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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Spirallingdownwards · 12/09/2025 02:51

akkakk · 09/09/2025 17:56

😀hardly - as I mentioned (not that I expect people to read accurately!) I have no personal objection...

but living with others means courtesy and thoughtfulness are positives in building neighbourly relationships... so it doesn't harm to be sensitive...

the OP mentions covering the space in front of 5-6 houses... there comes a point when it is not just a child drawing outside their house but taking over the neighbourhood - so, if you have grumpy neighbours they might object - not really rocket science!

and unlikely to be me as we have no pavement outside our house!

Sorry - even if the colour the path for the whole street it shouldn't ever be an issue.

The13thFairy · 11/09/2025 11:37

I always allowed it, but only on horizontal surfaces, not walls. I also allowed it in the park.

Gowlett · 11/09/2025 09:37

What a miserable person… There’s always one!

stayathomer · 11/09/2025 09:36

I’d think it was lovely but maybe tell her it’ll have to stick to outside yours alone!

marnieMiaou · 11/09/2025 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Noone would care if they were chalking their own driveway.

FullLondonEye · 11/09/2025 09:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

GentleSheep · 11/09/2025 08:50

Our neighbour's kids do this every so often and it's fine! Reminds me of childhood long ago, a carefree time. Not a gateway to graffiti, lol.

binglebonglebooo · 11/09/2025 08:49

TalkToTheHand123 · 11/09/2025 08:06

It is a gateway to grafeetee. It's everywhere. No respect.

This is a joke surely?

binglebonglebooo · 11/09/2025 08:48

Wow how mean spirited of the neighbour

BitOutOfPractice · 11/09/2025 08:47

TalkToTheHand123 · 11/09/2025 08:06

It is a gateway to grafeetee. It's everywhere. No respect.

I can assure you that as a child who chalked in the pavement, I grew up into an upstanding adult without a blemish on my record and no penchant for graffiti!

marnieMiaou · 11/09/2025 08:24

If it annoys your neighbours, it is by definition antisocial behaviour!

marnieMiaou · 11/09/2025 08:16

The pavement is public property. Your neighbours dont need to justify why they don't like your little princess's defacement of it.

Ddakji · 11/09/2025 08:09

TalkToTheHand123 · 11/09/2025 08:06

It is a gateway to grafeetee. It's everywhere. No respect.

Graffiti. And no, it isn’t, don’t be so ridiculous.

TalkToTheHand123 · 11/09/2025 08:06

It is a gateway to grafeetee. It's everywhere. No respect.

vickylou78 · 11/09/2025 07:12

You've done nothing wrong. Your neighbour is completely joyless.... I guess now you know to not chalk outside their house.

But my kids have enjoyed chalk drawing on our pavement. My neighbours loved it though and joined us in game of hopscotch!

Don't get down about it. Chalk towards your oppoosite neighbours house instead next time. Shame you have to worry about that though.

stoprainingffs · 11/09/2025 06:55

Miserable twat probably complains about kids being on screens all the time, too.

PixieTales · 11/09/2025 00:47

Oh bless them, I can’t even imagine being annoyed that the neighbours kids have enjoyed themselves drawing chalk on the pavement. Of all the things to be annoyed about….?!

Some people are just unpleasant.

ruethewhirl · 11/09/2025 00:32

TalkToTheHand123 · 10/09/2025 22:33

The answer is in the first three words. They could read the bible instead.

Eh?

PlaceIntheClouds · 10/09/2025 22:51

Well I suppose your children have the right to chalk outside his house and he has the right to wash it away.

The neighbour is clearly a grump so next time suggest that your children do their chalk art the other way down the street. His actions are not worth escalating things over.

TalkToTheHand123 · 10/09/2025 22:33

AllrightNowBaby · 10/09/2025 20:50

Fgs! Children innocently playing and drawing with chalk outside as they should do.
What is wrong with that?
Nothing!

The answer is in the first three words. They could read the bible instead.

Auroraloves · 10/09/2025 20:52

Your neighbour is a twat

AllrightNowBaby · 10/09/2025 20:50

TalkToTheHand123 · 10/09/2025 20:36

It looks hideous. The parents should be fined.

Fgs! Children innocently playing and drawing with chalk outside as they should do.
What is wrong with that?
Nothing!

TalkToTheHand123 · 10/09/2025 20:36

It looks hideous. The parents should be fined.

DLana44 · 10/09/2025 20:07

sounds like a complete misery guts of a neighbour

Needspaceforlego · 10/09/2025 20:04

SparkyBlue · 10/09/2025 18:09

Best response so far. Chalk it in giant letters outside their driveway.

Its kids they don't need to be that offensive.
A big Mr Grumpy or Sad face emoji would do the job.

🙄🙁