Is your tub of broken sidewalk chalk collecting dust in the corner because “it’s boring” according to the kids? Breathe new life into chalk time with some glow in the dark chalk. No kid can resist the alluring power of the glow.
Don’t let your kids have all the excitement — get in on the action by having some messy fun making your own glow in the dark chalk at home. You can make glowing chalk in a variety of ways, but most recipes gets their glow from fluorescent or glow in the dark paint.
Here are three easy recipes parents and babysitters can make with just a few simple ingredients:
Glow in the Dark Chalk
Follow these simple instructions from Growing A Jeweled Rose for how to make glow in the dark chalk:
- Combine a small amount of glow in the dark paint, or fluorescent paint, with water in a mixing bowl
- Continuously add plaster of paris to your mixing bowl until you reach a very thick, wet, consistency.
- Spray some cooking spray on the bottom of an ice cube tray and spoon the mixture into the sections. Make sure to really pack it down!
- Leave your chalk to dry for roughly 12 hours
- Once dry, pop the trays in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to help the chalk pop out.
- Color away!
Glowing Chalk Paint
What’s even more fun than glowing chalk? Liquid glowing chalk, of course. Paging Fun Mums uses neon washable paint, making this recipe fun and easy to clean up.
Ice Chalk
On a hot summer night, cool down while you get glowing with ice chalk. Simply freeze your glowing chalk paint in ice trays or follow this simple recipe from Reading Confetti for regular ice chalk, substituting neon paint for food coloring.
Making the chalk is only half the fun — using it is the best part. Besides making some awesome concrete artwork in your backyard, there are tons of different ways to play and get creative with your chalk.
- Play a game of glow in the dark Twister. Chalk out a game board on your driveway and get twisting in the dark.
- Throw a glowing paint party. Set up easels and black lights in your backyard and have a blast chalk-painting in the dark.
- Play a few rounds of glow in the dark tic-tac-toe on the concrete.
- Draw chalk outlines of your child’s body then have them paint in faces and clothes with the chalk paint.
- Set up a glow in the dark treasure hunt in your backyard. A glowing “X” marks the spot where they’ll find the treasure.
- Play a game of nighttime hopscotch. Chalk out a glowing court and get hopping.
- Have a glow in the dark car race. Paint a glowing track on your driveway and race toy cars in the dark.
- Create glow in the dark constellations. Use chalk-painted rocks to map out the stars in a constellation then draw lines with chalk to connect the stars.
- Chalk out a glow in the dark maze on your patio or driveway.
Get creative coming up with your own fun ideas to light up a warm evening in the backyard. For more activities to do in the dark, check out these 8 Fun Games to Play in the Dark.
Shahrzad Warkentin is a mom of two and a freelance writer in Los Angeles who loves anything that glows in the dark.
