Parents' Guide to

Chalk Walk

By Cynthia Chiong, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Kids learn pencil grip but still need real practice.

App iPad Educational Games
Chalk Walk Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Chalk Walk App: Screenshot #1
  • Chalk Walk App: Screenshot #2
  • Chalk Walk App: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

In CHALK WALK, kids practice their “pincer” grip by tracing lines and squiggles with their thumb and forefinger pinched together. In each round, they trace a letter, and by the end of each level, they’ve spelled out words like "cakes" or "robot." Kids earn one to three stars for the accuracy of their tracing. Once kids complete all the rounds in the level, they can hit "video," and the app connects their tracings and plays it back as a continuous video. There is also a free play drawing mode.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Chalk Walk is a creative activity to get kids ready for writing, but it's no replacement for real paper and pencil practice. While many little kids can grip a crayon and scribble, gripping a pencil correctly requires refining their movements. The grip and movements in Chalk Walk don't directly mimic writing with paper and pencil, but the activities do require kids to hold a similar grip and to make more accurate movements.

There are features to keep kids motivated, and the literacy elements are a nice addition, though they could use a little oomph. While kids trace around letters and see the words spelled out, they are not labeled and nothing more happens to extend the literacy learning.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Help your kids transfer what they learn to paper. Engage them in writing and coloring activities with crayons, pencils, etc.

  • Practice the pincer grip with your kid, whether it be with the app, pencils, or even chopsticks!

App Details

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