You guys know how much I love doing simple, fun activities with my kids.
If you’ve been around the block at EYT, then you also know I have zero artistic ability. Please do not be put off by this activity by my poorly drawn flames 🙂 Believe it or not, this is some of my best work.
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Fighting Fires in 100 Degree Weather
Today my daughter requested an outdoor activity. It was probably over 90 degrees out there, and probably close to a 100 with all the blazing concrete, but I love my girl, so I said yes, we can go out there for 10 minutes.
Now what to do for 10 minutes that won’t totally drain and dehydrate my poor kid and that can be set up in less than 30 seconds?
Let’s put out chalk fires.
Of course we had to put on a firefighter costume. It’s a really lightweight vest and plastic hat that we got as party favors at her cousin’s birthday party.
I just love that’s she’s wearing the vest over her pretty dress. It makes me giggle.
Looking for an organized guide of fun, easy activities to do with your toddler that also encourages their growth and development?
I’ve created a 3-month activity planner just for busy parents like you! The plan includes 65 detailed, simple, and stress-free activities including: arts and crafts, sensory play, motor skills, and STEM–all using easy-to-find supplies.
Let me help make planning activities for your toddler easy, so you can skip the stress and get straight to the fun!
Getting Started
You’ll need:
- sidewalk chalk (I used orange and blue)
- spray bottle filled with water
- firefighter costume (optional)
Draw flames with the sidewalk chalk. It doesn’t have to look good; it’ll just get washed away in a minute anyway.
Have your mini-firefighter squirt water on the chalk fires to put them out.
What’s My Kid Working on Here?
Putting out chalk fires with a squeeze bottle can help kids strengthen their fine motor muscles.
Fine motor muscles are the muscles we use to write, use scissors, or thread a needle. Unlike gross motor skills, fine motor skills require small movements by the hands and fingers and lots of hand-eye coordination.
Toe wiggles are also a fine motor skill, however, it’s probably not a movement that needs a lot of practice from your toddler!
For putting out chalk fires, I specifically chose the spray bottle to help strengthen my daughter’s fine motor muscles. The act of squeezing the trigger on the bottle and then aiming the nozzle at the fire helps her develop her fine motor skills.
A water gun would probably work as well 😉
Your Turn to Put Out Chalk Fires
Dig out a box of chalk from your garage, grab an empty spray bottle, and find a blank spot of concrete to do this activity.
You can even set this up as a full-blown dramatic play event. Call your toddler on the phone, telling him where the fires are and have him race around to put out fires. Make a fire truck out of cardboard.
It’s your activity, do what you want!
One quick note though, it takes a lot of water to put out those fires, so keep a jug of water close to refill the squeeze bottle.
And maybe stick a popsicle in the freezer for a special treat afterward.
You’ve both earned it!
More Fine Motor Activities
Looking for an organized guide of fun, easy activities to do with your toddler that also encourages their growth and development?
I’ve created a 3-month activity planner just for busy parents like you! The plan includes 65 detailed, simple, and stress-free activities including: arts and crafts, sensory play, motor skills, and STEM–all using easy-to-find supplies.
Let me help make planning activities for your toddler easy, so you can skip the stress and get straight to the fun!