Break The Ice Toddler Activity

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Want a fun way to cool off your toddler this summer?  This simple and easy Break the Ice Toddler Activity takes seconds to prep (but you will have to freeze it of course).

Does your child love to play with water?  Mine sure do! This break the ice toddler activity is a fun way to play outdoors or indoors with water and also introduce some science to your little one!

This is great for a hot day outside since the water is really cold underneath.  It’s such a fun way to cool off that really lets your child explore water in different forms.

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How to set up Break The Ice Toddler Activity:

• Get a small storage container (I used one from the dollar store).  It needs to be able to fit in your freezer.
• Fill about halfway with water.
• Add in your child’s favorite small water-safe toys (they need to sink to the bottom for the top to be able to freeze flat).  I used hot wheels cars, and Paw Patrol dogs.
• Put in the freezer for 6-7 hours or until the top is completely frozen. Mine was about 1/4″ frozen on the top.  If you put it in the freezer in the morning it should be ready by late afternoon.
• Make sure the top is completely frozen before removing.  Don’t freeze too long otherwise, you will have a solid block of ice!
• Give your child tools to break the ice.  My toddlers used toy hammers, toy screwdrivers, and toy drills.  They love tools so we never have a shortage.

What does this activity encourage?

• Cause and Effect Skills (What happens when you pound on the ice?  Does it make a loud sound?  Does it crack?)
• Planning and Reasoning Skills (How are they going to break the ice and what tools are they going to use?)
• A Simple and Early Introduction to the Scientific Method
  • Help your child predict (What will happen if you pound on the ice?), ask questions (What tools will crack the ice?  How hard will you have to pound?, What is underneath the ice?, etc.), form a hypothesis (What will happen?), have them test their prediction
• Hand-Eye Coordination
• Sensory Play
• Vocabulary (frozen, liquid, cold, float, sink)

Related: Cloud Dough Sensory Play

Some questions to ask your child during the activity?

• Are the toys floating or sinking?
• Does the ice float or sink?
• What makes the water so cold?
• How are you going to break the ice?

Related: Sensory Bin Car Wash

My twins loved this activity!  They had so much fun just observing the ice at first before it was broken, then digging in their with their tools to figure out how to break the ice.

I will say the water was very cold and my toddlers could only put their hands in it for so long.  You could also give them a big ladle or spoon to scoop out the toys if their hands get cold.  I will do that next time.

Also, the ice can have some jagged edges so just watch your child closely while doing this activity.  I hope your child enjoys this fun activity as much as mine did!

Related: Mega Block Ice Painting