RAINBOW CHALK WALK

The "Rainbow Chalk Walk" is a grounding activity that's fun and playful for kids.

 

Now, I don't mean grounding like being in trouble, but I mean feeling centered and balanced within your being. When you feel grounded, you are mentally focused, emotionally balanced, and feel strong and solid in your body.

 

So, in other words, when you aren't grounded, you might:

• feel spacey, forgetful, and your thoughts might be scattered
• lose your keys often
• overreact to small challenges in your day
• feel clumsy in your body or trip over things
• find fear and anxiety creeping in more often

Use this "Rainbow Chalk Walk" activity to help your kids calm and focus, manage their big emotions, and feel strong and safe in their body.

 

RELATED: Walking Meditation

RELATED: Rainbow Walk

 

PREPARE YOUR RAINBOW CHALK WALK

Just like hopscotch, you'll want to use sidewalk chalk to draw a large rainbow on the ground outside. You can draw as many rainbows as you need to keep your kiddos engaged and not just sitting around.

 

Each color of the rainbow will act like a balance beam so your preschoolers will have to place one foot in front of the other as they walk from one end to the other.

 

If you can't get outside, you can use colored tape to create a rainbow on the floor indoors.

 

RELATED: Rainbow Meditation for Kids

 

THE STEPS FOR RAINBOW CHALK WALK

Each preschooler gets their own turn "in the rainbow". When it's their turn have them:

1. Start at one end of the color red and take a deep breath to settle and calm
2. Wiggle their feet and toes a bit in their shoes and stomp them gently on the ground a few times
3. Enter the rainbow and walk the color red to the other end by placing one foot in front of the other, just like a balance beam
4. When red is complete, line up at orange, take a deep breath, and walk the orange line to the end
5. Repeat for all of the colors

 

Here are some questions to ask your preschoolers during and after the rainbow chalk walk:

1. Was it easier or harder than you thought to walk the rainbow lines?
2. Why do you think it was easier/harder?
3. What feelings do you notice in your feet as you walk?
4. What feelings do you notice in your body as you walk?
5. Do you feel strong and steady or wobbly?
6. Do you need your arms to help steady yourself?
7. What are you thinking as you try to keep your balance?
8. Are your eyes looking up or down at your feet?
9. Did you lose your balance at all and step out of the color? How did you feel about that?
10. What did you notice about your balance as you moved from the color red to the color violet? Did your balance get better, was it the same, or did it get more challenging to balance as the arc got smaller?

 

RELATED: Inner rainbow meditation for kids

 

TRY THESE IDEAS TOO

As your kids get familiar with the rainbow chalk walk, you can add variations to keep it fresh and engaging.

1. Have two preschoolers walk different colors of the rainbow at the same time. What do they notice, do they bump into each other, do they lend a hand to support each other, are they giggling to much to balance? Then try it with three or more. (Kind of like a rainbow twister game!)
2. Try the activity barefoot. Feeling your bare feet on the ground is one of the best ways to practice grounding. Have your kids notice any differences- in their balance, how their feet feel, or anything else.
3. Mix it up by starting the walk in the middle of the rainbow or by walking the colors randomly instead of in order. Do they like the randomness or do they prefer order instead?
4. Use pocket dice to roll the next color to walk. Do this in pairs so that one friend rolls while the other walks.
5. Have them walk the rainbow without looking at their feet.
6. Have your kids spin circles a few times and then try to walk the colors. What do they notice?

 

ADD SOME AFFIRMATIONS TO YOUR RAINBOW CHALK WALK

An affirmation is a positive statement that is repeated to reinforce a desired belief or outcome. It can be used to  build self-confidence, promote a positive self-image, or reinforce strong character qualities like being smart, helpful, and kind. By focusing on positive aspects, affirmations can help shift one's mindset and potentially influence behavior and outcomes.

 

The colors of the rainbow offer the perfect opportunity to add some positive affirmations to this rainbow chalk walk activity.

1. RED- I am safe.
2. ORANGE- I am creative.
3. YELLOW- I am brave.
4. GREEN- I am loved.
5. BLUE- I am truthful.
6. INDIGO- I am moving toward my goals/dreams.
7. VIOLET- I am smart.

These are just suggestions. Create your own based on the needs of your group.

 

If you're looking for more mindfulness activities to add to your preschool day, check out The Mindfulness Library for free, 24/7 access to meditation scripts, activity packets, deep breathing printables and more.