Encouraging early mark making

Playing with big chalks helps children to:

• Make their own pictures on a large scale
• See that movements make marks when you push and pull and point with the chalk
• Enjoy drawing outside
• Enjoy colour
• Observe how water washed the marks away

Buy the thickest sticks of coloured pavement chalk you can find and show your child how to make marks on a garden path or step. The rain washes it off, but your child may love scrubbing it off with a brush and water. Encourage your child to make backwards and forwards movements with the chalk. Watch as you child makes different kinds of marks and talk to them about the patterns: long, short, thick thin, curvy or straight.