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Ice cube painting

Colored ice cubes on sticks that melt into bright paint as your toddler swirls them on paper.

Ice cube painting
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 18 months to 3
Time10 minutes prep, overnight freezing, 20 minutes play
Cost$1 to $3
SummerOutdoors

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Keep it on the stick. If a cube pops off, take it away. Ice chunks can choke.

  1. Step 1: Color the water
    1

    Color the water

    Fill the tray and add 2 drops of color to each cube.

  2. Step 2: Add sticks
    2

    Add sticks

    Cover with plastic wrap and poke a craft stick through into each cube.

  3. Step 3: Freeze
    3

    Freeze

    Freeze overnight.

  4. Step 4: Pop them out
    4

    Pop them out

    Run warm water on the tray bottom.

  5. Step 5: Paint
    5

    Paint

    Let your toddler swipe the cubes across paper. Watch the color appear as it melts.

Edie's tip

Do it outside on a hot day. It melts faster and stains nothing.

Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake

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