Stay Active with Sidewalk Chalk

Using chalk on the sidewalk is a fun and artistic activity, but did you know it can also be

educational and a great way to stay active? Here are several fun ways to enhance your child's sidewalk chalk experiences.

The classic game of hopscotch is a simple way to learn numbers one through ten, but what if you replaced those numbers with letters, or super simple math problems? Each time your child lands on a square they say the letter aloud, or say an animal that starts with that letter. Math problems could be as simple as 1+1, or for a more challenging game you can include larger numbers, subtration, multiplication, or division. 

Making a kind of obstacle course is another fun and easy idea. It can be as simple as drawing a squiggly or zig zag line. Adding instructions is an easy way to make your simple obstacle course a little more fun. These could be things like twirling, touching your toes, roaring like a dinosaur, clapping your hands, etc. If your kids aren't reading yet, you can use images to convey these instructions; two hands for clapping, a dinosaur for roaring, a circle or arrows spinning, etc. 

If you are looking for a way to get them thinking about their surroundings you could have a sidewalk chalk scavenger hunt. A simple version could be to color in various shapes and have them find objects of those same colors. A slightly more challenging version is to give specifics, like 3 purple flowers, or 6 small rocks. Nature mandalas can be another fun way to add a bit of nature to your chalk projects. In the search for more ideas, I found this great mommy blog post where the author has gathered 101 Genius Sidewalk Chalk Ideas to Crush Summertime Boredom. 

 

If you do not have access to sidewalk chalk, no worries, here are a couple of chalk recipes made from regular household items. 

If you are looking for chalk related stories or some other ways to keep your little ones active, check out these items from the library. You can also browse and download thousands of songs from the library's Freegal eSource. Just login with your library card number and pin to download 5 free songs a week. 

 

 

 

Stomp by Ian Aurora

A fun and colorful book that encourages kids to stomp around when they are happy and with friends.

 

 

 

                                                                         

 

                                             

Elmocize DVD

Elmo's Exercise Camp is a place where kids and Sesame Street muppets bend, stretch, and hop their way to feeling good.

 

 

 

 

Amelia Bedelia Chalks One Up by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia suggests that her Mom, who is feeling blue, go on a play date while Amelia Bedelia is doing the same, and then enlists her friends to help make chalk drawings on the house, sidewalk, and more to brighten Mom's day with her favorite things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Party Music CD

Some of the best-known names in children's music contribute tracks for a collection designed to get kids up and moving. Included are fun tunes from Jack Grunksy, Dog on Fleas, and Parachute Express.