Chalk drawings on the sidewalk are (and were) a rite of passage for many young children growing up. Colorful rainbow drawings and stick men can often be found scattered around local playgrounds and driveways.
But is it ever okay for children to use public sidewalks?
That’s the question a mom recently asked the internet masses after they were surprised by the reaction of a neighbor who came outside and washed away her child’s drawings – right in front of them.
A parent took to Mumnet to ask SHEEP (am I an asshole) to let her five-year-old and her friends draw with chalk on a public sidewalk.
“They ran out of space in the garden and continued [their] colorful chalk drawings along the public sidewalk outside the house,” the mother wrote. They then pulled up outside five or six other houses, she explained.
“They drew rainbows and houses and wrote their names and hops. Nothing offensive, but not exactly amazing art (there are only 5 of them!).”
But when one of their neighbors came home, they appeared “visibly annoyed” with the drawings — “the kids asked if they liked[d] their art and they ignored them, went inside, got a hose, and washed the chalk away from the public walkway just outside their house,” the parent added.
“The kids were still drawing and were upset that they had washed it away… we live in the UK and it rains an awful lot! It would have washed away later that evening anyway when it rained.”
The mom said she thought their neighbor’s “meaning” was leading them in front of the kids. But then she asked, “Shouldn’t I have let them fall on the public sidewalk?”
Many people thought the neighbor was wrong here. One commenter noted, “Such a harmlessly sweet thing to do… what a ridiculous over reaction.”
Another added: “It wouldn’t bother me one bit. The rain will wash it away soon.”
Some had even stronger opinions about their neighbor’s actions: “Your neighbor is a grumpy old devil. Leave them to their sad little lives.”
But others could understand why their neighbor might have gotten away with the drawings right outside their house.
“Outside your own house, not an issue,” said one respondent. “More of a problem outside someone else’s house. Doesn’t bother me, but I can see a lot of other people wouldn’t like it.”
Another commenter said: “I would only let my kids do this in front of my house and 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 children to draw on the sidewalk with chalk?
According to North Lincolnshire Council, it is legal to draw on pavements with chalk in their local area: “It washes off every time and gives you a new canvas (saving on paper!).”
The council encourages “always pull over to a safe place” and adds “the best sidewalks.”
But graffiti is generally against the law in the UK – and chalk drawings can be part of that.
A legal source told HuffPost UK that chalk drawings could be considered criminal damage – even though they can be easily washed off.
This means they mentioned under 10 years of age is below criminal responsibility “And most young children are unlikely to have a public interest in criminal responsibility”.
About Wales Online, There have been cases of teenagers being punished for drawing chalk pictures on pavements.
Another mom claimed police were called to her home for complaints of vandalism after her children sketched Hopscotch squares on the sidewalk near their home.
