Find an activity
Back to ideas

Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Ice cube painting

Paint that melts as you go. Freeze coloured ice cubes, then slide them over paper.

  • 15 min + overnight
  • Messy fun
  • Ages 2–5*
  • Indoors or out
  • Any season
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 5 min to prepare today · 10 min to paint tomorrow. Plus waiting time: overnight. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • An ice cube tray
  • Water and a few drops of food colouring or washable paint
  • Lolly sticks or short twigs
  • Thick paper and a tray

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Little one leads

    Your child mixes colour into water and helps pour it into the tray.

  2. Pop a lolly stick or twig into each cube as a handle.

  3. Freeze overnight.

  4. Next day, slide the cubes across paper and watch the colours appear.

  5. What happens to the ice as you paint?

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

If you enjoyed this

More little ideas like this.

All activities