An Ice Transfer Activity is an easy way to help kids develop their fine motor skills (muscles in the hands and fingers). Not only is it so much fun to play with, it’s also a great way to cool down on hot summer days.
This fine motor activity is suitable for older babies and toddlers, but since ice blocks (like small toys) are a choking hazard, make sure that you watch your children at all times.
The Summer Activity Pack is perfect for when your kids are home from school this summer. These educational printables help preschoolers and kindergarteners learn all summer long. Check it out today.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.
Materials needed
- Ice tray
- Water
- 2 or more bowls
- Transfer tools, (Spoons, tongs, ladles etc)
Ice Transfer Activity Instructions
1. Freeze some water into ice cube trays.
If you have an ice maker at home, then you don’t really need to do any prep work for this ice activity. Otherwise, you’re going to have to fill up one or two ice cube trays and wait for them to freeze overnight before you can set up your ice bin transfer activity.
2. Tip the ice out into a large bowl.
I used large bowls for this activity because that is what I have in my kitchen. But just use whatever you have on hand.
Things like pots, baking trays, or muffin tins would all work too. In fact the ice will make a nice sound when it hits metal which will add to the sensory experience.
3. Set out some fine motor tools
You don’t need anything fancy for toddler transferring activities. Tongs and tweezers are great for strengthening little hands. But spoons, cups and bowls are also wonderful tools that you’ll be sure to have in your kitchen.
You can also put some warm water into spray bottles and ask your child to see what happens when they spray the ice. Squeezing the trigger on spray bottles is a fantastic way to build up hand strength.
4. Let your kids play.
My son loved using the tongs to pick up the ice and transfer them into the empty bowl, this went on for ages, much longer than I thought it would. My daughter just loved picking them up in her hand and tasting them before she threw them into the empty bowl.
In the end, we all spent a hot afternoon having fun. I now keep an ice cube tray on hand for whenever I need no-prep ice activities like this one.
What You’re Learning
This fun activity actually lets young children practice a variety of fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and palmar grasp. But it also teaches them a bit of science (like how ice melts on a hot day), and some sensory processing (exploring with different textures and temperatures).
It’s amazing what you can learn from a little ice, isn’t it?
Summer Fine Motor Play Ideas
Is summer your favorite time of year? Here are some more summer themed fine motor activities to try with your toddlers and preschoolers.
- Summer Lacing Cards (Free Printable)
- Sun Threading Activity
- Ice Cream Sweep
- Sunflower Seed Sweep
- DIY Sea Glass Suncatcher – Threading Activity
For more ideas, visit 15 Summer Fine Motor Activities for Kids.
Summer Activity Pack
Educational printables for preschoolers and kindergarteners for this Summer.
Are you going to try this Ice Transfer Activity with your kids?
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