25 Fun Sidewalk Chalk Ideas Your Kids Will Love (2024)

Finding fun things for kids to do in the long summer months can sometimes be a challenge.

As parents and caregivers, we want to keep them entertained, but it can be hard to come up with ideas that are affordable, accessible, and, most importantly, engaging for everyone involved.

That’s where sidewalk chalk comes in!

It’s an inexpensive and easy-to-find solution that offers endless opportunities for creative play and outdoor fun. It also helps develop fine motor skills in younger kids and foster creativity in kids of all ages.

And summer is the perfect time to use it.

In this post, we’ll share 11 of our favorite sidewalk chalk games and fun activities that are sure to keep your kids entertained for hours.

From classic games like hopscotch and tic-tac-toe to newer activities like geometric murals and sidewalk chalk paint, these ideas are perfect for kids of all ages.

So, let’s dive in and discover the endless possibilities of sidewalk chalk!

Note: This post is just one part of our epic list of
100 Fun Activities For Kids to do at Home >>

1. Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Making paint with sidewalk chalk is a fun and creative way to add a bold and bright new dimension to your sidewalk art projects.

Here the easy way to do it:

First, fill a non-breakable cup with water.

Then, dip your sidewalk chalk in water. The longer you let the chalk soak in the water, the more unique the effect will be.

Now, you’re ready to “paint” with sidewalk chalk!

If you have older children and want to get really technical, you can do it another way, too:

1. Choose your favorite colors of chalk.
2. Grind the chalk into a powder using a mortar and pestle, or place it in a plastic bag and crush it with a rolling pin or similar tool.
3. Once the chalk is ground into a fine powder, add a small amount of water to create a paste. Use a spoon or similar tool to mix the water and chalk together until you achieve a smooth consistency.
4. If the paint is too thick, you can add more water. If it’s too thin, you can add more chalk powder.
5. Use brushes or sponges to apply the paint to the sidewalk or other outdoor surfaces.

Note: Wet chalk paint may stain clothing and other surfaces, so it’s best to wear old clothes and use caution when painting near other objects.

That’s it! Making wet paint with sidewalk chalk is a fun and easy way to add some color and creativity to your outdoor art projects.

2. Family Mural

Here’s a great idea you may never have thought of before: a family mural made of sidewalk chalk!

This is an activity even older kids will love.

To create your personalized family mural, follow these steps:

1. Choose a flat surface that is large enough to accommodate everyone’s traced bodies. A driveway, sidewalk, or patio would be ideal.
2. Gather your materials: You’ll need sidewalk chalk in various colors and a camera.
3. Trace the bodies: Have each family member lie down on the ground, and trace their body shape with sidewalk chalk. You can use different colors for each person, or use one color for the entire family.
4. Add details: Once everyone’s body is traced, you can add details such as clothing, hair, facial features, and accessories using different colors of chalk. You can also add scenery or thought bubbles for extra fun and humor.
5. Write names: Write each family member’s name next to their traced body using sidewalk chalk.
6. Take a picture: Take a picture of the completed family mural, and share it with friends and family.

It’s important to note that sidewalk chalk can wash away easily with water or rain, so you may want to take a picture of your family mural before it disappears.

You can also use permanent outdoor paint or chalk markers if you want your mural to last longer.

3. Tic Tac Toe Tournament

Tic Tac Toe is a classic game of strategy that all ages can play. But it’s more fun when you play a giant version of it with sidewalk chalk!

Here are the steps to have a tic tac toe tournament with sidewalk chalk:

1. Choose a flat and smooth surface such as a driveway or sidewalk where you can draw the tic tac toe board.
2. Draw the grids: Using sidewalk chalk, draw multiple tic tac toe grids side-by-side. Each grid should be approximately 3 feet by 3 feet, and the lines should be thick enough to be visible.
3. Choose a starting player: Use a coin toss or any other random method to decide which person goes first.
4. Use different colors of chalk for each team’s X’s and O’s to make it easier to distinguish.
5. Play the game: Each team takes turns placing their X’s and O’s on the grids until one team wins three games.
6. Declare the winner: The team that wins three games is declared the winner of the tournament.

If you want to continue playing for fun, you can keep drawing new grids and rotating players.

4. Hopscotch

5. Shadow Tracing

Shadow tracing with sidewalk chalk is a great way to explore light, shadows, and perspective.

You can experiment with various objects and arrangements to create different shapes and patterns.

Here are the steps:

1. Choose a sunny day: Shadow tracing requires sunlight, so choose a day when the sun is shining.
2. Find a suitable location: Choose a flat surface such as a sidewalk, driveway, or patio where you can trace the shadows.
3. Place objects: Arrange objects such as toys, rocks, or plants on the ground in a way that creates interesting shadows.
4. Trace the shadows: Using sidewalk chalk, trace the outlines of the shadows cast by the objects. You can use different colors of chalk to create a colorful and vibrant design.
5. Add details: Once you’ve traced the shadows, big kids can add details such as texture, shading, or different patterns to the outlines.
6. Take a picture: Take a picture of your shadow tracing artwork to capture the temporary nature of the artwork.

6. Outdoor Checkers

Do you love classic board games? You’ll love them even more playing in the fresh air with sidewalk chalk!

7. Water Balloon Bullseye

On a hot day, water balloon bullseye with sidewalk chalk is a fun activity to cool off a bit.

Here’s how to play:

1. Choose a flat and open space such as a backyard or park where you can draw the bullseye with sidewalk chalk.
2. Grab a set of sidewalk chalk and draw a large bullseye on the ground. The bullseye should have concentric circles, with the center being the smallest circle and the outer circle being the largest.
3. Fill water balloons: Fill several water balloons with water and place them in a bucket or basket nearby.
4. Decide the distance: Decide on a distance from which players will throw the water balloons to hit the bullseye.
5. Take turns throwing: Players take turns throwing the water balloons at the bullseye, aiming to hit the center of the bullseye for the highest points. (You may want to do some target practice first!)
6. Score the throws: Keep track of the points each player earns by hitting the different circles of the bullseye. The circles have different point values. The center circle is worth the highest points, and the outer circle is worth the lowest points.
7. Play multiple rounds: Play multiple rounds to give everyone a chance to throw and earn points.
8. Win the game: The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

You can also customize the game by adding different rules or challenges, such as having players throw with their non-dominant hand or blindfolded.

Remember to clean up the balloon pieces after the game!

See all 21 Water Balloon Games >>

8. Alphabet Hop

This one’s for the little kids!

If you’re looking for educational games to play with your kids that they’ll actually enjoy, this idea is for you.

Here are the steps:

1. Find a suitable location: Choose a flat and smooth surface such as a sidewalk or driveway where you can draw the alphabet hop grid.
2. Draw the alphabet hop grid: Using sidewalk chalk, draw the alphabet hop grid on the ground. The grid consists of 26 squares, each containing a letter of the alphabet. Have you child trace or write the letters.
3. Start hopping: The first player hops on one foot from square to square, starting with the square containing the letter “A” and moving towards the square containing the letter “Z”. The player must say the name of each letter they land on as they hop.
4. Depending on the age of your child, have them hop to different letters to spell their name, sight words, and other favorite people, places, and things.
5. Add new challenges like hopping on the other foot or skipping letters.

Alphabet hop with sidewalk chalk is a fun and educational game that helps kids learn the alphabet while getting some exercise.

Bonus? It helps develop both fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

9. Four Square

Four square is a game that is played with a rubber ball and a square divided into four smaller squares, each numbered one through four.

To make the grid with sidewalk chalk, here are the steps:

1. Choose a flat and smooth surface such as a sidewalk or driveway where you can draw the four square grid.
2. Using sidewalk chalk, draw a large square on the ground. The square should be big enough to accommodate four smaller squares inside.
3. Divide the large square into four equal smaller squares by drawing two lines, one horizontally and one vertically, that intersect in the middle of the large square.
4. Number each of the smaller squares from one to four in a clockwise direction, starting from the top left square.
5. If desired, players can write their names or initials inside their respective squares to designate their playing area.

Once you have drawn the four square grid with sidewalk chalk, you are ready to start playing the game.

To play, one player serves the ball by bouncing it in their own square once and then hitting it with their hand into another player’s square.

That player then hits the ball into another player’s square, and so on. If a player hits the ball outside of another player’s square or allows the ball to bounce twice in their own square, they are out.

The game continues with the remaining players until only one player is left.

That player becomes the winner and the game restarts.

10. Dots & Lines

Dots and Lines is a simple but engaging game that can be played by people of all ages.

Here are the steps:

1. Draw a grid of dots: Using sidewalk chalk, draw a grid of dots on a flat and open surface. The grid should consist of rows and columns of evenly spaced dots.
2. Connect the dots: Take turns with a partner to connect two adjacent dots with a straight line. If you complete a square by connecting the fourth side, you get to write your initial in the square and take another turn.
3. Keep playing until all dots are connected: Continue connecting adjacent dots with straight lines until all dots are connected.
4. Count squares and determine the winner: Count the squares that you have marked with your initials. The player with the most squares wins!

You can vary the size and spacing of the dots to make the game more challenging, or add more players to make it more competitive.

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11. Geometric Chalk Mural

Place masking or painter’s tape on the ground, fence, or any surface you are working on your chalk mural. Create geomatric shapes similar to a stained glass window. Color in the shapes. When you lift the tape up, you’ll have a beautiful geometric mural.

Here are the steps:

1. Find a suitable location: Choose a flat and open surface such as a sidewalk or driveway where you can create the chalk mural.
2. Choose a geometric pattern: Decide on a geometric pattern that you want to create. You can find inspiration from various sources such as coloring books, geometric shapes, or online tutorials.
3. Place masking or painter’s tape on the ground, fence, or any surface you are working on your chalk mural.
4. Add colors and shades: Fill in the pattern with different colors of chalk. You can also use shading techniques such as cross-hatching or blending to add depth and dimension to the mural.
5. Lift the tape up to reveal you geometric mural.
6. Add finishing touches: Once the mural is complete, add some finishing touches such as outlines, highlights, or additional details.

Creating a geometric chalk mural is a fun and creative activity for kids that can help them learn about shapes, colors, and art.

It’s also a great way to spend time outdoors and express their creativity.

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More Ideas:

12. Write Positive Messages

13. Create Constellations

14. Draw photo backdrops

15. Chalk Color Sorting Game

16. Rock Counting Game

17. Twister

18. Sidewalk Chalk Maze

19. Create a Movement Path

20. Poll Your Neighbors

21. Write Jokes

22. Practice Shapes

23. Draw a Map

24. Design Your Own Mini-Golf

25. Play Pictionary

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We hope you love these fun sidewalk chalk ideas, and that they help you make the most of your summer days with your kids.

And remember, you can always customize the games and play in a different way that suits your family better.