Featured Activity: Sidewalk Chalk Games

Published on April 25, 2022 - Updated on April 25, 2022

If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive activity that will keep kids busy for hours, look no further than a box of sidewalk chalk.

Now that the weather is warming up, there are so many creative ways to entertain your children outdoors with sidewalk chalk. There are tons of opportunities for fun and creative games with just your chalk in hand. We’ve put together a few ideas for your family to stay active and entertained!

Bullseye

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Draw a chalk bullseye with different numerical point values in each division. Using bean bags, take turns tossing them to earn points. Decide how many turns each person will have in advance and add the points up. You can make the point values higher as your children get older and children of different ages can stand at comfortable distances for each child. You can even make it a competition with themselves rather than against one another.

If you don't have beanbags, you can make your own with socks and rice or beans!

Follow the Line

This is a simple way to get exercise and have a little fun. Draw a continuous line with loops, sharp edges, and all sorts of different directions, so when you follow it you will be walking in a really silly way. You can even make two mirror images side by side and create a fun race out of it. You can also try following the lines on your bike or scooter for an extra challenge.

Self Portraits 

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Lay down and have a sibling or parent draw your outline. Then use a variety of fun colors to dress and decorate yourself as you wish.

Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course on your driveway or sidewalk! It's almost as much fun creating the obstacle course as it is to complete it. You can use your imagination to come up with different sections of the course. You can add things like running, crawling and hopping sections, a place to stop and dance, whistle a tune, or clap ten times. You can even add hopscotch as part of the fun. Exercise activities are a great way to work in some extra exercise, such as five squats or twenty jumping jacks - the options are endless. It is really fun to do it in a public place or on a walkway where the community can also enjoy it.

Hopscotch

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Draw a square pattern, traditionally two single boxes in a row, followed by two boxes side by side, followed by a single again, and so on. Number the boxes and come up with a marker to toss, such as a bean bag from the Bullseye game. If the bag lands entirely in a box, skip that box when you are hopping. Do the entire thing using the same foot for the single boxes each time to practice coordination. It’s good exercise and great for developing balance. 


What are your favorite chalk games!? If you have a photo of your kids enjoying one of these fun sidewalk chalk games, tag us in it on Instagram @gethappyly for a chance to be featured!

Interested in other fun activities that will get the kids outside? Read up on our Building a Family Garden article or how to make the most of Little Free Libraries! Now that it's starting to warm up, there are also a number of other activities to do with kids other than the traditional park days. Check out our How to Hike with Kids Guide and enjoy a fun day out with the family. If snuggling up inside on a rainy spring day is more your style, here are the Top 10 Chapter Books to Read to Your Kids!

For even more local activities and attractions at your fingertips, be sure to download the happyly app, the country's only mobile-first family activity planning app, for fast access to all of our frequent blog content, favorite activities, and expertly designed curated days, both locally and in many communities and travel destinations across the country.

Thoughtfully captured by:
Darlene Banks
Darlene Banks is a mother of 8 and grandmother of 21 children. She has been married to John Banks for 49 years and has made it her life’s works to make the world a better place through unconditional love, acceptance, and bringing peace wherever she goes. She is passionate about serving as an active member of her grandchildren’s lives and does so with a beauty rarely seen. Darlene was born in New York and has lived in Charlottesville, VA, Washington, DC and the Philadelphia area. She is an educator and explorer at heart.
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Hours of entertainment are at your fingertips with a simple box of chalk!