If you are sick of your kids spending their time indoors playing video games, why not head outdoors to have some fun in the sun? A sidewalk chalk obstacle course is a cheap and inexpensive way to keep your kids entertained, and you can all get involved in the fun. The great thing about this project is that you literally need a quiet sidewalk or driveway and some chalk to get started. Once your kids have had enough of the first course, you can just move on and make them another one!
Today we’re going to share with you our top tips for creating a sidewalk chalk obstacle course this year. On top of that, we’ll share some of our favorite patterns and ideas that you can use with your family.
What Materials Do I Need to Create a Sidewalk Obstacle Course?
The only things you’ll need to get started are a sidewalk and an obstacle course. We recommend trying to find a clear sidewalk where not many people will need to pass by, so your kids won’t get disturbed when they are having fun. Then, gather together a selection of bright and colorful chalks to get started. The more different colors you have to work with, the more exciting your course will be for your kids. Sidewalk chalk can easily be found in local art stores, but you could even try and make your own if you are feeling creative. Plaster of Pari, powdered tempera paint, and water can be combined to create sidewalk chalk in about ten to fifteen minutes.
Top Tips for Creating a Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
When creating your first sidewalk chalk obstacle course, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. We always recommend adding a lot of variety into the obstacle course, especially when your kids are a little older. Put a selection of tasks, such as jumping, hopping, skipping, and much more, to keep the course fun and varied for you all. Obstacle courses are ideal for kids between the age of 3 and 12, and you’ll find it’s a great way to keep them active in the summer without forcing them to exercise. You’ll also find kids can improve their cognitive skills, agility, and confidence, and more than anything, we think kids will have a great time this summer.
10 Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course Patterns For The Summer
If you’ve got your supplies ready, it’s time to start thinking about the design you’re going to make for your sidewalk chalk obstacle course. These are just ten ideas to get you started, but of course, you can fully customize them to fit your family’s preferences this year. Mix and match ideas until you come up with the ultimate sidewalk chalk obstacle course that will keep your kids entertained for hours.
1. Obstacle Course Math Boxes
We all know that during the summer break, it’s hard to get kids to keep up with their studies. However, when you add these math boxes into an obstacle course, they’ll forget they’re learning and just start having fun. The Art of Education University firstly shows you how to make your own sidewalk chalk and then shares some great ideas to get started with your obstacle course. You won’t believe how much fun your kids will have while improving their math skills this summer.
2. Gross Motor Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
Hands On As We Grow shares this fun gross motor sidewalk chalk obstacle course which features zig zags, loops, spirals, and lines to jump over. On top of that, you’ll find a classic hopscotch board, which we think is essential for any good sidewalk obstacle course. All of these different elements work together to challenge young children and keep them entertained for hours. The more space that you have for your course, the more energy your kids will be able to burn off after sitting indoors all day long.
3. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course for Young Kids
As we mentioned earlier, obstacle courses are great for anyone over about the age of 3. So long as your child is comfortable moving around independently, they’ll have a great time exploring the sidewalk. For anyone with three and four-year-olds, you may want to look at adding obstacles into the course just for their age group. Tales of a Mountain Mama shares how she adjusts her obstacle course for different ages. For young kids, you can use stick figures to help guide their way, and simple jumping and spinning actions are also a good idea.
4. Halloween Sidewalk Obstacle Course
If you are lucky enough to live somewhere where you can still enjoy spending time outdoors in the fall, have a go at making this Halloween obstacle course from Laly Mom. This would be a great addition to your Halloween party and will keep the kids entertained while the adults are spending time socializing. This course has about seven or eight different sections, so it will take a little while to prepare. Get a few adults together to set up the course, and you’ll find the task is much easier.
5. Practice Your Soccer Skills
A sidewalk obstacle course can also involve other elements and items, as well as the chalk designs you create. Backyard Camp shares this fun addition to any course, where you’ll dribble the ball in and out between a series of bottles. It’s the perfect obstacle for any kids who love playing sports and will work to improve their agility and control. From there, you can continue with the course and add other obstacles with or without the ball.
6. Create a Balance Beam
HPRC offers us a whole selection of ideas you can incorporate into your obstacle course, but our favorite one has to be the balance beam. If you don’t want to risk lifting your child off the ground to improve their balance, you can simply draw a beam on the ground for them to practice on. For kids who love gymnastics, this will make a great addition to any obstacle course, and you’ll want to choose a bright color to help this element of the course stand out from the ground.
7. Rescue a Toy or Reward at the End of the Course
Some children need more motivation than others to get involved in an obstacle course. If your child is reluctant to join in with the fun, add a reward or a toy at the end of the course, which they have to work to rescue. Toot’s Mom is Tired shares a selection of ideas to keep your sidewalk chalk obstacle course fresh and fun each time you make one. If your kid sees their favorite toy trapped at the end of the course, you can be sure they’ll want to do their best to be reunited.
8. Lily Pad Hop
Passion for Savings gives us a whole selection of ideas you can mix and match to create a fun and unique course your kids will love. The lily pad hop is one of the most vibrant elements of this course, and your kids will enjoy pretending to be frogs as they hop between each lily pad. This is a great way to get rid of that pent-up energy your child has from being inside all day long during the summer break.
9. Chalk Sight Word Game
Kids of all ages can benefit from this chalk sight word game shared by Messy Little Monster. For younger kids, you can use very easy sight words and then work on increasing vocabulary with older children. It’s a great way to sneak a bit of homework into your child’s playtime, and you’ll find they are really motivated if there is a reward at the end for them.
10. Driveway Shape Maze
Creative Family Fun offers us this outdoor shape activity that takes very little time and effort to set up. You’ll enjoy playing it for days on end until the rain comes and washes your course away. This is perfect for either a large driveway or sidewalk, and you can add a wide variety of shapes to help your kids learn about different shapes. If you are focusing on one shape with your child at the moment, such as a square, make sure you add more of these, so they receive the most attention.
A sidewalk chalk obstacle course is one of the best activities you can do this year on a budget. If you’ve run out of ideas for the summer break, buy or make some chalk and start designing a course to keep your kids entertained for hours on end. They’ll love seeing the sidewalk or driveway transformed into a colorful piece of art and will enjoy exploring all of the hidden challenges you’ve put into place for them. The great thing about this project is that you won’t even have to wash up after. When the rain comes, the chalk will simply wash away, leaving the sidewalk looking as good as new.