“Serious” Fun Saturdays: Ice Play

Folks, it is blazing hot in Texas.

I can’t stand it.

Make fun of me all you want. Labeled me a pansy, you won’t hurt my feelings.But I’d like to see a native Texan build a quinsy (an igloo made out of snow for you southerners) and sleep in it. Yeah, Chicago pride!

But I don’t want to be cooped up in the house all day. What to do?

The idea of playing with ice is ALL OVER the internet. (Lemon Lime Adventures did a great series on all kinds of ice play. Definitely worth a look.)

I kept it simple this first go around. I grabbed some smallish plastic toy and frozen them in bins.

So yes, this takes a little forethought. Also, do it in layers if you want the objects layered. (I’m not very quick and I frozen all of Lumpy’s toys at once. They of course float so they were all up at the top. Live and learn.)

 

This activity is full of new and exciting tactile exploration!

 

They even tasted it. (Cringe)

I dumped the ice block out of the tub, and filled the tub with water to aid in the melting.

 

 

 

I gave them a paint brush and a spoon for excavating purposes.

As you can see, I got impatient and threw the block of ice in the air to speed along the process. The boys were starting to lose interest until they got their first dinosaur out.

Then the activity morphed (as it often does).

 

 Both kids were really into it this whole activity.

It might not seem like an inherently educational activity, but it’s all about the dialogue between you and your child.  I asked questions about how different things felt. (Communication skills, Vocabulary, Sensory) We talked about melting , we talked about gravity (Science). We talked about not chucking ice blocks at Mommy’s face (Compassion and Respect for Authority).

All in all, it was a fun and unique summer activity!