The heat may still be lingering in September (and nearly October), but that doesn’t mean your little ones have to suffer through it. Here’s an easy and entertaining toddler activity that will keep them cool and engaged for hours: the Ice Block Rescue game! This simple setup is a great way to let kids have some outdoor fun without breaking a sweat, and it’s perfect for toddlers who love hands-on play.
What You’ll Need for Ice Block Rescue:
- A large bowl or container
- Small plastic toys (we used sea animals, but anything works!)
- Water
- Plastic tools and water toys (optional: a toy hammer for older kids)
How to Set Up the Ice Block Rescue:
- Pick your toys: Start by gathering small plastic toys. We love using sea animals for a fun, ocean-themed rescue mission, but any small toy will work. (Plastic Lego Blocks also have been a big hit!)
- Freeze in layers: Fill your large bowl or container halfway with water, then place some of the toys inside. Let it freeze. After it’s frozen, fill the rest of the bowl with water and add the remaining toys. Freezing in layers helps ensure the toys are evenly dispersed throughout the ice block!
- Let it freeze: Once completely frozen, remove the block of ice from the bowl.
- Rescue mission: Now, hand over some plastic tools and water toys to your toddlers. Their mission? To rescue the animals trapped in the ice! Older kids might even love using a toy hammer to chip away at the block (with supervision, of course!).
Why We Love This Activity:
- Keeps toddlers cool: The best part? This activity doubles as a refreshing way to stay cool in the Texas heat!
- Easy to set up: It takes just minutes to prepare and can be left in the freezer overnight.
- Mess-free: The ice melts away outside, leaving you with very little to clean up afterward.
- Educational fun: It encourages problem-solving as kids figure out how to free the animals and promotes fine motor skills as they use different tools to chip away at the ice.
Make it Your Own!
One of the best things about the Ice Block Rescue is how customizable it is. You can freeze anything—small dinosaurs, cars, or even LEGO figures. Want to make it even more exciting? Add food coloring to the water for a colorful surprise!
Join in on the Fun!
We’d love to see how you and your kiddos personalize this fun activity. Share your creations with us by tagging @MacaroniKidTheWoodlands on social media and show off what your little ones rescued from their ice blocks!
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Macaroni KID is a free local calendar, weekly newsletter and website focused on family-friendly events and information for the The Woodlands - Montgomery areas. We gather all the local family-friendly events and activities we can find and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more!
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