To find pavement chalking by neighbour unreasonable?

[Hanji83]

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?

When I was a child, we lived in a row of about 13 houses, at the end of that row was a square paved area. The paving slabs were white with some pink slabs. There were about 5 that were laid out in a hopscotch pattern. During the holidays, a group of us had been playing hopscotch, chalking in the numbers and then our initials down one side to keep score.

There was houses that had back gardens that opened on to this square. I was playing with a couple of friends when a woman came out from one of the houses, and was yelling at us about making a mess. My friends ran off, I wasn’t fast enough, and she gave me a stiff broom and soapy water and made me scrub it off. It was just numbers, not a massive mess, did not affect her or her property at all. Even now 50 plus years later I remember her name and where she lived. I also remember my mum going to see this woman and making it very clear that I was not to scrub that area ever again.

Do they not have a back garden?

I've never lived anywhere that has kids playing out in the street and would not be happy with that.

Live on a new build estate, my first mistake was signing up to the estates group WhatsApp chat, my second was telling some miserable old fart to get a hobby after he sent a 500 word message regarding the chalk rainbows that had been drawn on the path just up from his property. It got me removed from the group so maybe not so much of mistake 😂

I just cannot fathom that there are genuinely people worried about children drawing with chalk, I find it absolutely lovely. Seeing them all outside playing together, cute pictures drawn and harmless fun being had. So many kids are sitting indoors gaming/ipad/watching tv and parents get bashed for that too.

Let them be little!

You’ve never seen children playing on the street? How old are you? I’m 33 and it’s all we did! Running off to knock on our friends doors to get them out, drawing with chalk, sitting on the grass making Daisy chains, riding our bikes and scooters.

This summer, tons of kids on my estate have been out and it’s so refreshing to see! Why wouldn’t you be happy seeing children be children?!

Graffiti?! You’re all lost your minds 😂

It’s only chalk! I’m 60 and we used it for pictures and hopscotch.

i know it’s been dry recently but honestly first sign of rain and it’s gone.

some of the kids in my local park write stuff like ‘have a nice day’ on the footpaths. I think it’s cute. During lockdown there was a kid a couple doors down used to draw pictures outside his house. It brightened up a dreary period.

if that’s the worst the kids in your area are doing you’re lucky!!!

I said I have never lived anywhere that it happened, not that I haven't seen it from time to time. I am 76, my mother would never have allowed it but it wasn't an issue because nobody did. When I first had my own home no children played in the street and it was the same when we moved to a bigger house. They played in their back gardens in good weather, indoors if not. When old enough to be out alone they would go to the park, ride bikes, etc.

My dd went a walk with me the other evening. She was delighted to see hopscotch’s that kids had chalked on the path. She had a go on each one.
She’s 24!

My mum loves seeing kids doing stuff like this. She’s almost 80 and still talks about how when she was little she chalked numbers round her whole estate. Her mum was waiting at the gate for her with a bucket and a brush and sent her to clean the whole lot off!

Where do you live? It's very common, admittedly less so these days.

I’m praying the 89 on your name isn’t your birth year because if so, you’re only a few years older than me and I really hope I am not this miserable in my late 30s 🥴

There are plenty of areas and housing across the country where a private garden is not available... For instance, high rises, or old buildings converted into urban apartments. If there isn't a park or green space available, the street is a half way viable option where parents can responsibly monitor their kids without having to travel further afield.
There is a lot to be said for tolerance and trust.
And a big difference between chalk and spray paint.

Yes, I get there is a difference. When I was a young woman out at work I lived in some grotty furnished flats and bedsits, encountered children roaming the streets and playing at all times and thought nothing of it but it's not usual in most residential areas where people have back gardens and parks nearby. It's off putting for potential buyers.

Pour yourself a G&T and stop being an arse.

Soon it’ll be raining every day and the pavements will be clean. Until then, as they say on MN, unclench.

What the fuck is going so badly wrong with your life that you’d get irritated by children playing with chalk; something that will disappear forever as soon as it rains?

Children should be locked in broom cupboards so as not to upset potential buyers who might see them...playing in the street! 🙀

I remember using stones to draw hopscotch grids on tarmac, fun times!

Yes, but then we all get into a circular Mumsnet argument where there are just as many property owners with a private garden complaining about trampolines and balls over fences into other private gardens 😂 I don't think there is any way to win

Also, depending on area and demographics, a community spirit and visibly child friendly neighbourhood can be a huuuuge selling point for many buyers

But we don't know exactly what OP's area and demographic is

Noooooooo!

It was our favourite occupation back in the day, chalking on the pavement. It's what we did pre screens.

My friend and I spent a happy afternoon chalking, lots of Donny Osmond and Bay City Roller references, love hearts etc, all rainbow colours. The following day my mum, bless her, who had Hyacinth tendancies before we had Hyacinth, had a face like a cats bum as she was telling my dad about how dreadful it was. I smirked into my ReadyBrek.

It washed off in the rain two days later.

Oh give over OP!
What a killjoy you are!
A bit of chalky pavement. It doesn’t hurt you, does it??

We used to do paper chase type games. One would set off with the chalk and do arrows every 100 yards or so to say what direction they were going in.

The rest of us counted to 500 and set off in pursuit following the arrows.

But the arrows weren't always on the pavement, they could be on walls, lamp posts etc so you had to look out for them.

It was fun.

We did this too. It was fun. One day we did it in crayon as we didn't have chalk. People were not pleased.

For the love…are you serious??

Go out under darkness and draw chalk obscenities.

Sit back and wait

The children in our area draw trails, so hopscotch, then hop on the dots, then floor is lava, then balance along a line etc. They go for streets at a time.

And when I walk the dog I do all the moves.

I did that a few years ago. My landlord was fuming but had no idea it was me. 🤣