Instructions for making ice paint

1. Pour your water into your ice cube tray evenly

ICE PAINTING DIY | Activities for Kids

Yep, you read that right. There really are limitless possibilities when it comes to art projects! There seems to be an endless amount of ways to pair methods, colors, and ideas.

This art activity is great for kids of all ages, is taste-safe, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Here are 4 benefits of this DIY ice play activity:

• It Teaches Sensory Attributes
  • Ice play allows kids to explore sensory attributes through the cold, the smoothness of the ice, the texture of the paper, and the way that it melts with heat. Comparable to the watercolor effect but with different tools, and don’t forget the time and temperature factors as ice melts! This adds a whole new layer of complexity and opportunity to learn that kids will love!
  • It Develops Fine Motor Skills
    • Find a way to let them help you put everything together in the ice trays, as it will help them practice squeezing the bottle for food coloring, stirring with the stick, etc. Then holding the popsicle stick to paint is excellent fine motor practice.
    • Kids love when they get set free to be creative and messy to create beautiful things as they learn what works and what doesn’t. Ice painting is a great way to learn color mixing because the watercolors will easily mix. Also, these water-based colors will challenge a child’s ability to handle “watery paint” for different effects and color intensity.
    • It Practices Hand-Eye Coordination
      • Putting the ice cube to paper is a great way to practice all that necessary hand-eye coordination, an easy win for toddlers and preschoolers!

      I will say, my kids spent the whole time licking them like a popsicle! I mean, they do look refreshingly good, who can blame them? That’s why I made sure this ice activity was taste-safe.

      

      

      However, always keep a close eye around little ones and ice.

      Ice is a choking hazard so watch them closely while they play. When we did this at-home activity for kids, none of the ice came off the stick, however, that does not mean it can’t happen. So just make sure the little ones are supervised throughout the entire duration of this fun sensory activity.

      For older toddlers and preschoolers, allow their creativity to run wild as they experiment with art using new and different tools.

      For any child under 2, this is simply a sensory activity. The pretty colors combined with the cold feeling as it touches their body, and maybe some paper to paint, is really exciting! For toddlers under 2, talk to them as they experience it for the first time to help them relate the feelings. Ask them “Is it cold?” “Can you paint the paper?” or “This color is red!”

      Happy painting!

      
      

      THE ICE PAINTING RECIPE

      

      • Ice cube tray
      • Water
      • Food coloring
      • Popsicle sticks
      • Watercolor paper

      
      

      Painting With Ice – Make Your own Ice Paint

      If you’re looking for a fun summer activity that will cool your kids you have to try painting with ice!

      

      Make a batch of ice paints for your kids and let them get super creative while keeping cool at the same time.

      

      Painting With Ice – Make your own ice paint

      • 1 cup of water
      • Red, yellow, green, and blue food coloring
      • Short Popsicle sticks
      • Ice cube tray

      

      1. Pour your water into your ice cube tray evenly

      

      2. Add just a tiny drop of red food coloring to four different cubes and mix well
      3. Add just a tiny drop of yellow food coloring to four different cubes in mix well
      4. And just a tiny drop of blue food coloring to four different cubes and mix well
      5. Then add a tiny drop of green food coloring to four cubes and mix well
      6. Place a short popsicle stick into beach ice cube mold

      

      7. Freeze for about 4 to 6 hours or overnight
      8. Pull on the sticks to remove from the tray
      9. Lay old newspaper down on the table before you paint, as food coloring will stain
      10. Hold the wooden sticks to paint with

      And the fun can begin! These run supper smoothly on the paper and the colors are great (kind of water colory). This ice painting activity will be a hit over the summer (perfect if you’re throwing a summer party).

      

      

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