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Home » Early Years Science » Easy Ice Activities for Toddlers

Easy Ice Activities for Toddlers

Modified: Jan 10, 2025 · Published: Nov 2, 2012 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

This collection of activities using ice for toddlers is great for any time of year, but especially good on a cold winter’s day when talking about frost and ice outdoors or on a hot summer’s day to cool down.

Activities using ice for toddlers

Ice Excavations

Ice excavations are brilliant for little ones. All you need to do is freeze some small plastic figures into a block of ice and use them with a pipette or small containers of warm water. Children can carefully drop or pour warm water over the ice to melt it.

Lego man frozen in ice - fun ice excavation for kids as part of a selection of activities using ice for toddlers.

Ice in a Balloon

This one is super easy and almost mess free. Pour water into a balloon and tie the end. Place in the freezer until frozen and leave to melt before giving to a child as sticky ice can hurt little fingers.

Supervise balloons at all times.

ice play

Make a Polar Scene

We used this to learn about melting polar ice caps, but it would also make a lovely sensory polar scene too!

Silver tray with blue water, stones and pretend ice bergs made from lumps of ice. Toy penguins and seals sit on top of the ice ergs

Ice Fishing

This ice fishing activity is a lovely way for children to discover that ice melts faster in warm water than in cold water.

Paint on Ice

Freeze a sheet of ice and paint on the surface! This is a lovely sensory activity that older children will enjoy as well.

Image of a frozen sheet of ice and water colour paints ready to paint. One of a selection of fun activities using ice for toddlers.

More activities using ice for toddlers

I LOVE these frozen ice hands from Happy Hooligans.

This fizzing ice activity from Life Over C’s looks great, too.

Can you think of any more activities using ice for toddlers for us?

The Science of Ice

Why does water freeze?

Water can be a solid, liquid or gas.  In liquid form, the water particles can move around freely, so the water takes the shape of the container it is in. When you cool the water down, the movement of the particles slows down, and the particles become tightly packed together, which means the shape cannot change easily.

Why is ice sticky?

Ice feels sticky because when you touch it, the ice immediately freezes the moisture in your skin, which makes the cube feel sticky.

Why does salt make the ice melt faster?

This is because salt lowers the freezing point of the water. We saw another example of this when we made frost on a can.

Don’t forget to check out our other ice and winter science experiments.

Warning – always keep a close eye on children playing with balloons, and remember the ice will be very cold to start with.

Image showing lots of ice activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Toy fish frozen in ice, ice excavations and more ice experiments for little ones.

Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Two of Everything

    November 02, 2012 at 9:44 pm

    I used to do this using a plastic glove with my nursery class and they always loved it – I’ve never done it with a long balloon though, great idea! I found if you put a lot of salt on one area then drip food colouring on, you can watch the salt ‘eating’ into the ice. It’s fascinating 🙂

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      November 07, 2012 at 3:36 pm

      oooh i like that idea!

      Reply
  2. Carrie

    November 10, 2012 at 12:07 am

    What a fun activity. I love it!! Thank you so much for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    Reply
  3. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories

    November 10, 2012 at 4:44 am

    My son would like to play with this! And I, of course, love the science bit. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Showcase. 🙂

    Reply

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