Chalk it up to fun!
As an avid drawer I usually keep a small sketchbook and pens on hand to make little drawings. Today, however, as I helped an adult student transfer his drawing onto a wall as a large mural I was reminded just how magical it is to make art on a grand scale. Big marks require big ideas, big choices and big gestures - to my mind, that’s a recipe for some big fun!
Kids can really benefit from being able to make big drawings. As they make larger marks they call upon a whole host of gross motor skills to get things done, they use their coordination to navigate a space and they switch on some creative problem solving.
Chalk is such a perfectly simple material to offer children who like to draw BIG - it isn’t precious, doesn’t require paper or wall space, and requires minimal wash-up. Since lockdown I’ve noticed lots of chalk drawings appearing on local footpaths, bursting with rainbows and ramblings, hopscotch and happy faces. Their sweet simplicity warms my heart.
Here are some chalky ideas to get your kids drawing:
Chalk is an art material that lasts for years.
It’s cheap and easy to find in supermarkets, $2 shops, office supply stores or in toy departments.
Chalk comes in thin or thick formats, and both have their advantages. Thin sticks may be easier for some small fingers to hold but will be more brittle. Thicker sticks, often labelled ‘pavement chalk’, are bulkier to hold but usually more robust.
Chalk is dusty, very dusty… so perfect for use outdoors.
If you have a blackboard, super! Sometimes those on an easel can be a little unstable, so check they’re solid enough to withstand some energetic pressure from your artist. A blackboard attached to a wall is a great option, and a wooden panel can be transformed into a blackboard with a few coats of blackboard paint. I’ve tried installing blackboards in various locations, but the one we made from a painted wooden panel and attached to the fence of our sandpit was the real winner.
If you don’t have a blackboard, don’t stress. Pavers, a footpath, a fence, a flowerpot or even a tree trunk will do just fine. Kids learn as they experiment with mark making on different textures and surfaces.
Dry chalk works well on a dry surface, but what happens when you add water? Chalk dipped into water makes brighter marks that last longer. By offering your child a pot of water and paintbrushes along with the chalk you open up more opportunities. How about a spray bottle of water? More messy fun!
Let the kids experiment, and play with ideas. Trace their outline as they lie on the ground. It’s delightful to see a child looking at their traced shape and marvel at their size. Take a line for a long walk. Draw around a shadow, draw a path, write a message, make a hopscotch… chalk offers so much cheap and easy fun. Enjoy!
