how early is too early for kids to be outside playing

[Tinker'n'Fun]

7am - 11pm. Those are the town's ordinance times and the hours I feel are okay.

We have people who do things earlier and or later but it is not very often and I just assume they have a good reason.

The only time I ever said anything was this summer when the concrete company came at 5am to pour the driveway across the street. Those trucks are loud. I only told the neighbor that it happened since they spent the night away.

I wasn't mad, just told them if they had any other contractor's scheduled to please make sure they obeyed the noise ordinance.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We're early birds here, so a kid being out at 7:00 (before it gets too hot) feels normal to me too. We just didn't let DS call for other kids until 9:00. - The rule was "if they see you out, they can join you, but you can't ring the bell until then".

 

[barkley]

I don't see 7 a.m. as a problem-I figure that most of the kids during the week are getting on school busses at or near 7, so if the parents are trying to keep them on a regulated sleeping schedule (to bed the same time on weekends as school nights) they are probably up and raring to go by 7 on weekends.

our sound ordinances prohibit certain types/levels of noise from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., but individual hoa's and rental developments have different more restrictive rules.

 

[StephMK]

Our neighbors all seem to be fairly early risers but I would keep the kids quiet until 8-8:30 just in case. I did catch them on the trampoline around 7:30 a few times when they were young though. I don't have a problem with kids being outside at earlier hours as long as they are playing quietly. I would have a problem with a bouncing ball or yelling.

Now that they are teens, we are the ones up & around while they sleep in. I don't worry about waking them up because it's just pay back for all those mornings they woke me at ungodly hours!

 

[mrodgers]

I would never hear a basketball bouncing over the farmers cutting and baling hay around here at 7 am.

There's nothing wrong with kids being outside playing at 7am. It is daylight at 7 am. If the noise is that bothersome, I say insulate the house and put better windows in. I can't see how a kid out in their driveway playing basketball would wake someone up.

 

[Hrhpd]

I would never hear a basketball bouncing over the farmers cutting and baling hay around here at 7 am.

There's nothing wrong with kids being outside playing at 7am. It is daylight at 7 am. If the noise is that bothersome, I say insulate the house and put better windows in. I can't see how a kid out in their driveway playing basketball would wake someone up.

Couldn't agree more. And my kids are grown, so I would be the one being annoyed by kids playing early.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I don't think it's to early, 7:00am seems like a reasonable time for kids to play but I guess I'm in the minority.

I don't think it's too early either and I have no clue why it being a weekend makes any difference.

 

[Poohforyou]

I would never hear a basketball bouncing over the farmers cutting and baling hay around here at 7 am.

There's nothing wrong with kids being outside playing at 7am. It is daylight at 7 am. If the noise is that bothersome, I say insulate the house and put better windows in. I can't see how a kid out in their driveway playing basketball would wake someone up.

Op here again. I didn't complain because it didn't bother me and I'm just not one to cause conflict. Obviously I was up. I'm usually up before 5am so no big deal. I don't think there's anything wrong with kids being out early but parents should teach them to be respectful of neighbors and not allow yelling or loud playing like basketball. There's plenty of other things they could do.

If no one has been in a townhouse development the houses are attached and the driveways right next to each other. There are bedroom windows right above the driveway so any sleeping in the those houses on either side of the basketball player could easily be woken up.

As for evening noise, I think 10pm on weeknights and midnight/1am on weekends is being respectful of neighbors.

 

[cjbcam]

I was going to keep my kids inside one morning when they went outside to jump on the trampoline at 7. Then decided not to care because our neighbors don't really care how loud they are being. The one beside us and behind us let their dogs bark for hours on end. The neighbors on the other side have about 15 people living there and people are coming and going at all times of the day and their kids (older teens) are also loud at all times playing Basketball and such.

 

[Poohforyou]

I don't think it's too early either and I have no clue why it being a weekend makes any difference.

Because most people aren't getting up to go to work or get kids off to school so it's a chance to sleep in a bit.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Op here again. I didn't complain because it didn't bother me and I'm just not one to cause conflict. Obviously I was up. I'm usually up before 5am so no big deal. I don't think there's anything wrong with kids being out early but parents should teach them to be respectful of neighbors and not allow yelling or loud playing like basketball. There's plenty of other things they could do.

If no one has been in a townhouse development the houses are attached and the driveways right next to each other. There are bedroom windows right above the driveway so any sleeping in the those houses on either side of the basketball player could easily be woken up.

As for evening noise, I think 10pm on weeknights and midnight/1am on weekends is being respectful of neighbors.

I don't see basketball as a loud activity so it would not occur to me to not permit it to be played on my property during non-quiet Hours or quiet hours.

 

[LBIJim]

Kids bouncing a basketball at 7am in a townhouse community is like passengers reclining seats on an airplane. It may be bothersome, but you just need to deal with it. Maybe someone should invent a device to prevent kids from playing so early.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My youngest is usually outside by 8:30 or so, but he rides his bike up and down the street. He isn't allowed to ring doorbells/knock on doors for his friends to come out until after 10, but they are almost always out before that anyway. The over-70 neighbors are usually out working in their yards before he is out.

 

[sk!mom]

I wouldn't knock on a neighbor's door until I saw them up and around but using your own yard, goal, whatever I don't really think their is a time requirement unless you are having a party or being overly noisy.

 

[aylarosie]

If my children wanted to go out earlier than 9am they could.But they played on the swings ,rode a bike or used the sandbox.They were told no yelling that nieghbors were sleeping.After 9 they could make more noise ,basketball would have to wait until after 8 at least. Now I run a daycare and we do not make noise outside until 9;30 -10;00 am.My dogs are not allowed to bark constantly or at all until after 10:00am a couple of barks and they are called in.The niebor lets his dog bark facing our bedroom from 6:00am for at least 20 mins. So annoying. I try to teach common courtesy to the children.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

Wow, I am shocked by the number of people who would not be bothered by a neighbor playing basketball at 7am on the weekend! In our case, we go to bed late during the week (11pm or later) and get up early (5:30am) due to work schedules, school schedules, general household duties, etc. On the weekend, I like to catch up a little bit on sleep (I know, I know, it is better to keep a consistent schedule even on the weekends, but I just can't!).

I tend to sleep until at least 8:30am on the weekend. Noise carries like crazy in our neighborhood, so anyone playing basketball in his/her own driveway would sound to me like they were bouncing the ball right in my bedroom! We have one neighbor boy who sometimes plays basketball late, and it annoys me (even though I am awake, that constant pounding sound when I am trying to unwind drives me nuts!!). I don't complain because I figure he has a right to do it, but if it lasted much past 11pm I would probably ask nicely if he could cut it off a little earlier. If he was playing at 7am on weekends I would have to make a nice request that he start later. Honestly, without my "catch-up" sleep on the weekends, I feel very bad for the entire week. Hopefully we could work something out--I realize he has the right to bounce the ball, but I would be grateful if he would take my needs into consideration also. Fortunately this hasn't been a problem. Again, I am shocked by how many people wouldn't be bothered by that sound at 7am on a weekend.

 

[lauradis]

Our neighbors all seem to be fairly early risers but I would keep the kids quiet until 8-8:30 just in case. I did catch them on the trampoline around 7:30 a few times when they were young though. I don't have a problem with kids being outside at earlier hours as long as they are playing quietly. I would have a problem with a bouncing ball or yelling.

Now that they are teens, we are the ones up & around while they sleep in. I don't worry about waking them up because it's just pay back for all those mornings they woke me at ungodly hours!

They get all grumpy when I start cleaning house at 9am and half waking them up

 

[Bluestars]

Wow, I am shocked by the number of people who would not be bothered by a neighbor playing basketball at 7am on the weekend! In our case, we go to bed late during the week (11pm or later) and get up early (5:30am) due to work schedules, school schedules, general household duties, etc. On the weekend, I like to catch up a little bit on sleep (I know, I know, it is better to keep a consistent schedule even on the weekends, but I just can't!).

I tend to sleep until at least 8:30am on the weekend. Noise carries like crazy in our neighborhood, so anyone playing basketball in his/her own driveway would sound to me like they were bouncing the ball right in my bedroom! We have one neighbor boy who sometimes plays basketball late, and it annoys me (even though I am awake, that constant pounding sound when I am trying to unwind drives me nuts!!). I don't complain because I figure he has a right to do it, but if it lasted much past 11pm I would probably ask nicely if he could cut it off a little earlier. If he was playing at 7am on weekends I would have to make a nice request that he start later. Honestly, without my "catch-up" sleep on the weekends, I feel very bad for the entire week. Hopefully we could work something out--I realize he has the right to bounce the ball, but I would be grateful if he would take my needs into consideration also. Fortunately this hasn't been a problem. Again, I am shocked by how many people wouldn't be bothered by that sound at 7am on a weekend.

It's because they are morning people. I am not a morning person at all. On weekdays I get up at 6 am because I have to, but on the weekends I will usually get up around 8:00 or 8:30. I wish I was a morning person and popped out of bed all refreshed on Saturday morning at 7 am, but that will never happen. LOL I treasure that extra couple of hours of sleep on the weekends. It's my precious.

 

[Hrhpd]

Wow, I am shocked by the number of people who would not be bothered by a neighbor playing basketball at 7am on the weekend! In our case, we go to bed late during the week (11pm or later) and get up early (5:30am) due to work schedules, school schedules, general household duties, etc. On the weekend, I like to catch up a little bit on sleep (I know, I know, it is better to keep a consistent schedule even on the weekends, but I just can't!).

I tend to sleep until at least 8:30am on the weekend. Noise carries like crazy in our neighborhood, so anyone playing basketball in his/her own driveway would sound to me like they were bouncing the ball right in my bedroom! We have one neighbor boy who sometimes plays basketball late, and it annoys me (even though I am awake, that constant pounding sound when I am trying to unwind drives me nuts!!). I don't complain because I figure he has a right to do it, but if it lasted much past 11pm I would probably ask nicely if he could cut it off a little earlier. If he was playing at 7am on weekends I would have to make a nice request that he start later. Honestly, without my "catch-up" sleep on the weekends, I feel very bad for the entire week. Hopefully we could work something out--I realize he has the right to bounce the ball, but I would be grateful if he would take my needs into consideration also. Fortunately this hasn't been a problem. Again, I am shocked by how many people wouldn't be bothered by that sound at 7am on a weekend.

I am one of those that wouldn't be bothered by a child playing early in the morning or late at night. Well, I might be bothered, but I realize that is my problem, not the people outside.

You do realize that it is not the neighbor's problem that you choose to only get 6 1/2 hours of sleep during weeknights and then "need" catch-up sleep on the weekends.

Our noise ordinances start at 6am and end at 11pm. Most community noise ordinances start at 7am. Even if it annoyed the heck out of me and disturbed my sleep, the child is well within his rights to be playing in most communities. As long as they are within the noise ordinance period, it would not be the neighbor's problem to take into consideration my lifestyle choices. And I would never be so egotistical to ask them to stop an activity because it bothered "me."

Being respectful goes both ways. Respect the kids that are out playing when they are within the proper time limits set by the rules of the community.

 

[jrmasm]

I think 7:00am is way too early. I never allowed my kids out before 10:00.