Rainbow Rake
by Chris Byrne
The name pretty much says it all. This is a sturdy plastic “rake” that holds five sticks of sidewalk chalk. Kids then use it to draw on sidewalks or driveways to make big, bold designs. The adjustable handle allows kids to configure the rake to make different types of drawings.
The chalk washes off easily with the garden hose... or with rain.
Why it's fun
Kids love, outdoor creativity. It's designed to be easier for kids to use while standing up. They can make bigger designs more quickly, and there’s no scraping of the knuckles on the pavement.
Who's going to love it
Kids 4-6 were completely engaged by this activity. As with many creative toys, they tended to spend more time with it because the toy was powered not by a motor, but by their imaginations.
What grandparent should know
Kids who get enthusiastic about this toy are going to go through a lot of chalk. Fortunately, the refills are very inexpensive and clean up is easy. So, you can let kids indulge their creativity without worry.
What to be aware of
As you may imagine, the smoother the surface, the more satisfying the drawing. But, we’ve also found that with the various chalks we’ve tested that Crayola chalk lays down the best color most consistently. That’s important to kids because if they get frustrated , they're likely to put down the toy.
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