Opinions on chalk on pavements

[Maza]

I know at the moment chalking on pavements is a bit of a trend - rainbows etc. but what are your opinions generally?

I am torn to be honest. I think like most things it is okay within boundaries - physical and behavioural boundaries.

When I went for a walk a couple of says ago I was smiling at the lovely drawings I could see outside people's houses a few streets away. Yesterday, the children opposite my house decorated the pavement outside my house as well as their own. Absolutely no harm done and I wouldn't dream of saying anything to them, but it did become the topic of conversation in our house, lol - too much time on our hands. We are wondering if we are just irked because we haven't warmed to that particular family - they moved in two and a half weeks ago, just before the schools closed and for several small reasons we just haven't taken to them. To be fair, we may be irritating them without realising. If it was children from a quiet, sweet, unassuming family who did it, would we be smiling and welcoming the drawings?

I remember the Head at my old school got really cross with the after school club because they drew all over the playground with chalk. I thought she was a big meanie and out of touch with children and simple pleasures.

We used to do it with stones when we were children because we didn't have chalk, so I do understand that it is a wonderful pass time.

Honestly, it's not a big issue at all. Just food for thought.

[loocyloo]

DH loathes chalk! and gets really miffed when minded children draw all over the patio.

I don't mind it ( and we usually then have a 'washing session' to scrub it off the patio! ) I'm not so keen on it on walls/fences etc, as it never seems to come out of the wood/bricks.

I'm torn about it on pavements too! It makes me smile, but I wouldn't want it everywhere. :thumbsup:

[Mouse]

When my children were young I would happily let them chalk on our driveway and patio, but never on public footpaths as I'm aware that not everyone likes it.

A couple of years ago I let the minded children use calks on a white painted wall - I can still see the marks now when the sun shines on it :panic:

[FloraDora]

Mmm...sounds to me Maza that the children were actually playing outside if they managed to draw on your pavement and they live on the opposite side of the road!
So that would certainly make me value judge negatively....outside their front gate? At a push....but no children should be playing on the street really.
As I write this I do feel mean but we have just got to keep to the rules, first it’s opposite, then they will wander a bit further....they should be inside their garden with the gate firmly shut.
That aside, I don’t like chalked pavings out side of my property on the public highway...except at the seaside when artists do it.
Fine on your own property Where the mess it creates after a day or two if it hasn’t rained is only seen by you.

I am in a grumpy mood today though!

[Maza]

Mmm...sounds to me Maza that the children were actually playing outside if they managed to draw on your pavement and they live on the opposite side of the road!
So that would certainly make me value judge negatively....outside their front gate? At a push....but no children should be playing on the street really.
As I write this I do feel mean but we have just got to keep to the rules, first it’s opposite, then they will wander a bit further....they should be inside their garden with the gate firmly shut.
That aside, I don’t like chalked pavings out side of my property on the public highway...except at the seaside when artists do it.
Fine on your own property Where the mess it creates after a day or two if it hasn’t rained is only seen by you.

I am in a grumpy mood today though!

Yes, exactly! I think that's also why we judged negatively. We live in a close where the only traffic belongs to the houses, so it's not a busy road, but a lot of people, mainly elderly, pass through our close and would have had to step around the children as they were doing this.

[sarah707]

We chalk outside all the time - it allows children to use bigger stretching muscles :)

[Maza]

We chalk outside all the time - it allows children to use bigger stretching muscles :)

Totally agree, it's great on so many levels. We only do it in our own garden though.