To let my DD walk on the wall?

[PrincessWatermelon]

Like any other children, my 2 DDs (2 and 4) love walking on garden walls. There are some especially good ones near the school. No one has told us off, but I do wonder what the 'done thing' is. Obviously I'm careful they only walk on a sturdy wall and don't touch/harm any plants/fences, etc. Do you think this is ok or AIBU?

I personally wouldn't like it but I don't currently have a wall. It's irresponsible to let your kids think they can do what they like on someone's property.

There's nothing wrong with it, and anyone who says there is is a miserable bastard.

Wow I am really surprised at people's reactions here! I always thought this was fine but now will be more careful.

I totally wouldn't mind if it were my wall! I mean, a fence, maybe, but a wall...

I am amazed at people's amazement!

My dd used to climb on any wall. Some houses we might not do if we thought people would be upset but otherwise anything!

There's nothing wrong with it, and anyone who says there is is a miserable bastard

Anyone who says there's nothing wrong with it after a thread of examples of the expense and inconenience and worry it causes home owners is in denial that they are rude selfish inconsiderate bastards

I'm quite surprised at how many parents think this is okay. Of course it's not. It's basic common sense and respect for others property. You shouldn't need to be told this or have to have it explained to you.

Avoid - what might look safe could have wobbly bricks etc. And it's rude. Sorry.

Some houses we might not do if we thought people would be upset but otherwise anything!

How would you know whether people would be upset or not?

I expect its been said before but ....I think climbing and balancing on stuff is fun and great for kids. I don't let mine do it on private walls because if they want to do it you can bet that 1000 other kids want to do it as well. It may be charming to watch one child walk along your wall but its not so much fun to watch 30 kids, twice a day, do it.

If you are on a school run that is exactly what happens.
There is a garden on the corner of our school road. A bit of wall got knocked down. I am amazed at how many families take a short cut through the garden. Who the hell thinks that is ok?

Surely playgrounds, parks and soft play have things specifically designed for climbing, with the added bonus that you aren't pissing people off and damaging their property!

My front garden is open. (Keep meaning to get that picket fence) and kids constantly run through my front garden. . Really gets to me little bastards. But i keep my mouth shut. Kids wil be kids -until I get a fence

I don't know what the first posters on this thread are talking about. Walking on someone's low boundary wall is perfectly fine. It would take a pathological level of curmudgeonliness to object to a little child walking along the top of your wall, and anyone who suggests they shouldn't do it has an insultingly low estimation of the wall owner's good humour. I say go for it. Kids need to walk on walls.

There really are some rude inconsiderate bastards on this thread

It makes me mad! We have a really old wall - about 100 years old. Some of the bricks along the top are loose and crumbling. This is not helped by having children walking along the top. It's getting to the stage where it might just fall apart so we're looking to replace it. Clearly we need to go with a low concrete wall because children "need to walk on walls". No they bloody don't! They are not going to be developmentally delayed or scarred for life if they don't get to walk on a wall!

I have nothing to say that hasn't been said by EllenMP.
As it happens my daughter and I used to sit in the garden and chat to people coming past including children walking on it and old folk sitting down for a rest. I miss it.

I can't imagine being worried, because no judge in the country with an ounce of common sense would award anything to the parent
Then you don't know much about the law!
Besides how much do you think you would have spent in legal advice before you even got to court

on the wall, that is

Yes YABU. Our front wall tops have been broken off a number of times for people letting their children walk along it. Had one parent shout at me because there was loose tops and her DD could have hurt herself and it would have been my fault 😂

I understand little ones love to do it but it's very disrespectful allowing them if it's someone private garden wall.

Walking on someone's low boundary wall is perfectly fine. It would take a pathological level of curmudgeonliness to object to a little child walking along the top of your wall, and anyone who suggests they shouldn't do it has an insultingly low estimation of the wall owner's good humour. I say go for it. Kids need to walk on walls.

Do you let them play on their lawns too? What is the difference?

Just a warning. Some posters appear to be admitting that they have walls in poor repair next to a highway. Given it is entirely foreseeable that a child might want to walk on them, a heavily pregnant woman or old person lean or sit on them, it might be sensible to get them repaired before an accident rather than when they have been found liable under the Occupiers Liability Act or similar.

Why do kids need to walk on walls that belong to other people? Is it a vital developmental step?

Plenty of people don't want kids on their walls. Round here we have local stone which is often a bit dangerous and yet still they are allowed to climb on it.

Tbf pregnant women or old people shouldn't be sitting on them either.

I wouldn't be best pleased to see anybody's child walking on our wall.

YAbu if it belongs to someone's garden, a park or shop fine but not private property.

Go to Southend seafront. A really really really good walking wall for literally miles begging to be walked on. Kids like being up so they can see the sea. I loved it as a kid and my kids love it now. I wouldn't walk on a garden wall for fear of falling in the bushes 😆