When I was a kid, my parents lined one wall of my bedroom with a large chalkboard that had once belonged to a local classroom or church. My siblings and I spent hours and hours telling stories and playing games on that chalkboard! I had wanted one like that for my family for a long time, but they are expensive and we also don’t really have anywhere we could put it. Then I found chalkboard contact paper (affiliate link), which works beautifully in the long hallway that separates our two upstairs bedrooms. The kids love it – and I love watching them tell stories together along this wall! We had a couple of brands of chalk; Crayola colored chalk (affiliate link) gave the most vibrant colors. I usually find that, out of kids’ craft supply brands, I like Crayola best.
Chalkboard Storytelling for Kids
The kids seem to like how, although they erase, the history of their story stays behind in chalk dust on the board – until they use a damp cloth to wipe it completely clean. Chalk, like pencils, has a forgiving feel to it that really seems to help my kids let their creativity fly free with all sorts of fanciful drawings and ideas.
Do your kids like to draw on chalkboards?
Learning and Fun for Kids Aged 5-12
There were some great activities for kids aged 5-12 linked up last week! These two are my favorites – both involving chalk, just like my post!
- Sidewalk Chalk Clock Game from Creative Family Fun
- Measuring Chalk Drawings from JDaniel4’s Mom
Now it’s your turn! Link up your learning and fun for kids aged 5-12 years old below! My cohosts and I feature our favorites each week, and we may also pin your post to our popular After School Activities board on Pinterest, or some of our personal boards!
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
What a wonderful way to encourage collaborative play and storytelling! Now you’ve got me wondering where I could put a chalkboard…
My kids do the same with dry erase boards.
I had a huge chalkboard growing up too that my parents bought from a teachers’ supply store!!! I have fond memories of playing school! I was always the teacher, and my little sister the student LOL!
Just a bit of trivia – I think the chalkboard actually came from Grandpa P’s office, along with the big desk we had in the family room.
I love your ability to find solutions for the problems of your new house. This contact paper looks fab. In fact, we have it as well, but didn’t figure out where to put it :)
A chalkboard is one of those things I’ve been meaning to get and really, really should too! My kids do chalk outside or on our patio walls, but I’d like a substitute for when we’re indoors or so that their hands won’t scratch the not-smooth concrete surface we have on our patio walls.