Sidewalk Chalk Fun – Gnome Zone Weeklong Challenge | Poudre River Public Library District Blog

Tactile experiences for children — like sidewalk chalk art — support brain development through self-expression, hands-on visual and motor skill involvement, and creativity. Plus, when done with family and playmates, it’s a great way to share positive social emotional exchanges.

Remember to share your final project on social media and tag us @PoudreLibraries or use the hashtag #PoudreLibraries.

Supplies needed:

chalk
a sidewalk
tape
water (either in a cup or spray bottle)
a brush of some kind

Here’s a few ideas of what you do:

Create a design on the sidewalk with tape and then color in each section – like this:

Make a fantastical “piece” of art straight onto the sidewalk like this:

Create a fun background scene so when you or another person lays on the sidewalk you can put them in a silly scene like this:

Challenge Extensions:

For the little ones

Adult crush up a piece of chalk and “dust” the sidewalk and then get their hands wet with water and let them smear it around similar to fingerpainting. They can add rock,sticks, or flowers and other design objects to their “picture” after it dries. Or draw on the sidewalk and let them sprinkle water and then fingerpaint

For the older kids

Start with primary colors, red, yellow, and blue and then create a color wheel and then sprinkle water between the colors to start blending the colors. Use a wet paintbrush, wet cloth, or your fingers.

“The Why” behind the Challenge:

Tactile experiences for children support brain development through self expression, hands on visual and motor skill involvement, creativity, and when done with family and playmates a way to share positive social emotional exchanges.

Check out these books for more fun!

Picture books:

Chalk by Bill Thomson

The Case of the Missing Chalk Drawings by Richard Byrne