Take a sidewalk selfie
Create a colorful sidewalk selfie by drawing a chalk background, posing, and photographing your portrait outdoors to explore composition and lighting with an adult.
About this activity
Create a colorful sidewalk selfie by drawing a chalk background, posing, and photographing your portrait outdoors to explore composition and lighting with an adult.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Find a clean flat patch of sidewalk in a safe outdoor spot with nice light in the morning or late afternoon.
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Step 2
Use the small towel to wipe away dust and pebbles from your chosen spot.
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Step 3
Use a light chalk color to draw a large background shape big enough for you to sit or stand on.
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Step 4
Fill in the background with bright chalk colors by coloring evenly.
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Step 5
Draw a simple border or fun props around the background to frame your selfie.
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Step 6
Mark a small X in the middle of the background where your face or chest will be.
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Step 7
Stand or sit on the X so your face is centered in the background.
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Step 8
Try three different poses to see which one feels the most fun.
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Step 9
Try one facial expression for each pose to find the best look.
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Step 10
Turn slowly to find the angle where the sunlight makes your face look great.
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Step 11
Ask an adult to take several photos from different angles while you hold your favorite pose.
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Step 12
Choose your favorite photo from the ones you took.
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Step 13
Share your finished colorful sidewalk selfie on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I do a sidewalk selfie activity with my child?
To take a sidewalk selfie, pick a flat, clean outdoor spot with good natural light (early morning or late afternoon). Have the adult sketch a vibrant chalk background—frame, scene, or props—then ask the child to pose within the drawing. Experiment with heights and angles: crouch, stand, or shoot from above. Use continuous shots, review images, and adjust lighting or drawing as needed. Always supervise near streets.
What materials do I need for a sidewalk selfie?
You’ll need sidewalk chalk in bright colors, a camera or smartphone with enough battery and storage, and an adult to hold or steady the device. Optional: a small step stool or tripod, a spray bottle or damp sponge for blending chalk, props like hats or signs, wipes, sunscreen, and water. Choose non-toxic chalk and bring a towel to clean hands and the pavement if desired.
What ages is a sidewalk selfie activity suitable for?
Sidewalk selfies work for many ages. Toddlers (2–4) can enjoy simple chalk color and basic posing with close adult help. Preschool and early school-age kids (4–8) can participate in design and try different poses. Older children (9–13+) can experiment with composition, lighting, and camera settings. Always tailor complexity to the child’s coordination and attention span, and supervise near traffic or uneven surfaces.
What are the benefits and safety tips for taking sidewalk selfies with kids?
Benefits include boosting creativity, learning composition and natural-light basics, improving fine motor skills through chalk drawing, and building confidence during posing. For safety: choose a quiet, flat area away from traffic, apply sunscreen, keep water nearby, and supervise at all times. Use non-toxic chalk, avoid wet or slippery pavement, and limit phone sharing. Discuss privacy and consent before posting photos online.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we substitute if we don't have a small towel or sidewalk chalk?
Use a folded paper towel, microfiber cloth, or damp sponge to 'wipe away dust and pebbles' and substitute washable tempera sidewalk paint, chunky sidewalk crayons, or softened pastels for the 'light chalk color' and 'bright chalk colors'.
My chalk keeps smudging or the X isn't lining up with my face — how can we fix that?
To prevent smudging when you 'stand or sit on the X,' test the position by kneeling over the 'small X' to check where your face or chest lands, draw a slightly larger X or outline your feet first, and let any paint dry before posing.
How can we adapt the activity for different ages?
For toddlers, draw a simple 'large background shape' and let them 'fill in the background' with broad strokes while an adult takes the photo, for elementary kids add borders and props to 'frame your selfie,' and for older kids challenge them to plan lighting and poses and upload to DIY.org themselves.
What are fun ways to enhance or personalize our sidewalk selfie?
Personalize by adding names, dates, or stencil patterns in the 'border or fun props,' using costume accessories while you 'try three different poses,' or make a short stop-motion showing your three poses to share on DIY.org.