Sidewalk chalk is a fun, easy way to entertain your kids at home no matter what age! Here are some simple chalk games to play that will take up hours of your long and grueling babysitting gig. Plus, the mess stays outside and can easily be rinsed away so the 'rents will prob be happy as well! Hey, who knows...you might even have fun too!

Take turns tracing each other's silhouettes and create one-of-a-kind outfits for yourself and others that you'll color on with chalk. Switch the theme up each time and see who can come up with the best outfit! Pay attention to detail, too! Paint the fingernails and toenails to match.

If your kids are a little younger and need more one-on-one involvement from you, take a stick of chalk and draw a big dollhouse on the driveway. Create a huge mansion with tons of rooms! Then, grab some of the kid's dolls and accessories and let them get creative in decorating and playing in the house. They can add on rooms and color in wallpaper, too!

Mazes are really fun to do and if you have a lot of room in the driveway or sidewalk you can create a huge maze out of chalk that the kids can venture into! Have little "pit stops" that are appropriate for their age along the way with brainteasers (think math problems) or little challenges (like untying a knot) that they have to complete until they can continue on their way. If you have more than one kid, time each of them to see how long it takes to finish the maze. Quickest time wins a little prize – like an ice cream treat!

6/29/2009 7:00:00 AM