Ice Painting is a fantastic summer activity for so many reasons. It is a great form of sensory play with all of the learning experiences that go with it – talking about how temperature, texture, colours etc. It is also another way for a little one to express their creativity. Plus, the really obvious fact that it is cold, which makes it a perfect activity on a hot day!
Ice Painting Ingredients
Water
Food Colouring
Ice cube tray
An old bedsheet/paper
A curious baby/toddler (preferably dressed in old clothes in case the food colouring stains!)
Method
Fill your ice cube tray with water, and add food colouring. I like to get a good mixture of different colours and we only really have gel food colouring in the house, which works surprisingly well! My advice is to actually put more food colouring in than I have here as when the ice melts, some of the colours don’t show up that strongly, particularly on paper.
Freeze
Oila you are ready for Ice Painting 🙂
I chose to do this in the Tuff Spot this time, although last year we just did it on the lid of his sand/water table and that worked just as well. I find using a sheet works best as the colours soak into the sheet better than on paper – and you can wash and re-use the sheet – but paper works too. We used a combination and Monkey enjoyed doing it on both 🙂
It’s lovely now that Monkey is getting older and his speech is coming along, as he is really joining in more, and repeating when I say it’s wet or it’s cold. But even when they are not talking they take so much in so it is great to talk to them about how it feels, especially when they feel it for the first time and screw up their face!
Then basically let them loose to have fun and see what they create!
Monkey was intrigued by his increasingly red stained fingers (the reds and pinkers are stronger colours and showed up more – definitely doing to make some of the blues stronger next time!).
He also decided he liked drawing on the paper when it was over his feet (??)
And we finished by lining the colours up in a row and, of course, counting them 🙂
And here we have Monkeys masterpiece at the end – you can only really see the reds and pinks so definitely don’t be afraid to use a lot of food colouring in the blues and yellows – hopefully that will make them come out stronger too!
That looks like so much fun – if you tried it on a blank playsilk and then gave it a little steam with some vinegar you could set the colours and have a hand dyed playsilk I think – I’ll have to give it a whirl some time!
Ooh now that is a good plan! You are clever and be great to turn it into something lovely 🙂 xx
That looks like so much fun… and Monkey looks really trendy with his sunglasses!
He did love it and honestly we have a job getting the sunglasses off him these days!! x
I love this idea. I might try it in the summer holidays and use silk like Carie suggested and set the colours. Looks like he had a lot of fun with it! 🙂
Popped over from Mini Creations!
It’s definitely a great way for the kids to have some fun and Carie’s idea is fab to actually make something with it too! xx
Oh wow how cool is this 🙂 will be adding this to our list to do this summer 😉
ooh yes do, such a simple activity really but a lot of fun! xx
Monkey did well! The only problem I can see with this is that the cubes look very much like mini ice lollies and I’m pretty sure EJ would try and eat them and then throw a massive wobbler if I tried to suggest he swipe them on a piece of paper instead! 🙂
haha yeah he did try and put them in his mouth once but I just laughed it off and he seemed quite happy… though I hope he doesn’t try and wipe ice lollies over things now to make pretty pictures!! 😉 xx
Another lovely crafty idea Caroline. Looks like monkey enjoyed it.
Thanks Hannah! xx
A messy activity that is a great sensory experience, fun and creative too! I can see Monkey had a wonderful time creating his masterpiece. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thanks Fiona it is a great activity and he does love it! xx
That does look fun and Monkey looks engrossed! x
yep certainly kept him occupied 🙂 xx
Ooh, first the snow idea and now ice painting-cool (?!) ideas. I like this, although I’ve never heard of gel food colouring. Think I need to investigate as we just have the liquid style. My son would love this. Actually my 8 year old might like it too to be honest 🙂
I’m sure the liquid colouring would work too, may just need to put in quite a lot! It is great fun so I am sure they would enjoy it 🙂 xx
Love the idea of ice painting! Have never heard of it before but am definitely going to give it a bash with the boys this summer #countrykids
Ooh yes give it a go, it is lots of fun! xx
That looks so much fun! I may have to give it a try with my two! x
I am sure they will love it! xx
That looks like so much fun, adding it to my to-do list 🙂
Ah fab, I think wee girl will love it, and probably the boys too 🙂 xx
Ooo this looks like so much fun 😀
#sundaybest
Louise x
Confessions of a Secret Shopper
Thanks, it is a great activity xx
This looks like a really fun idea 🙂
#sundaybest
Thanks, it is a lot of fun! xx
I love this idea. So simple and yet so fun for the little ones on a hot day 🙂 Definitely want to try this with my monsters.x #creative mondays
It is a fab summer activity and I sure your monsters will love it too 🙂 xx
Looks like he’s enjoying that. We did ice painting this week, it’s great summer fun. Your colours look a lot more vibrant than ours.
#WhatstheStory
It really is fab isn’t it? So difficult to judge the colours though, I think I need to be a bit more heavy handed with some of the colours next time! xx
Aww this is a lovely idea, and looks like he is having so much fun 🙂
Thanks for sharing over at Creative Mondays :):)
Thanks Claire it is a fab activity 🙂 xx
That looks like lots of fun, my son would love it 🙂 x
Handbags To Change Bags – Mummy & Lifestyle Blog
It is great and I am sure he would! xx
wow, what a brilliantly, super idea. My 3 year old would love doing this. Will definitely have some fun having a go. x #letkidsbekids
thank you, yes definitely give it a go, it really is fab! xx
Aw he looks so adorable in his sunglasses and that looks like lots of fun! I cant wait to give this a go with Buddy. Thanks so much for sharing.
Visiting you from the Let kids be kids Linky
Thank you, it is great so definitely give it a go with Buddy when he is ready for it! xx
I love this idea! Definitely going to try it with Harry x
aww yeah I bet he will love it! xx
How cool is he!? So COOL! Painting with his sunglasses on! What a fun way to beat the heat in a summer afternoon =) #countrykids
haha thanks hon 🙂 xx
This is such a great idea! I have to try this!!!
Thanks for linking up with #SundayBest!
Hayley
http://www.sparklesandstretchmarks.com
xxx
Thank you for hosting, and it is great fun 🙂 xx
Popping back. Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Oh wow that sounds like so much fun! What a great idea, POD would love to do this. Thank you for sharing with #whatsthestory
thanks Charly, it is a lot of fun! xx