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AIBU?

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Original poster

Letting children chalk public pavement

489 replies

RainbowRanger29 · 09/09/2025 11:45

Hi,

So wondering AITA for allowing my young child (age 5) to draw with chalk on the public pavement?

My child was happy out drawing pictures and writing her name with chalk in the front garden with her little friends from the street. They ran out of space in the garden and continued there colourful chalk drawings along the public pavement outside the house.

No one owns the public footpath (its not anyone's actual property) and they drew along outside around 5/6 houses. They drew rainbows and houses and wrote their names and a hopscotch. Nothing offensive but not exactly amazing art (they are only 5!)

One of the neighbours arrived home and appeared visibly annoyed with the chalk, the kids asked if they like their art and they ignored them, went inside, got their hose and washed the chalk away from the public footpath outside of their house only.

The children were still out drawing and got upset that they had washed it away (mummy didn't they like our pictures? Why are they washing it away? Etc)

We live in the UK and it rains an awful lot! It would have washed away anyway later that evening when it rained ... I think it was mean of them to hose it away in front of the kids (surely they could of waited until the kids had stopped playing?)

Or is it me ... should I have not allowed them to chalk the public footpath?

Is it kids being kids enjoying chalking public areas? I used to do this as a kid and it never seemed to upset anyone? Or is it disrespectful to allow children to chalk on public footpaths outside of other people's home?

Interested on everyone's opinions

OP posts:
Raera · 09/09/2025 12:11

Haven't you got a hosepipe ban?
I thought most areas have now.
Report her OP!

BananaPeels · 09/09/2025 12:08

Some people are miserable but just remember that is how they are all the time. Must be exhausting!

who cares about a bit of chalk you only see when you pass it for a few seconds entering and exiting your home. It washes away or you could always wait after a few days if no rain forthcoming.

ChaToilLeam · 09/09/2025 12:08

What a misery that neighbour is! Well, now you know where it would be better for the kids not to chalk. 😔

InterestedDad37 · 09/09/2025 12:08

Boo to the spoilsport neighbours! In my previous house, the neighbours had grandkids who came to stay now and then. The kids would often chalk the pavement with lovely pics and hopscotch etc. I was more than happy for them to do it outside my place, and the kids even liked to show me/explain their pictures. It was lovely.

Original poster
RainbowRanger29 · 09/09/2025 12:07

Thanks for all your responses so far.

I was flabbergasted that they ignored the kids and immediately started to hose it down! I thought they could have politely acknowledged the kids at least and maybe waited to hose it off but suppose everyone is different.

I did tell the children not to chalk outside their house again and to only chalk outside their own houses on the street as not everyone likes chalk.

They definitely did not chalk on their property just outside of it. I suppose maybe they had to step on it to open the gates to their drive (but it wasn't all over the area outside their home and I think they could have avoided walking through it if that was the issue).

I do suppose when we were younger people were generally just happier and less offended by childrens chalk masterpieces!

I do think going forward though I'll ensure they don't venture outside other houses with their chalk just to avoid any issues :)

OP posts:
80smonster · 09/09/2025 12:05

Wouldn’t have bothered me, but if I’d just repainted my ground floor, I might be worried about the coloured dust transferring on tacky paint, so in that instance I might have explained to the kids and hosed it down. But told them I wanted them to redo next week. Your neighbour is a Grinch.

DeanStockwelll · 09/09/2025 12:04

Oooh there was another thread on here a couple of years ago about this exact thing .
It was overwhelming in ops dcs . @sweetpea1532
Do you remember it ?

Thissickbeat · 09/09/2025 12:03

I love chalked pavements. I never fuss when it's outside my house.

saveforthat · 09/09/2025 12:03

akkakk · 09/09/2025 11:49

that which is art to you and your child might be graffiti to someone else...

personally I have little issue with chalk on pavements as it washes away, but technically they do belong to someone (the council - and therefore arguably all the public), and doing it outside the houses of others is probably best avoided...

they might need to learn to draw a bit smaller rather than visually taking over the whole area - no need to do more than your drive and if you must the pavement outside your house...

Children have been chalking on the ground for decades, probably centuries. Some people are just ridiculous.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 09/09/2025 12:02

Some neighbourhood kids were doing chalk drawings here last summer. It doesn't hurt anyone / anything, it's innocent fun, and personally I think it's nice to see 'evidence' of kids harmlessly enjoying themselves.

We don't know them, but we bought them more chalk! 😂

scalt · 09/09/2025 12:01

It’s good enough for Bert.

”’Ello, art lovers!” 🖼️

LeaderBee · 09/09/2025 12:01

"went inside, got their hose and washed the chalk away from the public footpath outside of their house only."

Alright, grinch.

SusanChurchouse · 09/09/2025 12:00

During the Covid lockdowns many of the kids round here drew games with chalk on the pavements for people on their daily walks. It’s actually quite a fun memory from that time. Actually there was one outside a house the other week and I had to stop to consider whether I preferred pizza or pasta (and jump to the appropriate square).

What a miserable bastard.

PollyBell · 09/09/2025 11:59

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 09/09/2025 11:50

I’d only let my kids do it in front of my house, not anyone else’s. Other people don’t have to put up with things so your kids don’t get upset.

Yes this, no i wouldnt say something to throw children but my child would not have been allowed to do this outside someone else's property, it is not up to me to decide what my child does is harmless or not

BitOutOfPractice · 09/09/2025 11:59

I love watching those things on socials where someone chalks a hopscotch on the pavement and there’s a camera to see who hopscotches and who doesn’t. I know which I’d rather be, and I know which your neighbour is.

arcticpandas · 09/09/2025 11:58

My kids used to do this. I feel happy when I see younger kids putting some colour on the grey pavement. Don't understand how you can be against it?

LouH1981 · 09/09/2025 11:56

That’s so mean. The next rainfall would wash it away anyway. What difference was it honestly making to her?
It wouldn’t bother me at all.

Figcherry · 09/09/2025 11:56

GoldDuster · 09/09/2025 11:51

Miserable joyless twats, wasting good drinking water on washing away some kids chalk drawings. Tell your daughter there are two types of people in this world, don't be like that one.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Chamomileteaplease · 09/09/2025 11:55

I remember doing this as a child.

The only upside to this is that this woman will go down in history in your family as the grumpy neighbour who washed away X's drawing when she was only five. We used to love having villains like this 😄

BitOutOfPractice · 09/09/2025 11:55

I would actively enjoy seeing it.

Balloonhearts · 09/09/2025 11:54

Miserable bastards. Chalk is harmless, it only lasts until it rains and its not like they were drawing vulgar things.

Americano75 · 09/09/2025 11:54

What a ratbag!

I'd be tempted to chalk a massive cock and balls outside their gate but I'm childish that way.

Anotheronelikeit · 09/09/2025 11:53

I did this so much as a kid, and I do let my kids do it outside on the path.

Did your neighbour have to walk on the chalk to get into their house? They definitely didn't chalk on her property?

The only thing that drives me nuts when the kids chalk is that it gets on your shoes and into the house.
But the fact your neighbour was being rude about it especially to children is uncalled for.
She could of just said it's lovely but I'm just washing this bit so it doesn't get on my floors or something.

Obviously in future let them chalk just keep it off the doorstep of other houses.

KStockHERO · 09/09/2025 11:53

I wouldn't particularly want it outside my house but I wouldn't get riled up about it, and certainly wouldn't bother my arse washing it away.

There are a couple of little girls who draw whole towns in one of the back lanes by me. I quite enjoy meandering down the streets they've drawn.

AllrightNowBaby · 09/09/2025 11:53

Lovely, harmless and wholesome activity for the children.
My Granddaughters and their friends used to do this and neighbours would smile and love their little drawings.
Ignore grumpy neighbour, there’s always one. 🙄