Boy is it hot outside! We are loving every minute of it and spending as much time as we can outside - mostly in Monkey's little pool :)
I thought it was a perfect time for this ice sensory play activity I've had in the back of my mind for a while.
I got the idea here: http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/05/rainbow-ice-tower-excavation.html?m=1
It takes a day or two to get the ice ready so you really have to think ahead for this one.
Supplies: freezer safe container, squeeze bottle, plastic safari animals, hammer (optional)
I used a milk jug to get the ice ready, but any plastic container would work fine. I found these little safari animals at the dollar store. I also plan to do another ice block with magnetic alphabet letters and possibly one with coins.
As I mentioned before, to get the ice block ready took me about two days. First I froze a little bit of water in the bottom of the milk jug for a few hours. Then I added a couple of the animals and more water and let that section freeze. I repeated this until all the animals were frozen and finished it off with another bit of water at the top. The reason I did only water at the top and bottom was so that the animals would be more hidden in the ice.
When it was time for Monkey to start the activity I ran hot water over the milk jug and the ice popped out. I put the ice block in a bucket for Monkey to play.
I thought Monkey would be able to tell what was inside the ice but he had no idea!
I found the squeeze bottle at the dollar store, but any old empty dish soap or shampoo container would work, too. I filled the bottle with very warm water.
I gave the squeeze bottle to Monkey and he got to work.
It took more water to melt the ice than I had anticipated. I had to fill up the squeeze bottle about ten times. But it was worth it! Monkey got so excited once he had melted enough ice to recognize one of the animals. "They're so cuuute!"
At one point I asked him what else we could use to get rid of the ice and he went and got his hammer.
He definitely had the right idea there but his plastic hammer just wasn't tough enough to do any real damage to the ice. I guess he thought he wasn't doing it right because he gave the hammer to me and said, "Be a good girl and bang it out." Where does he come up with that?!
After that he stuck with the squeeze bottle.
I could tell this activity was a big hit - Monkey had a smile on his face the whole time.
Mar
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