Ice Cube Painting

Do you need an activity that will hold your child’s attention for more than 2 minutes? This was such a hit at our house that I had to shut it down after over an hour so we could eat dinner. My kids are usually getting hangry by 5pm, so although I didn’t want to interrupt their flow, I knew they needed to eat. This was super easy for the kids to reset themselves, so I could actually get some chores done, make dinner, AND check my email! Check me out!

If you were here last month, you saw our Ice Cube Smash activity as a result of me buying way too much ice. This activity was next in line. You could use ice from your freezer, buy a bag (or 3), or make your own in trays if you want to go that route.

Here’s what you need

• Ice

• Paint. I would only suggest washable paint for this activity.

• Paint brushes. I also like these or these.

• Sensory bin

• Smocks

• Paint palettes

• Spoon or scoop for the ice

• We used dingy towels for wiping the paint brushes off between colors or as needed

Set up

1 minute

1. Put the ice into a sensory bin. I actually had the ice in a cooler so they could scoop out their own as needed. You could use a bowl or another sensory bin filled with ice if you wanted to include the scooping part. If you have the space, I recommend you do incorporate scooping; kids loved the scooping just as much as the painting and it works on coordination.

2. Pour paint out. I usually limit to 2-4 colors each, but the paint was almost gone from all of our bottles and this paint is easy to clean if any gets on the floor. Today I just let them dip the paint brushes into the bottles and go to town!

3. Let them paint!

4. You can dump the ice out for them/let them dump the ice out and let them scoop more ice in if you wanted to get more life out of this setup.

Clean up

1-2 minutes

1. Dump your ice out. You could use the sink, outside, or even the shower/bath.

2. Clean paint brushes.

3. If your smocks are very dirty, toss them in the washing machine on warm. This helps keep the material soft and not brittle, therefore reducing ripping. I usually wash our smocks once every 4-8 weeks in the washing machine and air dry.

4. Wipe up any stray paint on the floor. You could always use a sheet or towel if you are more forward thinking than I was this day.

I can’t vouch for every washable paint, but this brand really comes out of clothes and off the floor so well. If being outside just isn’t in the cards for you right now, this would even be fun to do in the bath! Just fill a sensory bin with ice and let them get painting in an empty bathtub.

I’ve done a few middle of the day bathtub activities in the last few years and they were always successful. Success here being defined as easy to clean and enjoyed by the kids. So be a hero in the eyes of your children this week or weekend and let them play in an empty bathtub!

I love ice activities for a few reasons.

1. It’s unexpected. If you have done a few sensory bins, you’ve likely used water, rice, or some other pantry staple. Kids love ice, so capitalize on their obsession. Ice is a choking hazard for little ones, so extra supervision required if you plan to have young toddlers or babies participate.

2. It provides for a wonderful sensory experience. It’s cold, slippery, hard, and clinks. Watching ice melts also provides for opportunities to walk about the water life cycle and reversible vs permanent changes.

3. It’s versatile. I’ve simply set a giant bowl of ice on the table on long winter days and had engaged and happy kids for hours. You can use it for science experiments or more complex sensory activities.

4. You can use it any time of year. Ice is a great tool I use to help keep the kids cool in the summer- fill up the water table or sensory bin with ice outside. It can also be fun in the winter.

5. You can use ice for one child or a group. It’s free, or cheap, and doesn’t run out as fast as other materials.

6. It’s easy to clean! I usually dump the ice out in the sink, but the bathtub or shower would work just as well.

Be sure to check out our other activities that use ice:

• Ice Cube Smash

• Character Ice Bath

Clearly our ice was not gallery worthy art by the end, but this activity was a hit and I bet your kids will love it too. Comment below if you try this Ice Cube Painting, share this with a friend, and tag me on social. I love seeing and hearing from you!

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