In this BLOG post I will teach you how to make frozen hands, the benefits of this type of activity and my favorite fine motor tools!
What are Frozen Hands?
They are exactly what they sound like: Halloween trinkets (or any kind of trinkets) frozen inside of a plastic disposable globe! I know, it sounds like a lot but I promise activities like this bring kids SO much joy! They're fun and hands-on and get kids exploring and problem solving.
You can use food coloring to make the water colorful or you can leave them as is.
You can melt the with water, smash them with a wooden mallet or just watch them slowly melt.
Whichever way you choose to explore the festive frozen fun is absolutely perfect. Activities like this are inclusive. There is NO wrong way to play!!
Not only are these FUN, but there are also so many learning opportunities.
How does the ice feel?
What happens when I pour the water over the ice?
What happens if I use warm water instead of cold water?
How hard to I have to slam the wooden mallet to make it crack?
What happens as the ice begins to melt?
Benefits of Frozen Activities:
Strengthen fine motor skills.
Increase opportunities for language & vocabulary.
Practice self-regulation skills.
Work on cause and effect.
Allow opportunities to problem solve.
Exposure to temperature and science topics.
Purposeful ways to practice socials skills (waiting, using manners, taking turns, sharing).
Bilateral Coordination (using both sides of the body).
Materials:
Plastic disposable gloves
Trinkets that can be frozen
Glitter (optional)
Food coloring (Optional)
Sensory tray or bowl
Tools to rescue the objects
Step 1: Gather all of your materials and make a little space in your freezer!
Step 2: Add your favorite Halloween trinkets (or just food coloring/glitter) into the glove & add water. You want to leave enough space at the top so that you can tie the glove closed like a balloon!
Step 3: Freeze for a few hours (length will depend on the size of the glove/how full they are).
Step 4: Once frozen solid, use a pair of scissors to carefully cut open the glove and peel it off. You can run it quicky under water first to loosen in. Sometimes the fingers break and that's OK, throw them in the sensory bin all together! Also add a few cups or a bowl or warm water.
Step 5: PLAY! Squirt, squeeze & bang away until they are free of the ice!
You can reuse ALL of the items, so be sure to clean them up and dry them off for next time.
Fine Motor Tools that you can add into your frozen fun:
Tweezers
Tongs
Squirt bottle
Medicine dropper
Wooden mallet
Pipette
Measuring cups/spoons
Activities like this are an incredible way to strengthen fine motor skills. As kids squeeze and squirt and smoosh, they are strengthening the tiny muscles in their fingers and hands. Those same muscles are responsible for self-help skills like feeding yourself and zippering your coat. They are also responsible for supporting you during the writing process!
The more we can strengthen those muscles early on through sensory-driven experiences like this, the more supported children will be when they enter school-age.
The possibilities for FUN are endless. You can learn & play & create all through simple materials!! When you're done playing, put everything back in the container and freeze again for next time. They are great to have on hand for a rainy day, during playdates or on a day when you just need a little something!
While kids explore frozen activities together, they will have the opportunity to work on a TON of social skills. They will be sharing materials, sharing space, practice using their manners, waiting their turn and problem solving together!
They will also be learning from each other! Kids observe EVERYTHING! They will be watching how each person explores the bin. They will learn their own personal boundaries and maybe even be encouraged to try something they may not have before!
SO many language opportunities. SO much social skills practice. SO. MUCH. FUN.
Always monitor young children in or around water. Small objects can be choking hazards. You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home.
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