YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
North Rhine-Westphalia clarifies the fact that, legally, children’s noise is fundamentally socially acceptable. The goal of the resolution of the Cabinet today is to strengthen the rights of children, parents and teachers. “Children’s noise is an expression of vitality and, thus, an integral part of life. We want a child-oriented society – and society must be able to live with the noisy expressions of children. It is the music of the future,” said Environment Minister Johannes Remmel.
Noise created from children playing has led to complaints from residents sporadically in the past few years. Indeed, the jurisdiction relating to “children’s noise” is very tolerant and accepts that children may be louder than other sources of noise. Now the previous jurisdiction is being stipulated in the Federal State Law. § 3 Para 4 of the Federal Immission Control Act should now read: “Noise from children is a necessary form of expression of child development which is, as a rule, socially acceptable and reasonable.” In the instance of a dispute, the party making the complaint has to prove why the children’s noise is not acceptable in concrete terms.
“North Rhine-Westphalia has made a contribution towards the strengthening of children’s rights with this amendment. Now the Federal Government has to follow suit and adapt the appropriate Federal laws, particularly relating to the children’s day care facilities so that children’s rights are strengthened nationwide,” Remmel claimed.
If you have any queries, please contact the Press Office of the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Tel. 0211 4566-748 (Stephan Malessa).
photo: Juttaschnecke / photocase.com
