Ice Cube Rescue
Frozen treasure, warm water, and total fascination.
- Ages
- 2–7 yrs
- Play
- 10–30 min
- Prep
- 3 min
- Mess
- some
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- at the table
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- ice cubesDon’t have it? Amazon
- a bowl or trayDon’t have it? Amazon
Optional
- salt
- food coloringDon’t have it? Amazon
- a dropperDon’t have it? Amazon
- spoons or tongsDon’t have it? Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Freeze a tray of ice cubes, ideally the night before.
Tip the ice into a bowl or tray on a towel.
Give them a cup of warm water and a spoon.
Let them pour, dribble and prod to melt the ice.
Sprinkle salt on a cube and watch it tunnel — this is the moment that gets the gasp.
Drip food coloring on the salted cubes so the tunnels light up.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Ice cubes are a choking hazard for under-3s — keep them big and stay close.
- Use warm, not hot, water.
Make it different next time
- Race two cubes: one with salt, one without.
- Freeze the cubes with a drop of color already inside.
Cleanup: Tip the water down the sink and mop the table. The towel catches most of it.
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