Sidewalk chalk games and ideas for kids

Where to play

Chalk works best on smooth, dry concrete or asphalt: a driveway, a patio, a playground or a quiet path in front of your home. Rough surfaces eat chalk quickly. Rain washes most chalk away, and a hose or a stiff broom speeds that up.

Play away from traffic, and never in the street. On a driveway, make sure every driver in the house knows kids are there, and keep cars parked until play is over. Check local rules before drawing on public sidewalks.

Each slate shows the age range chalked in on a ruler from 2 to 12, plus energy and mess on a scale of one to three marks. Ages are a rough guide; you know your child best.

How to play hopscotch

There are many versions around the world. Here is one common layout and set of rules:

1. Draw eight squares in a column, with squares 4 and 5 side by side and 7 and 8 side by side. Number them 1 to 8.
2. The first player tosses a small stone or beanbag onto square 1.
3. They hop over that square, landing on one foot in single squares and two feet in side-by-side squares.
4. At the top they turn around and hop back, stopping to pick up the marker on the way.
5. Next turn, they toss to square 2, and so on. A turn ends if the marker misses, or the player steps on a line or puts a hand down.

How to play four square

Chalk a large square, about ten feet on each side, and split it into four smaller squares. Label them 1 to 4, or king, queen, jack and ace. One player stands in each square. The player in the top square serves by bouncing the ball once in their own square and hitting it into another. The receiving player lets it bounce once, then hits it on to any other square. A player who misses, or hits the ball out, leaves to the back of the line or moves to the lowest square, and everyone else moves up. Kids often add their own rules, which is part of the fun.

Chalk action paths

Draw a long, winding path with stations along the way. Each station has a simple action: hop on one foot, spin three times, jump over the river, tiptoe the wiggly line, do five frog jumps. Kids can take turns adding new stations. For younger children, use pictures instead of words at each stop.

More chalk ideas

• Chalk town: draw roads, a roundabout, parking spaces and buildings for toy cars or a ride-on toy.
• Shadow tracing: on a sunny day, trace a toy's shadow or a friend's shadow. Trace it again an hour later and see how it moved.
• Giant board games: draw a snake-shaped track with numbered spaces and use a big die and kids as playing pieces.
• Target toss: draw rings with points and toss beanbags from a line.

Chalk tips

Dip chalk in water for brighter, bolder lines, though it uses up faster. Chunky chalk lasts longer and is easier for small hands to hold. Keep a damp cloth nearby for chalky fingers before anyone heads indoors.