Complaining Neighbors

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a home that was previously owned by an elderly woman who lived there for over 50 years. My dc's play often, as well as their friends, in our backyard that is unfenced. 2 neighbors have complained about the playing in our yard. One is annoyed by the noise (they play during normal hours) and the other doesn't want dc's playing wiffle ball bc his windows might [b]get broken. I think they are used to our yard not getting any use and don't like the change brought by children living in our home and having neighborhood kids come to play as well. I refuse to tell my children they can't play in our yard. Other than a fence, what else can I do?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do a thing. If you want a fence, then go ahead but don't feel forced into it by the complainers. What do they think a family with kids will use the yard for otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Put in a fence. Your kids might be running into your neighbors' property, which shouldn't be that big a deal but apparently is bothering your neighbors. Or put planters in to mark boundaries so your kids know where not to cross.

[Anonymous]

send earplugs with a passive aggressive cutesy note about the joys of childhood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do a thing. If you want a fence, then go ahead but don't feel forced into it by the complainers. What do they think a family with kids will use the yard for otherwise?

+1

I would make sure the kids are not playing in their yards too. The marker or planter idea is good. The neighbors are being petty.

[Anonymous]

As long as your kids are playing within reasonable hours and not entering the neighbor's yard it's fine. If your budget allows though I'd consider putting up the fence. Whiny neighbors usually find something or the other to complain about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do a thing. If you want a fence, then go ahead but don't feel forced into it by the complainers. What do they think a family with kids will use the yard for otherwise?

+1

I would make sure the kids are not playing in their yards too. The marker or planter idea is good. The neighbors are being petty.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't do a thing. If you want a fence, then go ahead but don't feel forced into it by the complainers. What do they think a family with kids will use the yard for otherwise?

+1

I would make sure the kids are not playing in their yards too. The marker or planter idea is good. The neighbors are being petty.

Agree

Actually, I changed my mind. You might want to put up a fence just to keep your neighbors away from your kids. My cousins had a nasty neighbor like that growing up and I remember several times when the neighbor would storm over into their yard when we were all playing in order to yell at us for playing. My aunt and uncle eventually put a fence up and it was enough of a physical reminder that the neighbor was crossing into their property that the neighbor didn't come over ever again.

[Anonymous]

Are your kids routinely hitting wiffle balls into the neighbor’s yard? If so, make them stop. That concern is legitimate IMO.

[Anonymous]

It's silly for them to complain (are they old too?, that might explain a lot). How big is your yard? I only ask because wiffle balls can fly a decent distance - so is it possible the kids are running in/out of the neighbors yards? Some people are just really protective of their "space" (property) and will get annoyed even if there is no real damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your kids routinely hitting wiffle balls into the neighbor’s yard? If so, make them stop. That concern is legitimate IMO.

Aren't wiffle balls plastic with holes? How would that break a window? How strong are your kids?

[Anonymous]

Fences make good neighbors. Preferrably a tall, wood fence.

[Anonymous]

the downside of a fence is that now you will have to ask permission to retrieve balls, frisbees, ect

with no fence its easy to wander over and grab the wayard ball or frisbee.

some neighbors just don't get it with kids...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently bought a home that was previously owned by an elderly woman who lived there for over 50 years. My dc's play often, as well as their friends, in our backyard that is unfenced. 2 neighbors have complained about the playing in our yard. One is annoyed by the noise (they play during normal hours) and the other doesn't want dc's playing wiffle ball bc his windows might [b]get broken. I think they are used to our yard not getting any use and don't like the change brought by children living in our home and having neighborhood kids come to play as well. I refuse to tell my children they can't play in our yard. Other than a fence, what else can I do?

I'm a typical suburban parent. We bought a home with a big yard so that our kids could play. We did fence in the back yard, but the fence is only 4 ft and is picket style, so it would not stop people from seeing the kids/yard and does not contain the sound at all. Not a privacy fence, but a safety fence. The fence keeps our young children from running into the street (we have a corner lot so the side yard and side of the backyard at adjacent to the side street).

I think when your neighbors complain that you be firm but polite. You express sympathy for their situation but you don't make any offers to change behavior. For the woman who is annoyed by the noise, I would say that children playing in the yard is one of the prices of living in the suburbs, but that you enjoy the sound of children playing. For the curmudgeon who is worried that his window might get broken, you tell him that you understand his concern and will be glad to pay for the window repair if this ever happens. I find that if you are polite to people who complain, you don't necessarily have to change what you are doing. You may not satisfy them, but will get them to stop complaining to you. You might have to deal with "I told you so" from the neighbor when your kids graduate to baseball and heaven forbid that the kids actually do break one of his windows, but you'll have years of peace from his complaints before that happens.

[Anonymous]

Don't do anything. Your children are allowed to enjoy their property. Make sure they're not outside being loud before 9am or after 9pm.