These sidewalk games and activity ideas are provided by special Guest Blogger Julie Kieras from HappyStrongHome.com.
Looking for a fun outdoor activity? Sidewalk games are a classic (no cost!) activity all kids can enjoy on their own, or with friends! Here are 7 sidewalk games that you can play virtually anywhere.
Items to gather:
• Colorful activity cones (also called game cones, or traffic cones)
• Sidewalk chalk, such as My First Sidewalk Chalk Set or the Ice Cream & Cake Chalk Set
• Ball (or anything round – even an orange will do)
• Small hoop for throwing
• Small wheeled toys
Now...let the games begin!
7 Super-Fun Sidewalk Games for Kids
1) Cone Maze — Create a twisty path for kids to run through and around to get to the end. Instruct kids to run to the outside of all the cones. This works well with bikes (if placed far enough apart) or toy vehicles that can roll through.
2) Cone Color Tag — Spread out the different colored cones across a larger area, placing the cones far apart. Call out a color and have kids run to tag the correct cone. The last one to reach a cone is out—with two cones of each color this makes for some interesting choices!
3) Leapfrog — Many variations of this game can be played: Choose to hop over cones by color, or as part of an obstacle course.
4) Ring toss — Draw a series of throwing lines with various point levels. It's exciting to watch children challenge themselves to succeed at farther and farther distances.
5) Chalk Masterpieces — Fill your driveway with colorful depictions: a tasty dessert car, a garden full of flowers, petals, vines, ladybugs, trees, and more! Every child can draw a little something to fill the space!
6) Hopscotch — Color, count, and jump! This is a classic game that can have many variations depending on what age your child is. (And go ahead, you know you want to play, too!)
7) Tracing - Create all sorts of interesting shapes and figures by tracing the activity cones, toys, rocks and other items around the yard onto the sidewalk! They can even trace each other! Tracing is a great pre-writing skill and a never ending delight for young children.
Sidewalk games offer children an opportunity to soak up the sunshine, stretch their legs, and get creative. Sometimes you don’t even have to make up games for them: Just give them some materials and see what happens.
Safety Tips!
Help your children understand the importance of safety when playing on the sidewalk with these tips:
- Use cones to set up a visible “no cross line” in your driveway.
- Draw a big stop sign after the cones to remind kids to STOP and not run out into the street. (Hint: If you have your child draw the line or stop sign as you discuss not going into the street, it might help them remember why it’s there!)
