Sidewalk Chalk Fun: 45+ Games and Activities

Playing with sidewalk chalk is one of my kids favorite summertime activities.


And I’m always looking for fun ways to teach my kids their numbers, colors, the ABCs, following directions, hand-eye coordination, etc. 


So why not combine the two?  


That's exactly what we do now!  Every time we go outside to play with sidewalk chalk, we turn it into a learning game or activity.  So I compiled a list of our favorites, plus more that we'd like to try, so...

Here are 45+ fun games and activities 

you can do with sidewalk chalk!  

Numbers
Games to learn numbers, counting, and math  

Number Game:  Write out the numbers with corresponding dots underneath.  Then, have your child count, stomping on each number as they go.  Or tell them a number to run to.  Or have them count out the dots with their feet.  It’s so simple, and the kids love it!

Telling Time:  Teach your child to tell time with sidewalk chalk and other objects.

Gross Motor Addition Game:  Have your child add up the total on the dice, and then have them hop to the number.

Snail Hopscotch:  A circular twist on a classic game.


Alphabet
Activities to teach ABCs, spelling, and reading

Alphabet Game:  Write out the alphabet.  Have your child say their ABCs, stomping on each letter as they go.  Or have them spell out a word or their name by standing on each letter in the correct order.  Or tell them a letter to run to.  You can do a lot with this game!

Alphabet Hop:  An alphabet board game, but instead of making a paper board like she did, draw it out with chalk!

Word Find:  Create a word find puzzle with sight words, your kids' names, words that fit a theme, like animals, trees, and so on, etc.  Then, let them find as many words as possible...or tell them what words to find.

Colors and Shapes
Games to learn colors and shapes

Colored Shapes Game:  Draw different shapes in various colors around the driveway.  Then, give your kids directions on what to do:  “Run to the green circle!  Skip to the pink heart!  Jump on the orange rectangle!"  My kids could do this forever!

Chalk Rainbow:  You can use paving stones or just draw out circles to fill in on your driveway or patio.

Nature Color Hunt:  Have your child match the color to something from nature.

Sidewalk Simon:  An action color memory game.

Shape Drawings:  Have your kid pick a shape and then create a person or image only with that shape.


Learning
Games that combine learning numbers, ABCs, shapes, colors, math, reading, science, following directions, hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills, etc.

Connect the Dots:  Draw dots in the outline of a letter, number, shape, image, or whatever you want.  Then, starting with the first dot and the number 1, label each dot in order.  Or you could do even numbers, odd numbers, multiples of 5 or 10 - any number pattern you want to teach your child.  You could even use the alphabet and put a letter by each dot.  Last, have your child connect the dots in the correct order to see what it will become!

Hopscotch:  This game can be done the classic way with numbers, or you can change it up by using letters, shapes, etc.

Lily Pad Hop:  Draw out lily pads with the chalk and put a letter, shape, sight word, number, etc. in the center of every lily pad.  Then, let your little frog hop and learn!

Chalk Bean Bag Toss:  Have your child toss the bean bag at a number, letter, shape, etc.  They can score points depending on how close they are to their mark!

Chalk Constellations:  Help your child to use rocks and chalk to draw out the constellations of the stars.

Chalk Solar System:  Draw out the planets in order.  Play hopscotch!

Chalk Treasure Hunt:  Can you find 3 green leaves?  2 yellow flowers?

Chalk Splash:  Give your child a letter, number, shape, etc. - then they have to squirt the correct one with water.  This can be done with water balloons too! 

Art and Pretend Play
Activities to build creativity and imagination

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint:  This sidewalk chalk paint recipe is so easy and made out of edible ingredients...just in case!  You can use it for any of the activities on this list or just to draw.  Definitely add it to your Summer Bucket List this year!  We loved it - it was so fun!

Art Teacher:  Obviously, you can just draw with sidewalk chalk too!  You can give your child directions on what to draw, like an orange oval or a yellow star.  You can use art to teach anything - colors, following directions, shapes, etc.

Draw a Scene:  Draw a simple scene, like the ocean, a garden, the sky, a forest, a farm - and then you and your child can add animals, plants, people, and objects to the scene.  It's fun to see what your child dreams up!

Art Story-Telling:  To go along with Draw a Scene above: after you're done (or even while you're drawing it), make a story to go along with it.  I love hearing my kids tell stories!

Tracing:  Give your child something to trace - a leaf, a rock, a garden hose, their hand, your body!

J was intent on making her sun exactly like mine!

Copycat:  You draw a picture of something, and then have your child copy it. 

Body Outline:  Trace your child's body, and then let them decorate it.

Treasure Map:  Hide a "treasure" somewhere in your yard.  Then, draw a map - X marks the spot of the treasure!

On a Box:  Like this, but an outside boredom buster: let your child go to town with sidewalk chalk on a box!

3D Chalk Art:  Draw a scene, and then add your child to it!

Chalk Dress Up Dolls:  Trace your child and add real clothes and shoes to their body.

Splat Painting:  A fun and messy water balloon game!

Handprints and More:  Chalk + wet hands = lots of fun!

Chalk Puddles:  A game to play in the rain!

Chalk Ice:  Cool sensory artwork for a hot day!

Roads
Activities that use roads to learn and play

Roads:  Our kids love to drive.  Their crazy coupe that is.  And there is a lot you can do when you draw out a road.  (If you have a big enough area, I recommend drawing a type of figure 8 with the intersection a perfect cross.  I did not do this the first time, and we definitely needed it to be drawn that way.  I think a figure 8 would work the best.)   

Here are our favorite ways to play with a sidewalk chalk road:

What big sister doesn't love telling her little brother what to do?  Ha!

Red Light, Green Light:  What kid hasn't played this game?!  One person is the traffic light and the other is the driver.  The traffic light tells the driver when to stop and go.  So simple and so fun!  (We made a little Stop/Go sign with construction paper and a popsicle stick - our kids love something to hold onto while they play this game!)

Destination Pretend Play:  Draw out various destinations along your road - it doesn't have to be perfect.  We like using these places: Home, Gas Station, Store, Zoo, Farm, and Park.  Then, give directions on where to go.  When you arrive at your destination, stop and do some pretend play!  Fill up the "car" with gas, pick up veggies at the store (what color are they?), make animal sounds at the farm or zoo, etc.  The possibilities are endless!

Sight Words:  Going along with the pretend play, write out the name of each destination right next to it.  Say the word and spell it out when you arrive at your destination!

Which way do you turn to get to the store?

Learning Directions:  This can go along with the pretend play as well.  Tell your child to go left, right, or straight ahead.  Or when they are heading towards a destination, ask them which way they have to turn to get there.

Here are other ways to use sidewalk chalk roads:

Outdoor Roads or Tracks:  Chalk roads for little cars, trucks, and trains.

Car City:  Like our pretend play that I mentioned above, but for little cars.

Chalk Maze:  A little maze for little cars.


Action and Games
Activities that make you think and move

Tic Tac Toe:  Make a Tic Tac Toe board and use bean bags, rocks, or other objects as markers. 

Hopscotch Board Game:  A fun, twisty-turny, action-packed game that kids will love!

4 Square:  A game every kid has played!

Get Up & Move Dice:  Chalkboard painted "dice" with actions - roll the dice and do what it says!

Obstacle Course:  An action-packed chalk game!

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Chalk Tips:  

Chalky hands.  No one likes it.  You can get a chalk holder, like these from Melissa and Doug (we found our chalk holders in the Dollar Spot at Target this Spring), or you can do something a lot more simple with something you already have: a wet rag or wash cloth.  We bring out a few wet wash cloths, and whenever our hands start feeling too chalky, we clean them with the wash cloth.  Quick and easy.

We have so many sidewalk chalk games to play and new ones to try out this summer!  My kids are going to love it!  Do you have any more to add to the list? 

Oh, and don't forget to check out the other 10 awesome summer activities linked up below in the Summer Fun Blog Hop!  

I hope you have a great start to your summer!

Please follow us on Pinterest for more great ideas 

and family fun activities for the Summer!

Visit Sweet Little Ones's profile on Pinterest.

Now, on to the
Summer Fun Blog Hop!

Summer is approaching, and today some friends and I are sharing some of our favorite summer tips, activities, and bucket lists. Hop around and find some new ideas for your summer of fun!

Noah's Ark Themed Day from Through Clouded Glass  

School's Out for Summer from While I'm Waiting  

2015 Summer Bucket List & Snake Bubble Activity from Curly Crafty Mom  

Indoor and Outdoor Summer Activities from All Kinds of Things  

Summer Water Table Activities from She Builds Her Home  

Our Plans to Thrive from Our Pretty Little Girls  

Sidewalk Chalk Paint and Games from Sweet Little Ones (Us!) 

Easy Prep Summer Activities from Abiding In Grace  

Toddler Matching Games from Polka Dotty Place  

 Summer Bucket List from Living In This Season

Water Play from BYBMG

And don't forget to check out the first post in the Sidewalk Chalk Fun Series: DIY Chalk Paint.  Another fun chalk activity your kids will love!

I'm linking up with these awesome parties!