How to make frozen ice paint sticks for toddler art

Add an exciting new spin to preschool art with these colourful frozen paint sticks – made with just paint, water, some lolly sticks and an ice cube tray

Published: August 30, 2023 at 9:55 AM

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Toddlers and preschoolers love messing about with paints – but they don't always find it easy to hold and manipulate the paintbrush. These brilliant frozen ice paints have a nice, short lolly stick to hold, which makes it super-easy for small fingers to make more controlled blobs, patterns and shapes. And, of course, thrill of having frozen paint is a real bonus!

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MadeForMums crafter and mum of 2, Jo Edwards, created these wonderful frozen ice paint sticks, to help keep her children Esther, 3, and Seth, 15 months, really busy.

Both my 3-year-old and my 15-month-old had such a good time creating lots of pictures with these – and they are also brilliant for colour learning

Jo Edwards, mum of 2

"It’s such an easy craft idea," says Jo. " The colours looked amazing in the ice cube tray and the children couldn’t wait to start. They both loved it. And the pictures looked great when they'd dried."

frozen ice painting with baby

Pic: Jo Edwards

Here's how to make frozen ice paint sticks...

You can follow our video guide (above) or our picture step by step instructions below:

You will need:

Step 1: Prepare the Colored Ice Cubes

Cut your lolly sticks in half. Fill the ice cube tray with water (don’t overfill). Add a small drop of food colouring or paste to each individual compartment of the tray (use as many colours as you have). Dip a cut lolly stick into 1 of the compartments, using it to mix the colour in with the water, then leave the stick standing up in that compartment. Repeat until all the compartments have lolly sticks in them.

paints in ice cube tray for frozen ice painting

Pic: Jo Edwards

Step 2: Create Art with Frozen Paint Cubes

Freeze the ice cube tray until the cubes are set. Take the tray out of the freezer. Get your piece of paper ready, then show your child how to pick up a cube by holding its lolly stick – and start painting on the paper!

frozen ice painting

Pic: Jo Edwards

Jo's top 3 frozen ice painting tips:

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Authors

Jo Edwards

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