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Original poster

To find pavement chalking by neighbour unreasonable?

414 replies

Hanji83 · 19/08/2026 20:29

We are in a row of houses which have a footpath running in front of the road with a grassed area either side. One of the neighbours has two kids, who for the past week have been drawing on the pavement using chalk. It looks an utter mess. Would it be wrong of me to say something to the parents?

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LBFseBrom · 01/09/2026 03:52

DoraSpenlow · 31/08/2026 22:04

When I was a kid I was only allowed to chalk on the path in the back garden and then I had to wash it off at the end of the day because it made the place look scruffy, apparently.

None of us kids were allowed to do it on the front paths because it 'lowered the tone' of the area. 😄. We lived on a council estate.

Wasn't done where i lived either, never even thought of it; our mothers would have had fits! That sort of thing was for school playgrounds.

Sweetpea1532 · 01/09/2026 01:14

ScottBakula · 31/08/2026 21:30

Very artistic @Sweetpea1532 , what's the dark read thing ? A leaf ?

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Good eye, @ScottBakula .. that is a red petal from my bougainvillea plant.
Here’s a few more…. Also, some chalking done by our grandson to welcome Poppop home from the hospital

edit: oops, says my photo is too big. Boohoo

DoraSpenlow · 31/08/2026 22:04

When I was a kid I was only allowed to chalk on the path in the back garden and then I had to wash it off at the end of the day because it made the place look scruffy, apparently.

None of us kids were allowed to do it on the front paths because it 'lowered the tone' of the area. 😄. We lived on a council estate.

morbidcuriosity · 31/08/2026 21:51

OMG!! Those crazy kids, send them inside now and pop them infront of a screen instead, all that fresh air must be making them hooligans with their innocent play time..

ScottBakula · 31/08/2026 21:30

Sweetpea1532 · 22/08/2026 09:50

With all this chalk talk, I couldn’t help myself @ScottBakula Grin

Very artistic @Sweetpea1532 , what's the dark read thing ? A leaf ?

Anarchy99 · 31/08/2026 19:31

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/08/2026 23:18

Nothing makes me smile like seeing a chalk drawing on a path.

Edited to add, even better is when I pass a 'shop'.

Edited

What do you mean by a ‘shop’ in quotes? One where they have chalked outside it?

Dontlletmedownbruce · 30/08/2026 23:18

Nothing makes me smile like seeing a chalk drawing on a path.

Edited to add, even better is when I pass a 'shop'.

spaghettiandicecream · 30/08/2026 23:11

How miserable are you…

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 23:06

People are referring to innocent children, not all are innocent. I know within my area police have visited schools to give info on illegal use of electric scooters but the innocent children ignore it all. Are all children innocent?

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 30/08/2026 21:31

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 10:40

Where I am "innocent" children are whizzing about on roads and footpaths having fun on their electric scooters.

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What does this have to do with the topic?

Mightymuscle · 30/08/2026 10:40

notyetbranded · 22/08/2026 17:59

Sorry to be harsh but stop being so miserable. They are just innocent children having fun. Chalk is temporary and will be washed away as soon as rain comes. Honestly, it seems like some people just won’t let kids be kids nowadays 🙄

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Where I am "innocent" children are whizzing about on roads and footpaths having fun on their electric scooters.

Vulturesoverhead · 25/08/2026 07:47

maxslice · 20/08/2026 00:48

Kids are on screens so much of the time. Let them enjoy themselves being creative outside.

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Exactly my point - sarcasm innit

Vulturesoverhead · 25/08/2026 07:46

bdg · 19/08/2026 23:02

An iPad wouldn’t help.

Getting kids to stare at a screen instead of scribbling all over the public footpath isn’t much better.

It makes the place look a mess but at least it’s only temporary. Encouraging them to glue themselves to a screen is more harmful by a long way.

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Does no one understand sarcasm anymore 🤦‍♀️

Anarchy99 · 24/08/2026 16:32

gamerchick · 24/08/2026 11:48

Bless your heart man. I couldn't let myself get old in the mind as well as the body. It steals little moments of joy and makes people cynical.

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I’m not remotely ‘old in the mind’ and am quite capable of moments of joy. Just like I’m capable of understanding that moments of joy are different for everyone.

I don’t deny being cynical though, I was born like it.

gamerchick · 24/08/2026 11:48

Anarchy99 · 23/08/2026 20:26

I can promise you I would indeed resist it - I don’t think I have bothered since my age was in mid single figures!

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Bless your heart man. I couldn't let myself get old in the mind as well as the body. It steals little moments of joy and makes people cynical.

Bigreddog25 · 24/08/2026 10:07

Grow up.

I bet you also moan that 'kids these days' are always on tablets.

Anarchy99 · 23/08/2026 20:26

gamerchick · 23/08/2026 14:48

Bet you wouldn't resist a hopscotch though.

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I can promise you I would indeed resist it - I don’t think I have bothered since my age was in mid single figures!

PyongyangKipperbang · 23/08/2026 19:42

MidnightMeltdown · 23/08/2026 11:34

I remember getting into deep shit as a kid for doing this. I can kind of see why. It’s basically graffiti. Yes it washes off, but it takes a long time, especially during hot summers like this when there is no rain.

Trouble is, parents these days don’t give their kids any boundaries.

My mother was as uptight as they get (middle class by accident and very much "What will the neighbours say") and even she didnt have a problem with us chalking!

PyongyangKipperbang · 23/08/2026 19:40

Anarchy99 · 23/08/2026 11:46

It usually looks awful and you have to walk on the road to avoid getting on your shoes. Unfortunately it’s just one of those annoying things that children do.

What is wrong with getting a bit of dry chalk on the soles of your shoes? Compared to say......dog piss, spit from grim bastards, spilt drinks etc?

MischkasMum · 23/08/2026 19:25

Oh, get over yourself!🤬 It's CHILDREN'S drawings, not bloody graffiti! Wind your neck in.🤬

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 23/08/2026 16:17

gamerchick · 23/08/2026 14:48

Bet you wouldn't resist a hopscotch though.

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Only a psycho could resist hopscotch!

A couple of years ago my friends had a party and some of the kids did a supersized hopscotch in the road (they live in a cul de sac). IIRC it went up to 20 and was a hulluva lot of fun.

caringcarer · 23/08/2026 15:18

When it rains it will go. It's only temporary. My sister's and I used to chalk on the pavement outside our front door 50 years ago so it's not a new thing.

Vulturesoverhead · 23/08/2026 15:03

Anarchy99 · 23/08/2026 11:46

It usually looks awful and you have to walk on the road to avoid getting on your shoes. Unfortunately it’s just one of those annoying things that children do.

I know, I hate the soles of my shoes getting mucky. Awful.

gamerchick · 23/08/2026 14:48

Anarchy99 · 23/08/2026 11:46

It usually looks awful and you have to walk on the road to avoid getting on your shoes. Unfortunately it’s just one of those annoying things that children do.

Bet you wouldn't resist a hopscotch though.