Outdoors ยท Arts & crafts

Ice painting

Freeze coloured water into cubes with a handle, then paint with them as they melt.

  • Ages 2โ€“8best for 2โ€“5
  • Under 30 minabout 15 mins of prep
  • Prep the day beforeplan below
  • Under $20about $5
  • Backyardon a hot day
  • Some helpmedium mess

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

1Day before

2On the day

0 of 3 done ยท

You'll need

From home

  • Ice cube tray or muffin tray
  • water
  • food colouring
  • paddle-pop sticks
  • thick paper

To buy

  • Liquid watercolours (brighter than food colouring)
๐Ÿช„ Wizard's tip

Do it outside with old clothes on: food colouring can stain hands for a day. That's half the fun for kids, less so for parents.

How to do it

  1. Pop the ice paints out of the tray.
  2. Hold by the stick and paint on the paper.
  3. Watch the colours run and mix as they melt.
  4. Leave the pictures in the sun to dry.

Younger kids: Use big cubes from a muffin tray so they're easy to hold.

Older kids: Mix colours on the page and try making a sunset or an ocean picture.

โš  Safety Food colouring can stain clothes and skin. Not for eating once the colours are mixed in.

Builds CreativityFine motor skillsCuriosity & science thinking

Clean-up 5 minutes: hose the table.

Make it a bigger day Pair with paint with water and fruit icy poles.

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Ice painting