For some cheap creative fun, draw on some rocks with a fine point permanent marker to make your own story stones. Once your characters and props are all made up, take them out to your driveway and…..
….with a little chalk, draw up some scenery for your imaginative story!
Emily loves to make up stories, so this activity kept her busy for a very long time. We had quite a tale going on here, involving lost kites, fire trucks to the rescue, and boats that fell over the edge of a very high waterfall. The drama! The excitement!
Of course, there were also trips to Grandma’s house, some minor fender benders, and one accident involving a car driving through a house. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
Emily asked if she could go back outside to continue with her story after dinner. She won’t have to twist my arm.
Have fun!!
March 19th, 2010 on 4:18 pm
I love this. Collin loves to make up stories too. We have some story cards, but I really like the idea of making story stones. Thanks.
The chalk Emily is using looks so vibrant. What kind is it? Our chalk never looks that nice.
March 19th, 2010 on 4:19 pm
Too clever!
March 19th, 2010 on 4:21 pm
This is such a great idea!
March 19th, 2010 on 4:27 pm
@ Christy — They are cheap chalk pastels from Dick Blick. They are the store brand ones. We LOVE them!! I like the idea of story cards for a rainy day, but it was far too nice to be inside today. I've made note of the story card idea for the next time it rains!
March 19th, 2010 on 4:29 pm
Oh I love this idea (again). I can see hours of great entertainment and then not much tidying up at the end. Perfect.
March 19th, 2010 on 4:33 pm
@ Cheryl — Thanks! I think she's going to re-use the same stones again and again too. For such a simple activity, it kept her imagination going for a long time!
March 19th, 2010 on 4:37 pm
I love this idea – and I know two other girls who will love playing this in our garden! Thanks for the idea.
March 19th, 2010 on 4:38 pm
@ Cathy — How perfect! Have a great weekend! xoxo
March 19th, 2010 on 5:16 pm
Dear Valerie,
My rocks!!!
or..
Those cars are built as strong as a rock.
Love,
Mark
March 19th, 2010 on 5:21 pm
What a great idea! I love it and will be trying it for sure this weekend!
Tricia
March 19th, 2010 on 6:25 pm
awesome love it
March 19th, 2010 on 6:39 pm
We have story cards but this is far better! It's simply brilliant!
March 19th, 2010 on 7:06 pm
Brilliant!
March 19th, 2010 on 7:34 pm
Thanks for the fun idea. I can't wait to introduce it to the kids. They will love it. Hopefully it will warm up again for us sometime soon.
March 19th, 2010 on 7:39 pm
Oh wow! That is REALLY cute Val! I love it… what a great idea.
They would be great to put into an Easter basket, too. 
Love Val
March 19th, 2010 on 7:39 pm
Oooo… like a bunny and perhaps little red riding hood or something. Got my wheels turning now.
March 19th, 2010 on 8:04 pm
Those story stones are awesome! I really love your ideas. Emily looks so engrossed in her play.
March 19th, 2010 on 8:07 pm
Another great idea. I love this. How do you keep coming up with these?
And of course we don't have a Blick's where we live. Argh. So miss living in a more urban area (still).
March 19th, 2010 on 8:08 pm
@ Val in the Rose Garden — Ooooo… I love the idea of putting these in an Easter basket! Throw in a pack of chalk, and you're good to go!
March 19th, 2010 on 8:09 pm
@ Ivy – Oh, that is sad, but they do have an online store!
March 19th, 2010 on 9:01 pm
That is so cute! My kiddo is still at the age where she would rather just scribble scribble scribble with the chalk. The excitment of getting away with drawing on something thats not paper is just too much :p lol
March 19th, 2010 on 9:08 pm
I have dug so many rocks out of my garden, I'm sure we should do this.
March 19th, 2010 on 9:14 pm
This is an awesome idea! I love it.
March 19th, 2010 on 9:17 pm
That looks like allot of fun!
March 20th, 2010 on 7:27 am
How fun! I see a fairy chalk world in our future on the next sunny day (we're supposed to have snow again tomorrow…).
March 20th, 2010 on 8:12 am
Perfect! Now I can definitely do that one. She's so adorable all engaged in her story.
You know… free idea coming… maybe you should write a children's book about a little girl and her story stones. Just dedicate it to me, m-kay?
March 20th, 2010 on 9:30 am
This is a great idea!
March 20th, 2010 on 12:17 pm
This is so FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!
March 20th, 2010 on 12:47 pm
Wow, what a creative idea!
March 20th, 2010 on 7:03 pm
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March 20th, 2010 on 8:54 pm
@ niku — Snow again?? Hope you have some sunny days ahead SOON!
@ Petula — I love that idea!
@ JDaniel4's Mom — Wow! Thanks so much for the award! I really appreciate it!!
March 21st, 2010 on 7:49 am
Sweetpea will love this – as soon as it warms back up again I think I'll surprise her!
March 21st, 2010 on 12:11 pm
what a great activity! you have so many easy, thrifty ideas.
March 21st, 2010 on 1:36 pm
What a creative and fun idea! I love it – especially for my car-loving two year old! A great way to let him outside and ensure that he'll stay on the patio.
March 21st, 2010 on 2:28 pm
These are beautiful, I totally love them!!!
March 22nd, 2010 on 10:38 am
very clever! It would be fun to do at the beach too.
March 22nd, 2010 on 2:18 pm
This looks like so much fun, it almost makes me wish we lived in the city just so we could draw on the pavement! Well, not quite but it's a great idea for when we go to visit Grandma.
March 22nd, 2010 on 5:45 pm
I love this idea! I might have to utilize the several tons of rocks under my deck
March 23rd, 2010 on 2:32 am
Love this. Will definitely get the kids started on this before I start some seeds tomorrow. Perfect.
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March 23rd, 2010 on 2:33 am
Brilliant. Will definitely start the kids on this before I start starting seeds in the garden tomorrow!
March 29th, 2010 on 4:43 am
Hi Valerie;
Your post inspired this post on my blog:
http://www.moneysavingmaineac.com/2010/03/monday-making-memories.html
Thank you for the fun idea,
Teresa
Money Saving Maine-iac
March 29th, 2010 on 2:39 pm
What a fabulous way to spend a spring day. I love this so much! Thanks for sharing, I'll be linking.
March 29th, 2010 on 9:22 pm
I got about a hundred chalk pastels similar to your daughter's just for the heck of it, and I am 24. I've already used them several times. They are so much nicer than the ordinary variety!
Speaking as an adult who loves drawing on sidewalks . . . . the ones I got were inexpensive, too, especially when hitting a free shipping sale. I'm considering donating some of my chalk to this year's VBS.
March 30th, 2010 on 2:27 pm
@ Money Saving Maine-iac — That's wonderful! Thanks so much for posting about it!
@ Rachel at One Pretty Thing — Wow! Thanks so much for the link! I really appreciate it!
March 30th, 2010 on 2:28 pm
@ Jill — You're never too old for some sidewalk chalk fun! I think I have just as much, if not MORE fun than the kiddos do…. Hee hee!
April 11th, 2010 on 3:31 am
What a terrific idea! My older son will just love this!
July 2nd, 2010 on 9:19 pm
Very fun and clever!
August 31st, 2010 on 3:14 pm
I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be including a link to it in a post I do this week, probably today (in the next hour if my son keeps napping!).
October 3rd, 2010 on 10:07 pm
Thanks for reminding me where I had seen these before. I have added your link to my post.