Frozen Painting | Pin of the Week

Let’s face it—it’s July, and it’s hot. Aside from swimming or running through the sprinkler, there aren’t many outdoor activities that sound appealing right now. If you’re running out of ideas to keep your kids occupied and having fun, our pin of the week can help!

We don’t know who first came up with this cool twist on painting for kids, but Jamie Reimer shares instructions and photos of frozen painting on her blog Hands On: As We Grow.

The idea is to combine washable (and kid-safe!) paint with water, pour it into ice-cube trays, and stick the trays in the freezer. Equal parts paint and water will help ensure the paint washes out of clothes and off of hands easily. Before they freeze completely, put a wooden craft stick in each cube. Let them finish freezing, and then take them outside to paint and play. We recommend wearing swim-suits or old clothes for this—Jamie admits that it is a messy activity!

As the ice begins to melt the paints will blend on the paper. Experiment with different colors, showing your child what happens when two or more mix together. Get out the baby-pool or the hose for clean-up and the kids can continue their wet and colorful fun.

If you’re worried about the paint around little ones who often have their hands in their mouths or around their faces, just use water and food coloring instead of paint in the ice cube tray. The colors will be lighter, but you won’t have to worry about little ones accidentally ingesting any paint.

As always, it’s important to be safe in the heat.  Apply sunscreen every 1-2 hours, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and take breaks from the sun.

Make sure you check out our Pinterest page to see more ideas like this, fun activities for kids, tips for parents, healthy recipes, and more.