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Ice painting activity for kids

June 5, 2017 by Kate 13 Comments

This ice painting activity for kids is lots of fun and a cool and unique way to get children to paint. It’s so simple to prepare and they will love creating vibrant colours and mixing them to make new colours. 
Ice painting activity for kids

You might remember a long time ago, Possum (currently aged 5 years), did some painting with ice cubes. It was so much fun we couldn’t wait to do it again, but this time include Boo (aged 2.5 years). If you haven’t tried this idea with your child, you should give it a go today!

Recommended ages: 2 years +
(Strict and active supervision required)

 pouring water into ice trays for paint

To make ice paints you will need – 

  • ice cube tray
  • water
  • food colouring
  • cling wrap
  • toothpicks (or craft sticks)

How to make ice paints

Begin by adding 8 – 10 drops of food colouring into the ice cube tray sections. Obviously the more colouring you add the darker the paint will be. Keep in mind that the colouring could stain hands as it melts later. 

Add a small amount of water to each section of the tray and use a toothpick to mix together the water and the food colouring. Be careful not to mix the colours! 

cling wrap over ice tray paints

Ice painting activity for kids

How to prepare ice paints

Once you have the coloured water prepared, very carefully wrap the whole ice cube tray in cling film. I did two layers of cling film. 

Carefully poke a small hole through the cling film and add half a toothpick, which will later act as a handle for the paints. I reversed the half toothpick after making the hole, so the pointy end was exposed. I felt this would stop the toothpick falling off later. 

Freeze for 24 hours. 

colored ice for painting

 

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ice painting cubes with sticks

How to remove ice paints from tray

Remove the ice paints carefully and by sitting the bottom of the ice cube tray in warm water. This will melt the surface of the ice cubes and they will plop out easily. Do not twist the tray, as you would normally do to remove ice, as doing that will likely crack your ice paints. 

It’s painting time! 

Once you have everything ready, get your children prepared with a smock, a large sheet of paper and a cloth, which is recommended as they can use it to wipe their hands.  

painting with ice paints and food coloring

having fun with ice paints

painting with ice paints on paper

Exploring with ice paints

It was lots of fun watching my girls use the ice paints. They did lots of different pictures and enjoyed the whole process as much as the end product. They loved – 

  • mixing the colours together to make new colours
  • the sense of urgency as the ice paints began to melt
  • the cold sensation felt at their finger tips
  • the soft colours the ice paints created and how easily they could layer the paint

I loved it because – 

  • using the toothpick required lots of great use of their fine motor skills
  • they could be as creative as they liked 
  • the activity would be great for reluctant writers or children who struggle to try new things
  • it teaches children about colours and mixing colours
  • sensory awareness was high

Ice paints for children to paint with on paper

I absolutely recommend doing this ice painting activity with your children. It’s so much fun and incredibly easy to prepare. My girls loved the unique approach to painting, it was unlike anything they’d really tried before. 

Is this unique type of painting with ice be of interest to your child? 

If you like this idea then you’ll love – 

Frozen LEGO pieces in ice     FB snow paint for kids

 

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Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art, Fine Motor, Sensory Play, Writing Tagged With: ice, painting

Comments

  1. Katrina Springer says

    June 8, 2017 at 9:09 am

    That looks like so much fun, especially as it’s colder they won’t melt as fast! I miss this stage of my kids life.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 8, 2017 at 10:43 am

      Thank you Kat. It was lots of fun and something the girls have asked to do again.

      Reply
  2. Desire Levenson says

    June 10, 2017 at 4:26 pm

    Hi there Katie

    I often try out and appreciate your ideas.
    I have a playgroup at home so new and fresh ideas are always welcome.

    Thank you for sharing. Your ideas are always practical and I usually have all the ‘stuff’ at home or in the school room.

    Luv Des

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 11, 2017 at 3:33 pm

      Desire, thank you so kindly for sharing your feedback with me. You have totally made my week. X

      Reply
  3. Katie Butler says

    June 11, 2017 at 10:43 am

    Hi, at wgat age would it make sense to start trying this?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 11, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Katie. Lovely to hear from you. I would recommend doing this with a child who isn’t likely to put the ice into their mouth. Of course it’s safe, but you don’t want to end up with a child who looks like they’ve eaten a rainbow. Hehehe My youngest daughter is 2.5 years old and was fine to do this.

      Reply

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Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
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