sidewalk chalk
I love sidewalk chalk. We always have a pail on hand. The kids can draw as big as they like, not confined to a small piece of paper.
When we lived in Brooklyn we had no backyard. In the summertime when the hot day had cooled off a bit, we spent countless hours on our front stoop. We would blow bubbles, say hello to our neighbors, eat popsicles, and draw with our sidewalk chalk. (I love the way C is standing in the photo above, so earnest and engaged. Drawing can be serious business.)
We make up alphabet games (where you have to jump to the letter mom calls out) and point out the letters we used to see on the subway.
C is fond of drawing long snakes that wind their way across our patio.
You can even leave a note for dad to find when he comes home from work.
Do the kids get filthy? Of course. Does the patio sometimes look a mess covered in scribbles and drawings? Oh yes. But I don't mind one bit.
See more fun ideas for things to do with chalk over here.
07.9.2009
Reader Comments (25)
Oh I love the bum in the last picture! This is a great post, and a good reminder not to care about the mess. Thanks!
We had a very small outside space at our old house, and did lots and lots of sidewalk chalk too. Most of our pieces ended up as small nubbins.
that alphabet game is so cute!!!
The alphabet game is genius!
Your blog is fantastique! I look forward to adding it to my daily reading repetoire! xx - kate
Thanks so much for the link love!! I love your pictures, so adorable!
where have I been??? am I the most dulluncreative mother in the world!? I didn't know there were so many fun games we could have been playing this whole summer with something as simple as chalk!!! thank you.
I will have to try the alphabet game with the two year-old we watch. He is so proud of knowing his letters, but he only knows about 1/3 of them, so he needs to learn more. He also likes to run and jump around. Perfect.
I love the alphabet game. Brilliant. Also, little bum cheeks in the last picture - adorable!
we have a long low concrete retaining wall outside our home. the boys have been scribbling on it since they could hold chalk. now they draw more than they eat it, thank god. i love seeing the colors and forms as they change, though i really should hose it down a bit to make more room. the alphabet game is great, your penmanship is perfect!
We love sidewalk chalk at our house too and the youngest children are 12! One of the college age children likes to borrow the sidewalk chalk so that they can go chalk things at their friends house. They write nice things about the person and draw silly pictures. It's much better than tping someones house and they get a thrill out of trying not to get caught in the act. Better stock up on the chalk cause you will be using it for many many years to come!
I love your alphabet game. We too are advocates of sidewalk chalk, at just 17 months!
Christie
Love this. Our neighbours have little kids and they, too, adore sidewalk chalk. It's so fun and colourful and summery!
I love the "Welcome home dad" - how cute!
I think it looks beautiful.
Children are meant to be messy. that's half the point :o)
i love all your ideas.
So cute! I love to chalk with kids when I babysit!
love C's snakes. and the alphabet game of course.
I adore this post. Thanks for sharing it and all the great photos.
I have deep love for sidewalk chalk - I'm always stocking up at Target. My daughter and the neighborhood kids create all kinds of magic with the colors and then make "fairy dust" by rubbing the chalk into nothingness. Love your blog!