A Recipe for Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Now that the little ones are outside playing in the summer sun parents need to find ways to keep them entertained. Making your own sidewalk chalk is a great (and cheap) way to keep them busy. The nicest part is that the recipe is easy enough for even the littlest ones to help with.

Things you will need:

1¼ cup plaster of paris

½ cup water

tempera paint (liquid or powder)

plastic spoon

disposable container to mix ingredients in.

molds/cookie cutters/play dough shape cutters etc.

Step 1. Mix 1¼ cup plaster of paris and ½ cup water together. Use disposable spoon and bowl because plaster will harden and clog your drains! Mixture will be quite thick. If it is too watery add more plaster, if it is too thick (cannot mix it) add more water.

Step 2. Add tempera paint. Most recipes call for too spoonfuls of paint. I play around with the amounts depending on how bright the kids want the chalk. Mix thoroughly.

Step 3. Spoon mixture into molds/cutters that you are using. This should be done rather quickly because the mixture starts to harden rapidly.

Step 4. When chalk is mostly dry pop it out of the molds and continue to let it dry completely.

Step 5. Have Fun!