Do you have a noise-level rule at home?

[HipGal]

My kids are LOUD. Happy, sad, frustrated, excited, thirsty - whatever mood they may be in, they are loud about it. Up until now, I haven't really had a rule about the noise. (Well, unless they are screaming as loud as possible for fun). It was one of those "pick your battles" things that I didn't pick. But I just volunteered at ds's preschool and wow - those kids were calm and not screaming. 20 3-year-olds were quieter than my two kids are at home. It was so... peaceful. No kids were fighting or "singing" super loud or banging things. I could have stayed there all day.

Do you think it would squash my little ones' spirits to try to get them to keep it down? Usually I don't prohibit something unless it is (1) not safe or (2) rude. But I know it would be good for my sanity and also for when we have guests over for them to keep the noise-level down more than they do. Then again, I don't want to be shushing them all day or make a rule that really can't be enforced very well.

[attachedmamaof3]

I don't have a rule simply for the fact that I'd then spend my entire day attempting to enforce the unenforceable and that really WOULD test my sanity. We do have inside/outside voices sometimes when it's really getting to me and I ask them to go out in the back or in their rooms if they'd like to yell/be loud.

[tayndrewsmama]

I wouldn't call what we do a rule really, but once it reaches a certain level, they have the option to either take it up to their rooms, to the basement, outside or just stop it. This is no different when we have guests either. Have you tried giving them options like that? I do, however, draw the line when the noise they are making sounds like they are going to crash through the celing or like they are killing someone.

[lilgsmommy]

We do mainly because we live in an upstairs apartment and have thin walls. Its bad enough they love to run and jump...but I didnt know until last week that when they lay on the floor and laugh or yell, it can be heard downstairs. Im glad we have an understanding neighbor (she had 11 kids herself), and she knows we try to keep it down.

Before moving here, Ive tried to keep the kids to an inside voice...even when excited or mad. The oldest knows, but the twins dont. DSD has issues with screeching and doing it really loud and doesnt understand why we tell her not to do it, since her mom lets her do it....its her way of communicating.

[earthmama369]

We have Inside Voices and Outside Voices, because mama gets overwhelmed and overstimulated when there is a lot of noise in an enclosed space, and that makes her cranky.

When we're inside, we use our Inside Voices, unless we need to do some scream therapy, and we do that by ourselves in a different room. When we're outside, as long as it's not too early (7am on a Sat., for example) or too late, they can make as much noise as they want.

[zeldamomma]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

We have Inside Voices and Outside Voices, because mama gets overwhelmed and overstimulated when there is a lot of noise in an enclosed space, and that makes her cranky.

This is me too.

I also consider the ability to control one's volume to be a valuable social skill. Its a way of being considerate of the other people in the room (or house, or zip code...)

ZM

[Hannahsmummy]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

We have Inside Voices and Outside Voices, because mama gets overwhelmed and overstimulated when there is a lot of noise in an enclosed space, and that makes her cranky.

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

This is me too.
I also consider the ability to control one's volume to be a valuable social skill. Its a way of being considerate of the other people in the room (or house, or zip code...)

Yup, agree with both of these.
I think if you guys are happy with the noise levels in your house, than keep it up. It does sound like you were feeling pretty happy and calm when hanging out with the kids who were being quiet though.
I don't think that asking kids to use indoor voices or keep it down a bit is stifling. It really is a social skill that everyone needs to learn-how to behave around other people.

[HipGal]

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

I also consider the ability to control one's volume to be a valuable social skill. Its a way of being considerate of the other people in the room (or house, or zip code...)

ZM

Ha ha ha. I guess you've been to our zipcode!

[Kidzaplenty]

I haven't been to this forum before, so I hope you don't mind me jumping in.

I do not have a noise level rule in my home. And I have some VERY vocal and energetic children. Especially my 11 year old son. He can not sit still if his life depended on it and his is constantly banging and beating on things. (It seems more like a compulsion rather than a habit.) And my children are just naturally loud.

I don't really mind. Like a pp stated, it is picking your battles, and this is one that I have never needed to really fight. Now my children CAN be quiet when we are out, say in a restaurant, though I may have to remind them once or twice. But they are not socially impaired due to our no noise-level rule.

I have never found another family that can match our volume or our energy level (they seem to go hand in hand) either. But I know my children are not totally unusual.

Anyways, that is just my experience.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

We have Inside Voices and Outside Voices, because mama gets overwhelmed and overstimulated when there is a lot of noise in an enclosed space, and that makes her cranky.

Here too -- when I need them to quiet down, I'm quite explicit that it's too loud for ME and bothering me. (I'm hypersensitive to sound, so our house is probably quieter than most.)

Our neighbors probably hate us because ds found a whistle recently and wants to play 'school' and call the kids in from recess with the whistle. My 'rule' is that he can only blow it outside. And he does. Frequently and loudly.

[hellyaellen]

it really depends on how the noise is affecting everyone's mood. if i am super stressed then the noise just adds to it and i do ask them to keep it down. or when someone is sleeping, etc.

otherwise its pretty much up to them. but they are not super loud most of the time.

[hottmama]

If my kids are loud enough that it's irritating me, I tell them to quiet down or take it elsewhere (the basement is best). They aren't allowed to leave toys in the living room/dining room either. I like to have a peaceful space in my house (eventually that'll be my bedroom, but since they generally sleep in there...)