6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try

It’s no secret that we don’t have to wait for spring here in Texas to break out the chalk. If your crew is anything like mine, you’ve spent the last few months outside. We’ve had quite the mild winter, nothing like the ice days of past years. I hesitate in breaking out the water toys too early {come on, we’ve got a long summer!}, but we keep chalk on hand and out all year round.  And today I’ve got 6 sidewalk chalk ideas to do more than just doodle as you play and learn.

Bike Course

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

Draw a starting line, and space out 5-10 easily visible circles on the street if you’ve got a quiet spot or up and down the driveway and sidewalk.  Give a quick “On your marks…get set…go!” and watch them bike through each circle or weave in between them. Add numbers for a learning bonus!

Letter Hunt

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

Write letters {numbers, sight words, shapes, colors} throughout the driveway. Call out letter to identify or name a word that starts with a particular letter, and ask your kiddo to find and circle with a hula hoop, shoot with a water gun, or even jump on top of.

Vehicle Tracks

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

Take your cars/trains/construction vehicles/airplanes/monster trucks outside for the morning, and create a play area as simple or as elaborate as your little one’s mind wishes. From a simple start and finish line to a city complete with parking garages and gas stations, this simple change of pace is a fun exercise in creativity.

Shadow Science

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

Okay, so the actual “science” part depends on the age of your child. For us: we need light to create shadows. We witnessed our shadows disappear when the sun moved behind the clouds. Just be prepared to explain to your neighbors that you are not studying forensic science. No preschoolers were injured in this lesson.

Walk the Line

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

Using several colors, draw intersecting lines with different qualities {curves, points, etc}, and watch your little one explore different ways to get from point A to point B. Our playtime even involved a quick discussion of which line would get us there the fastest. Extend the activity by drawing circles to jump in or hop over, and then move to other shapes and only walk through those.

Chalk the Walks

6 Sidewalk Chalk Ideas You Might Not Think To Try  | Houston Moms Blog

It’s simple — spread joy. While there is an entire movement inspiring adults, kids are natural smile-spreaders. It only takes one hint of “let’s go write happy messages at [fill-in-neighbor’s] house” – and they are off, chalk bucket in hand. It’s so uplifting to watch children share happy messages, whether they know how to write them or not, and it’s great letter recognition and pre-writing practice for the little ones to draw in whatever capacity they can.

Be warned :: All sidewalk chalk activities mentioned are guaranteed to offer no more than 2.45 minutes of attention span. I know; the people want more. I’ve got three rowdy boys and sneak in the “learning” when I can. 

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Jenn L
Jenn is an English teacher turned stay at home mom to boys Wyatt {2010}, John {2013}, and Abram {2014}. South Louisiana born and raised, North Louisiana educated, and Texas “polished,” she has found Houston to be home with her husband for the past ten years. After infertility struggles, in 2010 she traded in A Tale of Two Cities for Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and has since been busy discovering ways to learn while playing, maintaining a semi-scheduled family life, and integrating both Texas and Louisiana culture into her family. Besides making memories with her boys full time, she enjoys reading, running, crafting, cooking, and football. Y’all stop by When In Doubt, Add More Salt to read more about family adventures with the boys and Jenn’s thoughts on hot summers and Pinterest pin attempts, and her love/hate relationship with March Madness brackets.

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