Toddler Color Games Part 7: Ice Cube Color Mixing
What is a color game I can do with my toddler or preschool to teach color mixing?
Toddler color games are a great way to teach your child the colors. This game is wonderful for toddlers and preschoolers because it involves food coloring and water. What’s not to love?
To prepare for this color game, you will need to make several colored ice cubes. Simply fill a regular ice cube tray with water, then add 3-5 drops of food coloring into each cube. You only need the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) for this game. I used about 4 ice cubes of each color. After I added the drops of food coloring, I mixed the water around a little bit with a toothpick. I don’t know if this was really necessary, but that is what I did. Once the food coloring is added and mixed in, let the ice cubes freeze in the freezer. I prepared the ice cubes the day before just to be sure that they would be ready when I needed them.
To play the game, have several bowls (white or clear if possible) filled halfway with water. You will want to play this game in a place that you can fill and empty the bowls quickly. We played it at our kitchen sink. A bathroom sink or the bathtub will also work very well. Take an ice cube out of the tray and ask your kids to guess what color the ice cube will turn the water. Put the ice cube into a bowl that is filled halfway with water and let your kids play with it until the ice cube is melted. Have them observe whether or not their guess was right.
Repeat this activity with two more ice cubes until you have three bowls filled with each of the three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). Now, plug up your sink (or bathtub) and fill it slightly with water. Have your child choose two of the primary colors. Have them guess what color the two colors will make. Have your child pour the two primary colors into the sink (or bathtub) and play with the water until the two colors are combined. Have them observe what color the water turned into.
If you think your child is old enough, go ahead and explain the term “secondary color.” If not, just let them play with the water. When they are ready to make another color, empty that water down the sink and rinse the sink well. Now, get some more ice cubes and color the water in some bowls so you again have three bowls with each of the primary colors. Have your child pick two more colors and fill the sink with a little bit of water. Pour the bowls into the sink and see what color they make.
Continue until you have made all three secondary colors (orange, green, and purple). You can use this color mixing sheet for younger kids. Just have them color the circles with crayons as you go. For older kids, I suggest using the black and white color mixing sheet so they can choose what colors to mix.
This is a really fun toddler color game because of the sensory experience. Your children are sure to love it and the clean up is pretty easy because of all the water involved. Don’t forget to check out all of our other toddler color game posts!
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The photos are so cool! We love color mixing and colored cubes. Great idea to turn it into a color mixing activity.
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Thank you! It sure made colors a little more fun for us :)