Letting children chalk public pavement

[RainbowRanger29]

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

Such a harmless sweet thing to do...what a ridiculous over reaction

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...

Outside own house, not an issue.

More of an issue outside someone else's house. Wouldn't worry me, but I can see many others wouldn't like it.

It'll totally disappear the moment in rains. It reminds me of the time I did that as a child and a neighbour told my mum I was making the place look like a council estate! Oh the horror! 🤣

No issue at all.

Some people are just joyless bastards OP.

Kids outside being artistic and enjoying the sunshine is a delight. The kids on my street have been decorating the pavement all summer. I paid them with ice lollies to do unicorns outside my house.

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.

I think is harmless but as you now know, your neighbour doesn't. So id avoid doing it near them again

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. The rain will soon wash it away.

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.

I can't say it would bother me too much but I know one of my former neighbours would hate it.

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.

Your neighbour is a grumpy old sod. Leave them to their sad little life.

St George's flags would be more popular than rainbows tbf

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. 🙄

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.

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.

What a ratbag!

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

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

I would actively enjoy seeing it.

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 😄

Couldn't have put it better myself.

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.

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?

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.