'My Child Drew Chalk Pictures On The Pavement. Was I Wrong To Let Them?'

Chalk drawings on pavementDrawing chalk pictures on the pavement is (and was) a rite of passage for many young children growing up. Colourful rainbow pictures and stick men can often be found scattered across local playgrounds and driveways.But is it ever OK for kids to draw on public pavements?That’s the question one mum asked the internet masses recently after they were surprised by the reaction of a neighbour who came outside and washed their child’s drawings away – right in front of them. The parent took to Mumsnet to ask AITA (am I the asshole) for allowing their five-year-old and her friends to draw with chalk on the public pavement.“They ran out of space in the garden and continued [their] colourful chalk drawings along the public pavement outside the house,” wrote the mum. They then drew outside five or six other houses, she explained. “They drew rainbows and houses and wrote their names and a hopscotch. Nothing offensive but not exactly amazing art (they are only 5!).”But when one of their neighbours arrived home, they appeared “visibly annoyed” by the drawings – “the kids asked if they like[d] 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,” added the parent.“The children were still out drawing and got upset that they had washed it away ... We live in the UK and it rains an awful lot! It would have washed away anyway later that evening when it rained.”The mum said they thought it was “mean” of their neighbour to hose it away in front of the kids. But then asked: “Should I have not allowed them to chalk the public footpath?”Plenty of people thought the neighbour was in the wrong here. One commenter remarked: “Such a harmless sweet thing to do... what a ridiculous over reaction.”Another added: “It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. The rain will soon wash it away.”Some had even stronger opinions of the neighbour’s actions: “Your neighbour is a grumpy old sod. Leave them to their sad little life.” But others could understand why their neighbour might’ve taken issue with the drawings right outside their home. “Outside own house, not an issue,” said one respondent. “More of an issue outside someone else’s house. Wouldn’t worry me, but I can see many others wouldn’t like it.”Another commenter said: “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.”Is it legal for kids to draw on the pavement in chalk?According to North Lincolnshire Council, drawing on the pavement with chalk is allowed in their local area: “It washes away and gives you a new canvas each time (saves on paper!).”The council urges to “always draw in a safe place” and adds “pavements are best”.But generally, graffiti is against the law in the UK – and chalk drawings can form a part of this. A legal source told HuffPost UK that chalk drawings may be considered criminal damage – even though it can be easily washed away.That said, they mentioned under-10s are beneath the age of criminal responsibility, “and for most young kids there’s unlikely to be a public interest in criminalising”.Per Wales Online, there have been incidents of teenagers being fined for drawing chalk pictures on pavements.Another mum claimed police were called to her home over complaints of vandalism after her children sketched out hopscotch squares on the pavement near their home.Related...'I Cancelled My Daughter's 16th After She Made This Joke. Did I Go Too Far?'My Kids Are Asking About All The England Flags. What Should I Tell Them?'I Didn't Speak To My Partner On A Flight, And Half The Internet Thinks I'm Toxic'

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