<t>Summer for kids means many different things. For the young it involves a survival kit that comes out only once a year. In this kit are items like bubbles and sand buckets, pools and Slip 'N Slides, finger paints and sidewalk chalk. That is of course unless you live in a small town in Colorado, where the home owners association has decided to put a temporary ban on sidewalk chalk.<br/>
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Why? Their concern is that the art is distracting and disruptive to neighbors. I have to admit, I don’t get it. Sure it’s a little colorful and I can even see it being distracting, but disruptive to neighbors? There is no noise involved while a child sits on the ground and thinks about what their next work of art is going to be about. There is no noise involved as little hands draw out their latest creations. Compared to many other summertime activities, this one seems pretty mild.<br/>
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If they want to start banning things that are disruptive I can think of many other summer activities that would fit the bill. How about basketball? That orange ball can make a lot of noise as it hits the ground and the backboard of the net. Then there’s water activities. We all know that water plus kids equals a lot of noise: their squeals of delight can be quite deafening at times!<br/>
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I could see the home owners associations' point if we were talking about little kids roaming the neighborhood with cans of spray paint. Now that would be a reason to complain! But unlike spray paint, sidewalk chalk is completely washable. So I ask again, what’s the big deal?<br/>
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With sidewalk chalk, every day is a new day and a new canvas. Is really that harmful to anyone? Who exactly is it distracting and disrupting? If it’s that bothersome to you, maybe you should stay off your neighbor's property. Problem solved. <br/>
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Maybe it’s me, maybe I am missing something, but I am really not seeing the other side's perspective on this. So what about you? Where do you stand in this debate?</t>
<br/>
Why? Their concern is that the art is distracting and disruptive to neighbors. I have to admit, I don’t get it. Sure it’s a little colorful and I can even see it being distracting, but disruptive to neighbors? There is no noise involved while a child sits on the ground and thinks about what their next work of art is going to be about. There is no noise involved as little hands draw out their latest creations. Compared to many other summertime activities, this one seems pretty mild.<br/>
<br/>
If they want to start banning things that are disruptive I can think of many other summer activities that would fit the bill. How about basketball? That orange ball can make a lot of noise as it hits the ground and the backboard of the net. Then there’s water activities. We all know that water plus kids equals a lot of noise: their squeals of delight can be quite deafening at times!<br/>
<br/>
I could see the home owners associations' point if we were talking about little kids roaming the neighborhood with cans of spray paint. Now that would be a reason to complain! But unlike spray paint, sidewalk chalk is completely washable. So I ask again, what’s the big deal?<br/>
<br/>
With sidewalk chalk, every day is a new day and a new canvas. Is really that harmful to anyone? Who exactly is it distracting and disrupting? If it’s that bothersome to you, maybe you should stay off your neighbor's property. Problem solved. <br/>
<br/>
Maybe it’s me, maybe I am missing something, but I am really not seeing the other side's perspective on this. So what about you? Where do you stand in this debate?</t>
