Summer is finally here! The kids are out of school and its getting hot out there! “I’m bored”, “What can we do now?”, “I’m hot”, or “I’m tired of doing that”. Oh boy! We’ve all heard those phrases come out of the mouths of our charges. When the routine of the pool and the water sprinkler park get too mundane what’s a Nanny to do? Here’s a project that you can easily and affordably create to throw a little something new into the summer time mix.
Frozen Fun
This recipe for frozen fun is made using a Rubbermaid type container, water, and a collection of toys or objects safe for freezing. After frozen, this project can be used to entertain and teach charges from toddler, older child, to teen. I will give you a quick overview of how to make this effortless project and provide ideas to customize it toward different age groups.
- The first thing you will need is a plastic container. It can be small, medium, or large and of any shape from square, rectangle, to round. It is preferable to have a container with a lid but it is not required if you have freezer space that will ensure the container will not tip over and spill.
- Place about approximately 1 ½ inches of water in the container and arrange a few of the objects you have chosen into the bottom. Place in freezer and allow the first layer to become firm.
- You can then add the second layer of water and objects, allow it to freeze and repeat. This method of layering will allow the object to freeze in position throughout the ice block rather than all objects clustering together. Remember to leave at least a half inch of space between your last layer and the top of the container because, as you know,water expands when it freezes.
- When all layers are completely frozen it is time for the party to begin! It is quite easy to pop this frozen ice block out of its plastic container by running a little warm water over the container.
As shown below in the photos, I used this frozen ice project in a water play table with my toddler charge. Some other places you can take the fun are in a swimming pool, sink, on a baking tray on the porch, in the driveway, or in the bathtub. We chose to handle the cold cube with bare hands and watch it change while melting but you can also provide tools for your charges to work the objects out of the ice. Closely supervise so they do not hurt themselves with the tools or break any of the objects within the ice.
Choose the objects to include in the container to make it appropriate for a variety of ages. Many of these items will be found around the house or you can find new items at the Dollar Tree or similar type store.
Toddler: ABC magnets, rubber animal bath toys, plastic shapes, or teething rings.
Older Child: plastic necklaces, coins, beads, cars, hair accessories, buttons, or Legos.
Teens: Yes! You can also use this frozen activity in a creative way for teens! As grown up as they may seem, they do still enjoy having fun and being silly! Ideas for a teen could be to add a couple of low dollar gift cards, earrings, coins for pool vending machines, movie tickets, a special note or other passes (enclosed in a zip lock bag before emerging in water), key chains, colored shoelaces, hair accessories, or get their house key cut into a funky pattern.
Consider going with a nature theme using rocks, feathers, small sticks, blades of grass, or flower petals. You know all of those shells and treasures you brought back from the beach trip? Make a beach theme ice block and talk about the beach memories!
This activity can be a great start to discussing temperature, textures, colors, shapes, counting…..the learning opportunity is whatever you make it!
Make this activity ahead and have it on hands for when you really need a fun break, some diversity to your routine, to reward a well behaved charge, or to simply help cool off. Enjoy!
Written by Tracey Chipps
Tracey Chipps has been a Professional Career Nanny for 18 years. During her career she has worked with a variety of types of families. She has experience with typically developing children as well as those with special needs. Tracey is the founder of Triangle Area Nanny Group (T.A.N.G.) in Durham, NC. If you would like more information on joining T.A.N.G, please email TANGnanny (at) gmail (dot) com .