Make Your Own Salted Chalk Art

Sidewalk chalk is a colorful summertime staple! It’s readily available, cost-effective, and provides hours of creative fun for active children of all ages.

They love having the freedom to decorate the driveway or sidewalk to their heart’s content. From pictures and patterns to hopscotch and written messages, the possibilities are endless!

It’s exciting to change it up too. We have a fun idea for making your own Salted Chalk Art that puts chalk to use in a whole new way. It’s perfect for a rainy day or if you’re craving a little backyard shade.

It’s a mindful, sensory-friendly activity that’s easy enough to supervise. Watch our video of how it comes together and gather just a few things to get started:

• Salt
• Sidewalk chalk
• Several bowls
• Small, clear bottle with lid
• Funnel (optional)

Ready? Begin by covering the bottom of each bowl with salt, one for each color. We recommend at least ½ cup in each, depending on the size of the bottle you’ll be layering it all into.

Color each pile of salt by swirling the chalk into the granules. Watch as the rough texture of the salt magically breaks down the soft chalk, so the color eventually matches. Have your child count slowly or sing the ABCs with each swirl around the bowl to see how long it takes.

Now, pour small amounts of your colorful salted chalk into the container, one at a time, to create a unique rainbow of layers. Try using an upcycled bottle or clear jar with the label removed. For smaller openings, use a funnel to make pouring easier (and less messy!).

Keep going until you’ve reached the top.

Now, secure the lid and admire your work! No two will be alike.

Leave it as-is for display or have your child add embellishments such as stickers or a ribbon around the top to make it even more interesting.

BONUS: Ask questions to spark conversation and imagination. How did it feel to swirl the chalk around? How did it sound? How many layers of color did you fit into your container? Count them! Did any colors get mixed together? What does the pattern remind you of? A popsicle? A beach towel? What other observations come to mind?