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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:
Biskieboo · 10/09/2025 07:37

PollyBell · 10/09/2025 06:05

Why does this not surprise me, replies like this

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Because it's the sort of thing most normal, well-adjusted people who were given enough love as a child and who aren't miserable buggers themselves would think.

BeenzManeenz · 10/09/2025 07:26

They don't own the pavement, miserable bastard! How unpleasant.

If it were me I'd explain to my kids that some people are very unhappy and this means they can't enjoy lovely drawings. How sad for them.

Keep encouraging your children to spread their joy, I know it would brighten my day!

Coffeeishot · 10/09/2025 07:20

SweetnsourNZ · 10/09/2025 03:14

Yes. Was big in the 70s too. Didn't even use bought chalk, just some sort of pebble.

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Yes we just used stones to draw on the pavement

PollyBell · 10/09/2025 06:05

Biskieboo · 09/09/2025 23:12

I have to wonder what happened to make people like that such miserable cunts. I'd be sorely tempted to get my hands on some of the most permanent paint money can buy, then under cover of darkness give them something to REALLY moan about right outside their house.

Why does this not surprise me, replies like this

Parker231 · 10/09/2025 05:48

Roseshavethorns100 · 09/09/2025 21:36

What is entitled about it? It's a bloody footpath for goodness sake.
People really need to get a grip.
Life is too short for petty shite like that.

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Unfortunately there are some sad people in this world (some on this thread) who don’t see harmless fun as a positive and only look for negativity.

SweetnsourNZ · 10/09/2025 03:14

Indianajet · 09/09/2025 11:50

I remember doing this as a child - marking out hopscotch squares. It certainly wouldn't worry me if children used chalk on the pavement outside my house.

Yes. Was big in the 70s too. Didn't even use bought chalk, just some sort of pebble.

Biskieboo · 09/09/2025 23:12

I have to wonder what happened to make people like that such miserable cunts. I'd be sorely tempted to get my hands on some of the most permanent paint money can buy, then under cover of darkness give them something to REALLY moan about right outside their house.

Pices · 09/09/2025 23:02

It’s time OP to go out with the chalk and draw a massive grinch on the path leading past his house!

Petitchat · 09/09/2025 22:39

Whatisthisstuff · 09/09/2025 20:21

My kids drew a hopscotch outside our house recently, along with other little drawings. And we watched an older gent jump along it as he went down the road 😁

I bet that brought back memories for him 😁

Matsukaze · 09/09/2025 22:31

Raera · 09/09/2025 12:11

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

I was wondering about hosepipe ban!

BunfightBetty · 09/09/2025 22:23

ManteesRock · 09/09/2025 21:40

Personally I teach my children they can do whatever they like within reason on my property; but we don't do it on either public property or other people's property.

Your neighbour was well within their rights to wash it away if it was outside their house, just because you find joy in everything your child does, it doesn't mean everyone else has to!

just because you find joy in everything your child does, it doesn't mean everyone else has to!

Of course they don’t and I don’t think anyone’s said they do. You’re missing the point. The neighbours don’t have to like the chalk drawings, but perhaps they could employ a modicum of empathy and generosity of spirit and recognise that the children may well take pride in those drawings.

It’s mean-minded to get rid of them when they’re not causing any harm. It’s not as if the kids drew on the neighbour’s sitring room carpet or front lawn. The neighbours will see the drawings for all of a minute or two as they’re coming in and out of their house. That’s it.

GonnaeNoDaeThatJustGonnaeNo · 09/09/2025 21:45

God there’s some right miserable people in the world.

ManteesRock · 09/09/2025 21:40

Personally I teach my children they can do whatever they like within reason on my property; but we don't do it on either public property or other people's property.

Your neighbour was well within their rights to wash it away if it was outside their house, just because you find joy in everything your child does, it doesn't mean everyone else has to!

Roseshavethorns100 · 09/09/2025 21:36

Parker231 · 09/09/2025 13:33

Why would you have been annoyed - it was a public area and not outside your front door?

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What is entitled about it? It's a bloody footpath for goodness sake.
People really need to get a grip.
Life is too short for petty shite like that.

Wicked123 · 09/09/2025 21:35

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...

Oh for goodness sake, get a life

Studyunder · 09/09/2025 21:32

I love a chalked pavement! It’s a reminder to everyone of the joy available in the little things, especially for innocent children.
There will always be a grumpy sod but that’s their own problem - ignore.

Roseshavethorns100 · 09/09/2025 21:29

wldpwr · 09/09/2025 14:08

How ridiculous. Some people seem to pride themselves on being joyless. This is up there with a man who took issue with my kids collecting conkers outside his house (on the verge, NOT in his front garden). He even got his lawn mower out and started shredding the conkers with it so the kids couldn't have them. I wonder if he broke his lawn mower? We'd recently watched Peter Rabbit so he's known forever as "Mr MacGregor" in our family.

We had a neighbour like that, he used to tell us to f off down our own end, silly old fool thought he owned the footpath and road outside his house😂

Roseshavethorns100 · 09/09/2025 21:26

Chompingatthebeat · 09/09/2025 15:15

All sorts of vehicles park outside my house, given its a public highway, some even have garish writing and images on them!

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"Gharish scrawl".
It's art.
Whether you're a mother or not It's just children harmlessly drawing with chalk.
Goodness me there are some miserable people out there.

ilovepixie · 09/09/2025 21:18

Children have been drawing hop scotch on pavements since chalk was invented!
When I was a child my elderly Aunt moved close by. She didn’t have any friends in our area, and was a bit lonely. I trying to be helpful wrote ‘if you want a good time phone Cis’ followed by her phone number. She got so many phone calls from strange men and a visit from the police she had to change her number!

cha04 · 09/09/2025 21:14

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...

Get a grip, it’s literally going to rain every day for the next 6 months! They are little children not teenagers writing rude things!

MasterBeth · 09/09/2025 21:12

Happyher · 09/09/2025 19:48

Miserable would be complaining to the child’s parents and washing the whole lot off the pavement. He just wants his own frontage to look clean and tidy without making a fuss

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No, miserable is washing away a young child's harmless chalk drawing for no reason because it's been drawn on the public pavement outside their house that (presumably) they can't even see from inside..

BuildbyNumbere · 09/09/2025 21:02

Harmless and yes a non issue but the neighbour has an equal right to wash it away 🤷🏻‍♀️ not much you can do.

SliceofTosst · 09/09/2025 20:33

Miserable gits. I'd be happy to see kids playing outside enjoying themselves. It's only chalk ffs. It's not permanent as they so nastily proved by chucking water on it.

Honestly, how can you be so shitty seeing kids enjoying playing outside innocently.

caringcarer · 09/09/2025 20:28

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.

This. Personally I wouldn't care but many would.

Vse500 · 09/09/2025 20:25

Pricelessadvice · 09/09/2025 16:45

It’s called having respect for other people. By all means, chalk your own driveway and outside your house, but the street isn’t your child’s personal canvas.

I was allowed to chalk on our driveway as a child. My mum would not have allowed me to chalk the road, because it’s a shared public space and not mine to scrawl over.

Anyway, I’m happy to be considered a misery arse. Frankly, I call it having respect for people other than yourself.

You’re a misery arse.