When the weather is nice enough, your kids will be itching to get outside and play. A fun activity for them to do is to make their own sidewalk chalk so it’s ready to go when Mother Nature cooperates.
You can buy sidewalk chalk, but I’ve found that making the chalk is actually just as much or more fun for kids than using it. Whether it’s hopscotch or mural drawing your kids are interested in, this chalk lasts a long time and works well.
Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
You will need
1 cup warm water
about 1 1/2 – 2 cups Plaster of Paris
Powdered or liquid tempera paint
Disposable plastic container, like a large yogurt or cottage cheese
container
Large plastic spoon or chopstick for stirring
Molds for sidewalk chalk. You can use small paper cups, egg cartons, small yogurt containers, or duct tape and toilet paper rolls.
1. Prepare the molds ahead of time if you are using the toilet paper rolls. Wrap duct tape around the rolls and cover one end of the tube. (The cardboard will disintegrate if you don’t use the duct tape). Line the tubes with waxed paper to prevent the chalk from sticking. You can line the egg cartons, if they aren’t the slick styrofoam kind, with plastic wrap to prevent sticking also.
2. Pour the warm water into the disposable container. Stir in small amounts of Plaster of Paris until the water doesn’t absorb any more powder. The mixture should be the consistency of frosting – stiff, but still easily stirred.
3. Add a few teaspoons of tempera paint. For pastel colors, mix colors with white tempera. Stir thoroughly for solid-colored chalk or leave swirled for a marbled look.
4. Pour the mixture into the molds. Let hem dry completely. This can take anywhere from half an hour to a day or more depending on humidity and amount of water in the mixture.
5. Remove the chalk from the molds and it’s ready to use.