Encouraging Creative Play with Sidewalk Chalk Games and Ideas for Kids

Remember playing sidewalk chalk games as a kid?

The thing that I love most about sidewalk chalk is that it is a fun activity for all ages. Give sidewalk chalk to an adult and they instantly become a kid again.

My kids have spend hours and hours in the driveway over the years playing doing fun sidewalk chalk activities. It’s such a fun and affordable way to entertain kids, and encourage them to use their imagination. Plus, what a great way to get them away from screens for a bit and enjoy the great outdoors!.

I’m always looking for affordable and fun stuff to do with the kids, so I thought I’d share some of our favorite sidewalk chalk activities!

Create a Bike or Scooter Race Track with Chalk

Have kids draw out a race or obstacle course with chalk. Don’t forget to include pit stops and even gas stations.

Get out a timer and have kids race through the course trying to beat their best times!

Make a Hopscotch Board with Chalk

An classic hopscotch board with chalk is always a hit, but the excitement might wear off quickly after a few games. Level up your Hopscotch coolness with a Snail Hopscotch Board (seen below)

Add in a pair of dice and kids can take turns hopping their way through to the end.

You could also incorporate a bit of Chutes and Ladders into this game and have certain numbers mean certain things, or even have treats sitting on individual squares.

Remember, the whole point of creating with sidewalk chalk is to have kids use their imagination, so encourage them to create games and rules for each other!

Sidewalk Chalk Games: Make a Twister Board

Have the sprinkler ready after this activity because kids are sure to get “chalky” but that’s what makes it fun! Have mom or dad call out Twister moves while kids twist and stretch to hit all the called colors! Lots of laughs and some good old fashioned fun!

So many other favorite games could be created with chalk. What about Chutes and Ladders? Or even Hangman?

Draw a Mancala Board with Chalk

Sidewalk chalk games don’t just have to be fun, they can also be educational!

Try some fun games like Mancala to help kids work on their counting skills. Not only is this a fun game for the whole family, but it’s also a really neat way to incorporate learning with fun!

You can also work on letters, colors and shapes by drawing these things in chalk. My kids always loved playing school with chalk. The possibilities are endless!

Write Uplifting Messages for Friends and Neighbors with Chalk

Such a wonderful way to spread kindness and joy! Neighbors out walking are sure to stop and smile. This would also be a fun way to decorate someone’s driveway for a birthday or celebration.

Have kids create sidewalk art with chalk and then take photos to send to Grandma! Turn the photos of their creations into fun greeting cards. So many fun ways to share their sidewalk art ideas!

Body Tracing with Chalk

Probably one of every kids favorite ways to create with chalk, body tracing! My daughter always loved for me to trace her body and then she would decorate it with an outfit, hair style and even painting fingernails and toes!

Take your creation one step further by

Photo Opportunities with Sidewalk Chalk

And most of all, don’t forget all of the amazing photo opportunities that can come from your sidewalk chalk creations!

If you have access to an upstairs window, deck or even a ladder then you can shoot get some great shots of kids sitting on a rainbow, holding a bunch of balloons or even riding in their fancy chalk racecar creations.

Remember, it’s ALL about using their imagination and having fun. Best of all, it can all be done on a budget because sidewalk chalk is affordable fun for the whole family!

Keri Lyn

The creative and frugal mind behind She Saved for almost 12 years now, Keri Lyn shares her adventures in parenting along with her love for family travel, country living and brand marketing. A self-proclaimed “brand loyalist”, Keri Lyn is known for her strong and enthusiastic voice when it comes to the products and brands that she loves. Passionate about family and the challenge of raising good humans (through the teen years, no less!) Keri Lyn has also served as a brand ambassador to many brands including her time as a Hilton Mom Voyage travel writer and currently an O Mag Insider for O, The Oprah Magazine and the 2019 recipient the O-verall Contribution O-ward.