Character Ice Bath

Today was hot. HOT HOT! To the point that I was very unmotivated to set up anything too complex or be tasked with a massive cleanup. Cue today’s activity.

This ice bath sensory bin was a hit and kept everyone entertained for an hour. I stayed in the shade with E (10 months old) until she crawled away to explore what she could try to eat. She was majorly disappointed that I would, in fact, not let her eat leaves or mulch from the garden beds. The big kids played with the ice and then carried their bins around everywhere for the afternoon.

We did hit a snag when someone accidentally dumped all the ice into the grass, but all was right after they figured out how to pick it up and put it back in. I had to pry them away from the ice before dinner.

Here’s what you need

• Our trusty sensory bins. We seriously use these all the time! Small footprint, easy to use inside or carry outside, and the perfect height for even the smallest explorers.

• Ice- we just used up the ice from our freezer. I had to stay very near the baby because she still likes to put things in her mouth, so definitely assess that need for your own children.

• Characters/figurines. I like Little People for these activities because they can get wet without looking worse for wear. This princess set and our babies are fan favorites at the moment.

• Cups/bowls/scoops/tongs. I keep our mismatched or old utensils for this reason.

Set up

2 minutes

1. Dump ice into a bin/bowl. I left one empty to see what they would choose to do.

2. The kids were tasked with collecting all of the figurines and bowls.

3. Add scoops, spatulas, cups, or tongs.

Clean up

1 minute

1. We just dumped the ice outside, but you could put it in the sink or leave this to melt if you do this activity in the bath.

2. Wash utensils.

3. Let characters dry off on a towel.

I kept the characters out of the ice to set up and didn’t give any instructions. I simply set the materials out and let them decide how to play. Some activities or games we use have rules, but free play is so important for children. I would argue that free play is also important for adults, but that is a different conversation for a different day.

They immediately divided up the characters and needed some help with giving an equal number to everyone. Great counting and problem-solving opportunity. I usually try to let them work it out on their own and narrate when they need help. They even made sure little E got one!

I don’t often take the time to pre-count for equality, but if we are having an extremely hard day for whatever reason, I might choose to avoid that battle by ensuring an equal number. You do what feels right for your family.

This activity morphed from the characters getting a bath to burying them in the “sand” to feeding them different “food”.

We stayed in the shade, but liked being outside. The fresh air is good for my soul and I think allows for more creativity in play. Eventually they started carrying the ice all over the yard and I lost track of the object of their game, but it was hilarious to watch. This could also be great for cold or rainy days or a fun way to make bath time exciting!

My favorite part was one activity entertained children 10 months through 5 years old! The ice cooled everyone off and allowed the kids to get some creative energy out before dinner and bedtime.

I hope you get a chance to try this quick and easy activity- definitely a winner on a hot day. Comment below what your kids did with the ice. I love to hear all of the imaginative ways children think and play!