why would you want your kids to scream in the backyard? I do not understand this.
My kids had a ball in our pool growing up and I was very relaxed about noise. But they didn't need to scream to have fun.
I think the lack of character comes from not considering the community as a whole.

The kids weren't going out back into their yard to just SCREAM at the top of the lungs just for the heck of it. They were playing and having fun. Got caught up in the excitement of things and got a little loud/out of control. It's not a never-ending scream we are talking about here. You can hear the kids having a good time in my Aunt's pool that is across the street from my house and NO ONE in my neighbor complains and we have a bunch of retirees.

 

[whitywendy]

Has their been a complaint that the dogs bark? I only watched the video and they didn't mention a probelm with the dogs. If they are also a nuisance , they need to deal with that also. Barking dogs and screaming children are 2 legitimate nuisances. Don't add to the neighborhood probelms, try and solve them.

I agree with you on trying to solve the issues. But taking it to court? That is just unreasonable to me. THERE ARE SO MANY BIGGER ISSUES in LIFE, why nit pick on the little ones.

 

[JBean]

The kids weren't going out back into their yard to just SCREAM at the top of the lungs just for the heck of it. They were playing and having fun. Got caught up in the excitement of things and got a little loud/out of control. It's not a never-ending scream we are talking about here. You can hear the kids having a good time in my Aunt's pool that is across the street from my house and NO ONE in my neighbor complains and we have a bunch of retirees.

I think it is a never ending scream to the neighbors and that is the problem. If they were out there once in awhile, I don't think anyone would care. but they seem to be out there a lot and screaming a lot and into the evening. I don't know, I just taught my kids common courtesy is all.

 

[JBean]

I agree with you on trying to solve the issues. But taking it to court? That is just unreasonable to me. THERE ARE SO MANY BIGGER ISSUES in LIFE, why nit pick on the little ones.

I don't hink this a court matter either WW. I agree there. But I also think these people are at their wits end and the parents of the children are not helpful or doing their part. JMHO of course.

 

[JBean]

Is still don't see where the dogs come into all this.

 

[whitywendy]

I think it is a never ending scream to the neighbors and that is the problem. If they were out there once in awhile, I don't think anyone would care. but they seem to be out there a lot and screaming a lot and into the evening. I don't know, I just taught my kids common courtesy is all.

I agree it is common courtesy. But come on kids will be kids. NOW if they are doing it on purpose (meaning: they are purposely trying to annoy the neighbors) then of course the parents need to step up to bat and correct the situation. I just think that things like these are a waste of our courts time and should be resolved with each other.

Why is it that people want to naturally assume that these are rotten, out of control kids?

 

[luthersmama]

I think it is a never ending scream to the neighbors and that is the problem. If they were out there once in awhile, I don't think anyone would care. but they seem to be out there a lot and screaming a lot and into the evening. I don't know, I just taught my kids common courtesy is all.

I agree. It is also a safety issue. Kids should not be screaming in a way that sounds like they are in danger except when they ARE in danger. I have had my heart in my throat more than once because a child's "playing" screams sounded too much like the real thing. Yelling is different than screaming. Yelling is ok. Screaming should be reserved for when it is for real.

 

[bigbuck]

I think it is a never ending scream to the neighbors and that is the problem. If they were out there once in awhile, I don't think anyone would care. but they seem to be out there a lot and screaming a lot and into the evening. I don't know, I just taught my kids common courtesy is all.

You know I"ve listened to the tape and in all honesty. It pales in comparison to the noise my 9 year old daughter (who's teachers call quiet and reserved) and my hearing imparied 12 year old son who can't wear his hearing aids in our pool make. Usually when I run out to hush them, they look shocked and hurt, never realizing how loud they are being and I feel guilty. So, I guess that means my children lack common courtesy.

 

[JBean]

I agree it is common courtesy. But come on kids will be kids. NOW if they are doing it on purpose (meaning: they are purposely trying to annoy the neighbors) then of course the parents need to step up to bat and correct the situation. I just think that things like these are a waste of our courts time and should be resolved with each other.

Why is it that people want to naturally assume that these are rotten, out of control kids?

Gosh I don;t know if that is directed at me, but I reread my posts and didn't see rotten or nasty or out of control references at all.I'll have to go back and see if other posters made those refernces. I don't think that is the case. I think kids are kids and they don't know how loud they are. That is what parents are for. To teach them boundaries and consideration. has nothing to be with being rotten or nasty. Just about being taught proper voice and scream levels. lol.
I agree this is not a court matter.

 

[JBean]

You know I"ve listened to the tape and in all honesty. It pales in comparison to the noise my 9 year old daughter (who's teachers call quiet and reserved) and my hearing imparied 12 year old son who can't wear his hearing aids in our pool make. Usually when I run out to hush them, they look shocked and hurt, never realizing how loud they are being and I feel guilty. So, I guess that means my children lack common courtesy.

Has anyone complained? It's only lacking common courtesy if someone registers a complaint, over and over and over and over and you ignore it.

ETA: But you have made my point. It's not about kids being bad it's that they just don't realize. this is about the parents, IMO

 

[luthersmama]

You know I"ve listened to the tape and in all honesty. It pales in comparison to the noise my 9 year old daughter (who's teachers call quiet and reserved) and my hearing imparied 12 year old son who can't wear his hearing aids in our pool make. Usually when I run out to hush them, they look shocked and hurt, never realizing how loud they are being and I feel guilty. So, I guess that means my children lack common courtesy.

Yes, it does. But you are doing your job as a parent to teach them common courtesy. It is something that many young parents seem to have forgotten about.

 

[JBean]

I agree. It is also a safety issue. Kids should not be screaming in a way that sounds like they are in danger except when they ARE in danger. I have had my heart in my throat more than once because a child's "playing" screams sounded too much like the real thing. Yelling is different than screaming. Yelling is ok. Screaming should be reserved for when it is for real.

I agree LM.

 

[Taximom]

I just listened to the tape of the children playing. All I can say is that "Laurann", who has a toddler and is expecting another, has some interesting years ahead of her! I hope she's able to keep her children as quiet as she is asking of those girls.

 

[JBean]

I just listened to the tape of the children playing. All I can say is that "Laurann", who has a toddler and is expecting another, has some interesting years ahead of her! I hope she's able to keep her children as quiet as she is asking of those girls.

HI taximom. I didn't get the impression they wanted the kids to be "quiet". I think they just want them down to a reasonable sound level so that everyone can enjoy their backyards.
Like I said, after being raised with 8 kids and a pool and then raising my own 5 with a pool, and all their friends, it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers in the noise dept.
But not everyone has the kind of patience with noise and I totally respect that.


ETA: what do you think about my neighbor complaining about the basketball backboard?

 

[JBean]

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Yes, it does. But you are doing your job as a parent to teach them common courtesy. It is something that many young parents seem to have forgotten about.

I really agree with this LM.