Freeze ice cubes with food colouring and let the kids take them out into the snow to play with them. They can build with them, decorate a fort, or simply scoop and transfer them into various containers. It’s a great way to provide creative, open-ended play in the snow on a winter day.
Playing with coloured ice cubes in the snow provides lots of pretend play opportunity for toddlers and preschoolers. Just freeze a few trays of coloured ice cubes, and the next day your kids can enjoy a morning of colourful outdoor ice play in your backyard. Older kids can use them to build coloured ice sculptures like these.Â
I’ve had these coloured ice cubes in my freezer for a while. We had a nice cold spell and I thought they’d be fun to play with in the snow, but then the temps turned really mild and the only precipitation that we got for a couple of weeks came in the form of rain. We finally got a decent amount of snow a few days ago, and a chance to take our colourful ice cubes outside to play with.
We spent the first part of our morning tobogganing on our neighbour’s hill because this snow isn’t supposed to last for long and we wanted to make the most of it.
Then we moved on to playing with our coloured ice. Along with the coloured ice cubes, I provided the kids with some some spoons and containers, and I left the exploring and investigating up to them. The kids are always great to come up with their own ways to use things, and I wanted to see what ideas they could come up with.
They had so much fun. They scooped and stacked. They set up a “candy store” and they baked “cakes”.  There may have even been a few free samples and some taste-testing going on.
They played with their coloured ice for over an hour, and finished off by decorating the snow-fort and the snow-slide that we’ve been building.
What a simple way to have some colourful fun on a winter day!
You may also like:
Frozen Fractals Ice Sculptures
Melting Ice with Salt and Water
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
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Kierna
Aww Jackie I love these photos – especially the little girl eating the snow! We have had loads of ice but no snow – yet! I just love that you went outside with the Hooligans when you could have chosen to stay inside.Thanks so much for linking up this week.
happyhooligans
Thanks Kierna. I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the dull, grey, nasty days, but if the sun is shining, I just have to get out there and enjoy it.
On this day, it was so warm, that I ditched my coat. The temp on my deck thermometer read 10 degrees by noon. By late afternoon the snow was pretty much gone. We have to make the most of it while we’ve got it this year, because it doesn’t stick around for long!
Helen
We’ve done something similar this week – pinched the idea from my son’s preschool (in Southern Sweden) By filling milk cartons and small juice cartons with coloured water. you can then build a fantasy castle! Apparently they look really amazing if you put a tealight candle inside the castle … The nights have been too dark, too quickly, to try this yet and our golden retriever keeps taking the blocks off and crunching them, but we have high hopes of a castle this weekend … (Oh, the orange ones didn’t freeze, mix of red and yellow food colourings of course, but the green and purple ones are really pretty)
happyhooligans
That’s a great idea, Helen. I love it! I’d love to do that too, if the temps get cold here!
Kari
Lovely, we make ice art all the time, but not this winter. We has such a mild winter.
Helen I’m originally from Norway and also was inspired by all the fun stuff they do outdoor at daycare and preschools.
Here is our ice castle : http://www.activekidsclub.com/winter/art-crafts/ice-castle.html
I also have an Outdoor Valentine link up too, great for making fun ice art http://www.activekidsclub.com/fresh-air-living/equipment/outdoor-valentine-link-up.html
happyhooligans
Love your ice castle, Kari! Thanks for sharing with us. I’ve shared it on my facebook page. 🙂 Hopefully you’ll get some wintery weather yet!
Mama Pea Pod
Love it! Just pinned on the Outdoor Play Party pinterest board! http://pinterest.com/abbiee/outdoor-play-link-up-ideas/ Thanks for linking this up!
Tiffany
I love your pics! Next time we get snow, we will definitely try this idea. I found you on the Outdoor Play Party. Love your blog.
happyhooligans
Thanks, Tiffany! So glad you found us! The kiddos had a great time with this activity! Crossing fingers for you to get some snow soon so you can give it a try!
The Monko
what a fantastic idea, i wish I’d seen this before all our snow melted. Oh well, one for next year. I’m going to pin it so i don’t forget