I shaded all over their chalkboard easel using the side edges of coloured chalk. Some days I made it multi-coloured like a rainbow, others just one.
Then I set out paint pots filled with clean water and a range of thick and thin paintbrushes for experimenting with.
Pop loved water painting through the colourful chalk background and was absolutely thrilled to have permanent access to her special “paints” at all times.
She took the paintbrushes for a walk and made some lovely curving shapes, refining her gross motor skills as she did so!
When Cakie had a go she immediately wanted to paint pictures and represent people and objects.
This is a FINE portrayal of Daddy!
She loved how quickly it dried and that she could start over very quickly and this fact kept drawing her back often for new experimenting and play. She started practising her mark-making and letter formation and was particularly good at making the first letter from her name using a large, sweeping movement.
Gross motor letter writing is a very important stage of early mark-making and literacy skills. It improves co-ordination, arm and hand strength and gets children ready for more refined fine-motor skills later on.
Learning Links:
Literacy: practise writing graphemes from own name (and then beyond), make marks to represent meaning, experiment with role-play/emergent writing, being to form letters correctly
Creativity: explore media in two and three dimensions, make marks and patterns to represent objects and people
Physical: practise gross motor arm and hand movements, hold a tool correctly, strengthening shoulder and upper arm muscles, good posture and rotation from the shoulder and elbow when painting/ mark-making
Cakie: 3 years 4 months
Pop: 22 months
Susanna says
What a fab idea. I too have a real problem with anything ‘messy’ being left out- even pens are an issue right now, but water I can cope with! Think I may need to stock up on chalks!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
yup, it’s a great one for those “oh no, not more mess!” days! 🙂
Jessica says
I have always let my preschoolers paint with water on the chalkboard, but it never occurred to me to color it with chalk first. What a beautiful colorful idea! Thanks!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Me too Jessica! Mine used to love painting the playground walls and floor too!
Brittney says
This looks like something I could handle, and my kids would like! Thanks for the inspiration!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
You’re welcome! hope they love it 🙂
Amy@Let's Explore says
What a fun project! I think even my older girls (7 and 9) would enjoy this. 🙂
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Absolutely! I did and I’m definitely older than that! 😉
Tonii says
You are brilliant. My little boy is 2 and would LOVE to do this, and I would love not cleaning up paint everywhere like I usually do. Thank you SO much for another great idea!!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
You are very welcome and thank you!
maggy, red ted art says
We LOVED playing with your chalkboard today! Especially Pip Squeak (2yrs). Brilliant!
Maggy x
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
aww thanks Maggy! we loved having you over 🙂
Pip says
lovely idea and not too messy either!! thanks for sharing xx
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thanks!
Naomi @ Upcycled Creatively says
What a great idea! Wouldn’t it be fabulous on a chalk board wall?!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
yes!
Allison says
Great idea! My older two are responsible enough with their paints to do it on their own, but I’m keeping this in mind for when my twins are a bit bigger. 🙂
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
They might still love it even so! 🙂
Stephanie says
just “pinned” this. great idea. so easy!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thanks for the sharing love!
Toddler Titbits says
Ah love this idea!!!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thank you!
TheBoyandMe says
This is brilliant, and I love the fact that it’s minimal mess! I’ve pinned it, and shared on twitter too. I really like that you put the ages of your children at the bottom, such a helpful guideline.
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thanks! yes, i think the minimal mess seems to be its main appeal, lol!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
ps thanks for sharing- MUCH appreciated!
Sally says
Great idea! I have kids the same age so this is perfect!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thank you!
Jode says
What a great idea…i am running out of rainy day activities that don’t redecorate the house so this will be great for my toddler twosome!Thankyou!
Alicia says
What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing!
MilkChic says
Great idea! Thank you 🙂
Jessica @ Play Trains! says
Wow, this is a really cool idea! I’ll have to wash the paint off of my son’s chalkboard so we can try this.