This easy outdoor sensory baby activity is great for the summertime. Although it can definitely be done inside, it’s a good way to cool your little ones off in the warm sun.
The coldness of the ice cubes will be fun for your baby to manipulate or chew on.
For this activity, I saved the little tops from baby/toddler food pouches. They make great small little objects to play with.
You’d be surprised at all the activities that you can do with these pouch tops! They’re especially great for toddlers to learn color sorting and counting.
Activity Sneak Peak:
- Under 1 minute set-up time (not including freezing)
- Requires only TWO household items
- Multi-sensory and fine motor skills
- For ages 6 months+
Make sure you are supervising your child during this activity. It uses small pieces that could potentially be choking hazards.
What you need:
- Any small toys or objects (ie. pompoms, small figurines, medium-large beads, grapes, blueberries, milk tops, etc)
- Ice cube tray
- Water
- Baking sheet
The best part about this outdoor sensory baby activity is that you probably have all the materials in your home. Everyone has an ice cube tray and baking sheet and you can substitute the pouch tops for any small toys or objects!
Consider using pompoms, small figurines, or medium sized-beads or blocks. Make it an edible and safe activity by putting small foods like grapes or blueberries in the ice cube!
I used a standard, small ice cube tray, however, it would be great to use large ice cubes as they would stay frozen a lot longer.
What to do:
- Place 1 small object in each cube of the tray.
- Fill with water and stick in the freezer.
- Pull it out of the freezer and remove the ice cubes from the tray.
- Place the cubes on a baking sheet.
- Head outside and let your baby have fun!
Your baby will have a blast feeling the cold and wetness on his fingers. Watch him learn as the cubes slip right through his fingers.
This could also be a great sensation for your teething baby. They may love how the coldness feels on their gums and put the cubes right up to their mouths.
Skills Adressed Through This Activity
Your baby is constantly learning through play. This simple activity is helping to teach him various skills that he will need to get him to future milestones and beyond.
For this Frozen Toy Ice Cube Baby Activity, the following skills are being strengthened for your baby:
- Language/Vocabulary: Hearing and talking about different objects and concepts (water, ice, toy, grab, grass, colors, cold, hold, etc.). Talk to your baby as much as you can throughout this activity to maximize his exposure to new words and vocabulary.
- Fine motor skills: Strengthening and coordinating the muscles of their hands by picking up the ice cubes one at a time. Also, working on bilateral coordination (using two hands together in different ways) by
transfering an ice cube from one hand to the other. - Sensory: Feeling and seeing different textures can be calming or stimulating for a child. They will get to explore the wetness of the water as it melts, har
d ness of the ice, grass (if you’re outside), and the texture of the toys put inside.
Related Post: 5 Simple Ways to Practice Pincer Grasp for Babies
Once again, make sure you are providing close supervision as the ice and toys may be choking hazards.
How did your baby like this easy outdoor sensory activity? Write in the comments below!
