Children are only young for a little while. Kids will be kids and creativity often gets them into trouble. Instead of limiting their imagination, put chalkboard paint on one of the walls of their bedroom or in the family room and let them be as creative as they want. Chalkboard paint can be used on a variety of objects throughout your home. Take a few minutes and draw with your kids. Explore your own talents!
Chalkboard Walls
Painting one wall of your child’s bedroom or the family room will allow your child to draw, learn to write, or just doodle whenever they have free time. Paint one of their closet doors as well. Keep different colored chalks in a basket so they are within easy reach of small hands. Giving them a designated area for drawing will keep them from marking on your other walls. Whether you paint the entire wall or just a section of it, your child will have hours of fun doodling, drawing, leaving notes for one another, and just being able to create art.
Chalkboard Furniture
You can also use chalkboard paint on different types of furniture as well. Paint your child’s dresser or toy box with chalkboard paint. Let them draw pictures on the sides and decorate each item however they want. Erase them each night and let them create a new drawing every day. Encourage them to practice writing their names or the items that belong in each drawer.
Say It With Blocks
Take a 12′ x 4-inch piece of landscaping timber and cut it into 4 x 4-inch cubes. Sand them smooth and paint them with chalkboard paint. Encourage your child to use one block for each letter of the alphabet. Have them draw different items that start with each letter. Every day they can erase the old item and think up another one to add to the block. The kids can use the blocks to learn their alphabet and create words.
Inspire Creativity
Part of the reason that chalkboards are so efficient is that they can be cleaned and reused over and over again without damaging the surface. Putting chalkboard paint on one wall or other surfaces in your home can inspire your child’s creativity on a daily basis. Take a few minutes every day to let your own creativity take over. Spend some time with your child and draw pictures together. While it may seem insignificant at the time, those few minutes can make a world of difference to your child. It shows them that you love them and it will encourage them to continue to be creative.
Save Their Work
One of the great things about having a chalkboard in the house is that you can use it over and over again. That doesn’t mean you have to lose your child’s artwork. Before you clean the chalkboard every night, take a few pictures. Save them to a digital photo album or have a few of them printed off. Every day your child can take their chalk and draw to their heart’s content. Encourage them to tell stories with their artwork and to work together to create murals. Ask them to sign their work at the end of the day so you will know which child is responsible for each drawing you save.
Easy to Keep Clean
The best thing about chalkboards is that they are easy to clean. Put a little water in a spray bottle, spray the area and wipe it with a clean cloth. A few quick swipes and the surface is ready for tomorrow’s edition. Teach your children how to erase their mistakes so they can continue to draw without having to start over each time.
Chalkboard paint is a great way to add a message board to your kitchen or create a learning area for your child. No matter how you choose to include it in your home, rest assured it will provide hours of learning and fun for everyone in the family.
