Making a chalkboard table is a simple way to keep your kids occupied and cool this summer!  My children love to play sidewalk chalk, but in the summer it’s just too hot to spend all afternoon on the blazing asphalt.  This year I got smart and made them a chalk board table.  All it takes is a table, some paint and a little bit of time.

• Making a Chalkboard Table – What You’ll Need:

- A table! (Preferably wood.  We used an old dining room table from a garage sale)

- Sand paper

- Primer

- Paint for the table legs (optional)

- Chalkboard paint

• Making a Chalkboard Table – How To Do It:

- If you’re using a full sized table (like we did) you may want to cut some length off the legs to make it easier for the kids to reach.  We cut about six (6) inches off of a dining room table.

- Sand the table and prime it.  I used spray primer so it would dry faster.

- Paint the legs and underside (I used left over white paint from our walls).

- Paint the top with chalkboard paint.

- Prep the table with a layer of chalk before using.

- Get creative!

• Making a Chalkboard Table – Ideas for When You’re Done:

- My kids immediately asked for a train track.  We drew the track, a station, mines, forest and a zoo where they set up toy animals.  I wrote the name of each ‘stop’ so they can learn the words.

- Practice shapes, letters, numbers and tracing!

- Write categories on the table (dinosaurs, trains, shapes, colors) and have the kids sort their toys into each category.

- Play games and keep score right on the table.

- Use the table for your Pictionary, tic-tac-toe or hangman surface!

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