Painting with icicles is a delightful winter activity that kids love. Even better, it’s virtually mess-free! If you live somewhere cold enough for this activity, you may also want to try bringing in snow for the kids!
Paint with Icicles – Winter fun for Kids
I introduced my kids to this activity back when we lived in Massachusetts, where winters were long and icicles were abundant. We started off using icicles to paint with Kool-Aid, but then I realized that painting on construction paper was equally entertaining to the kids, and virtually mess-free!
Lily was thrilled to discover that you can “paint” on construction paper with icicles! The paper is fairly porous, so the water shows up right away, then dries so you can paint all over again!
This was a great distraction from the virus she was battling, and she surprised me by making some pretty neat observations about her icicle:
It was so much fun that we decided to do it again with Johnny when he got home from preschool the next day! Lily showed him what to do:
And Johnny was equally fascinated!
Emma was very disappointed to discover that she had been left out of icicle painting, so we’ll be repeating this activity the next time we have icicles hanging from our roof!
Do you have any fun icicle activities? We’ve also used icicles to paint with Kool-Aid!
MaryAnne lives in Silicon Valley with her Stanford professor husband Mike and their four children. She writes about parenting through education, creativity, and play. Mama Smiles - Joyful Parenting is a space to share crafts, hands on learning activities, and family outings that enrich lives and bring families together.
Christy says
Fun idea!!!! I’ll have to remember this when it gets cold and icy again.
Natalie says
How fun to see Lily in action. She is very talkative :)
maryanne says
Lily is definitely my “talker” =)
PlayDrMOm says
Great idea! I love it. Now … to find some icicles!
Didi says
What an imaginative idea! I can’t wait to try this. Now if only we could get Jack Frost to visit our house…
Ann says
Couldn’t wait to see this one – what a fantastic ideas : )
Grumpy Grateful Mom says
I love your site! The video was adorable! I’ve never had my kids do that before, but I know they’d like to. Hopefully we’ll get some icicles this year.
Toddler Approved says
what a great idea! wish it was cold enough here to do this! we might need to make our own in the freezer :)
Tracye says
GENIUS! I just wish we had some icicles!
Lauren says
What a great idea! I’d love for you to link up and share: http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2012/01/pinteresting-party-number-twenty-three.html
I’ll be giving this one a pin!
Jenny says
Cute idea! Sorry Lily was sick. Is she any better now?
maryanne says
Lily’s better, but now Johnny has it…
Elisa | blissfulE says
Fabulous! I love how observant your official cookie taster is, and how clear her speech is as well! :) She is just darling. What a great activity and ideal virus distraction. Hope she’s all better now.
maryanne says
It’s really nice that her speech is so clear! She is all better now – it’s Johnny’s turn =)
Elisa | blissfulE says
I hope Johnny gets well soon. Maybe your house will grow more icicles to distract him…
maryanne says
:D
Thanks, Elisa!
Jen says
How fun! It reminds me of those boards or mats you can paint with a water “marker.” My kids loved those when they were younger.
maryanne says
Same idea, yes! My kids love those, too =)
Ally says
I forgot to comment here yesterday.
My boys and I enjoyed being taught by Lily all about icicles, too cute!! :)
maryanne says
I loved her descriptions =)
Ticia says
Awww, that’s so cute, I loved the video.
maryanne says
I couldn’t resist posting, she was so adorable =)
Elisa | blissfulE says
Oh, and another comment just to say, I love your new hand-drawn social networking icons!!
maryanne says
Thank you!!!
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Oh, if only it would snow….
maryanne says
I can’t believe how mild this winter has been!
Elise @ Inspiration Surrounds Creativity Abounds says
What a special treat to hear you and Lily. I have loved hearing both of you. Lily speaks so clearly and what a delight she is (Just as I imagined).
Michelle Breum says
How fun! My kids and I brought in an icicle to see how long it took to melt. I never thought of “painting” with an icicle.
Susan, the Book Chook says
Love this idea!
Jackie says
due to global warming, we’ll have to put this project off indefinitely ;) Seriously, we’ve had about an inch of snow all winter! Although, I guess we could make icicles in the freezer??
We often paint with just water on construction paper and then we let the paper dry and reuse it the next day!
maryanne says
We haven’t had icicles since! I was thinking we should pull out the paintbrushes and just paint with them – slightly messier but very fun!
Becky says
I LOVE this idea! Older kids could write words with them! We’ll have to try it IF we get snow this winter!
Dorothy (@TheSaneMom) says
Great idea! This is my first time hearing about painting with icicles. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, we don’t have any icicles here.
Lisa says
Very nice. Wish we had icicles here to paint with.
Ticia Messing says
Oh my goodness! Look how little they are! It’s amazing how much they’ve grown, that’s a fun thing about old posts being republished, you can see how much the people we’ve watched grow up from afar have grown.
MaryAnne says
I really enjoy that about republished old posts, too!