Lockdown has finally given us the impetus to create some Chalk Walk Obstacle Courses for our neighbourhood. (See video examples below.) I’ve always wanted to make these, and now that we have started, my son loves making them too.
People often think these chalk walks are difficult to make, however they’re so fun and you can involve your kids in making them too. We have now made a bunch of these during the past couple of months, including for younger and older children.
We have done very simple ones by going down our street drawing designated areas for ‘dancing,’ being ‘goofy,’ doing ‘silly walks,’ and drawing Hop Scotch grids which even the older people on our street have loved doing.
How chalk obstacle courses develop sensory processing and motor skills:
- FUN while social distancing!
- gross motor skills
- body and spatial awareness
- balance and coordination
- motor planning skills to create, plan and execute
- fine and visual motor control
- organisational skills
- emotional regulation
TOP TIP: Check the weather before you draw out your chalk course. We learned the hard way as it sadly rained the day after we made ours a couple of times.
How to create and arrange a chalk walk obstacle course, keeping your child in mind:
- Start with a more intense, heavy work component such as jumping or doing press-ups
- Next, do a balance and / or challenge task such as walking along a wavy line or jumping and turning
- Have a high energy component (running on the spot for a minute, running for the home stretch)
- a mindful calming section (e.g. blow out the candles, sniff the flowers, sing a song, or unscramble letters to words, or say affirmations).
Although do just have fun, follow your child’s lead and get them involved in creating these.
Chalk Walk Obstacle Course Examples:
Here are several examples that my son and I have done for our neighbourhood. Do share your ideas. We’d love to see them.