Active for Life gives examples of how a piece of chalk can be the basis for a number of different active games to build a range of balance and motor skills, several of which can be adapted for younger children.

1.    Hopscotch: The rules [PDF] are simple and kids can either draw their own course with the chalk or have a parent help. Use your imagination and draw the boxes to be jumped in in various colours and shapes. Skills developed include hopping, throwing, balance and coordination.

2.    Avoid the Shark: With different colours of chalk, draw “beaches” various distances apart. Use blue chalk to draw water and shark fins between the beaches and have kids jump from beach to beach to avoid the “sharks” in the “water.” Works on hopping, balance and coordination.

3.    Chalk Bullseye: Use various colours of chalk and draw concentric circles with a bullseye in the middle. Use chalk, stones, or on hot days, wet sponges, as marker to see who can throw close to the bullseye. Works on throwing skills.

4.    Chalk Maze: Use chalk to design a web of squiggly lines, circles and other lines to create a maze through which the children can walk, run, cycle or scooter. The bigger, more colourful, and more intricate the maze, the more fun kids will have working their way through. Works on running and coordination skills.

5.    Alphabet Hop: Use chalk to make 26 squares or circles close together and write the letters of the alphabet on each. For kids just learning their alphabet, call out letter to hop from one to another. The same can be done to promote numeracy skills, starting with the numbers 1-10. Works on hopping skills and developing linking of mental recognition skills to physical response.

6.    Sidewalk Twister: Create a chalk twister board with at least four colours and four shapes. For younger children, create your own rules, e.g. have kids roar like lions on blue squares, hop like bunnies on a green circle, laugh like their mum on a yellow triangle, or stand as tall as a tree on a red squiggle.