Can't parents control their children running around at home?

Many noise problems from upstairs apartments stem from having young children living there. Children are naturally active and inevitably like to run around. However, the floorboards don't block the noise from their movement. Downstairs neighbors, unable to tolerate the noise, often try to communicate with the upstairs residents, but the actions and perspectives of the upstairs parents seem to escalate the conflict. Are these parents truly unable to control their children running around at home? Or do they believe the noise isn't enough to disturb others, and that indulging their children's natural instincts is more important?

So, can parents really control their children running around the house? Here's an experience from a netizen on dealing with the noise from their upstairs child running around:

• I can't control it! Last autumn, a family moved into the apartment upstairs from my mother's. Their child, about 3 or 4 years old, ran around the house all day. My mother thought it was just a child's playful nature and she could tolerate it, but later, her heart couldn't take it anymore. So, my mother went to the supermarket and bought some snacks that children like but are relatively healthy, and took them upstairs to visit them. When they came in, they complimented the cleanliness of their home and praised the child's liveliness and cuteness. My mother then squatted down and said to the child, "Grandma lives downstairs from you and wanted to ask you for a favor. Grandma has a heart condition, and when you run around the house every day, it makes Grandma uncomfortable... But Grandma understands children's lively nature, so could you please run around a little quieter in the future?" My mother squinted her eyes and gestured with her hands, "Just a little bit quieter, that's all." The child blinked his big eyes and agreed. His family felt very embarrassed and apologized to my mother repeatedly. After my mother returned home, she noticed the child running around a few times, but he would suddenly stop. Later, there was only a little noise, and his family often took him out to play, reducing his chances of causing trouble at home. Every time the child saw my mother in the neighborhood, he would happily call out "Grandma" from afar.

Is there really no perfect solution to the noise caused by children running around? A solution that allows children to enjoy peace and quiet downstairs without having to restrict their natural instincts.

The floor vibrations caused by children running are the biggest source of noise. Reducing these vibrations can significantly decrease the noise from upstairs walking, moving furniture, and running (it can only decrease, not completely eliminate).

Method 1: Raise and thicken the floor during renovation. The process involves: base floor + dry sand/cotton + sound insulation board + vibration damping pad + concrete + floor covering (wood flooring/carpet/tile). This method not only provides sound insulation, but its main purpose is to prevent vibration noise from your home from affecting your downstairs neighbors.

Method 2: If the renovation is already complete, then lay down several layers of soft mats, even 10cm is not excessive. You don't need to cover the entire house; just designate one area and lay it down there so the child can run and play in that designated area.

Method Three: Constantly instill in children the concept that they cannot act recklessly. Living in the human jungle means learning the jungle rules from a young age. As parents, we should tell our children that while enjoying their freedom, they must also abide by the rules of the human world. For example, setting rules about when they cannot run and jump around, and which areas should be kept quiet. This doesn't completely stifle a child's nature, but rather helps them develop survival skills in this society from a young age.

After the age of three, children possess a certain level of intelligence, meaning they can understand the meaning of spoken language. Understanding implies manageability; the key is balancing a child's natural inclinations with the feelings of downstairs neighbors. Having methods but failing to use them, and instead constantly blaming the sensitive downstairs neighbors, is simply shirking responsibility.