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    Home » Sensory Activities

    Frozen Water Beads Play

    Modified: May 4, 2022 · Published: Jul 15, 2013 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    72 shares
    • 1

    Have your kids experienced water beads yet? We have had lots of fun with them in the past when we had creative play with water beads. Water beads are tiny hard beads that resemble pellets. They grow when left in water, and become a slippery and squishy sensory material that kids enjoy playing with. Recently, after some fun with water beads, we decided to freeze the beads to see what would happen. This resulted in a frozen water beads play that kept my little one engaged for the longest time.

    Take water bead play to the next level by freezing them. Children will love watching what happens as the water beads melt and change. A great sensory and learning activity.

    I had no idea what would happen if we froze water beads. I actually thought they would revert back to their small state from the cold. Kind of like a water bead version of shrinkage. Turns out, they stayed roughly the same size and just became suspended in the ice.

    Water beads in ice

    To freeze water beads you will need some plastic cups. I love to re-use apple sauce/fruit cups. We have used them for colorful dancing milk and homemade finger paint. They were just the right size for this activity. I just filled them up to the top with water and added water beads that had already grown.

    freezing water beads

    I put them in the freezer overnight and popped them out of the cups and into a plastic bin filled with water.

    frozen water beads
    water bead play

    First, I just let my daughter explore this on her own. She said "wow" over and over as she picked up the ice and looked at the water balls suspended inside.

    ice play

    She thought they looked like flowers.

    exploring frozen water beads

    Ignore the background mess. This is my life. I provided my daughter with a spoon and fork so she could explore the ice.

    water beads activity

    Soon, the ice started melting in the water and the water beads looked like they were getting bigger.

    Kick water bead play up a notch by freezing them. Children will love watching what happens as the water beads change and melt. A fun sensory and learning activity.

    My daughter tried to break open the ice and free the water beads with her fork.

    playing with water beads

    She loved holding the ice as it melted.

    melting ice

    She tried to use all her senses for this activity.

    water beads fun

    When the ice did melt, the water beads started breaking down as well.

    colorful water beads

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    Comments

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    1. Louanne says

      July 21, 2013 at 3:13 am

      We did this today and my girls had a blast!! Thanks.

      Reply
    2. Becky says

      July 20, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      How fun! I never would have thought about freezing them! Thanks for the post 🙂

      Reply
    3. kewkew says

      July 16, 2013 at 6:42 pm

      Cool idea. Never have used water beads.
      I wouldn't even have noticed your "background mess" if you hadn't brought it up.

      Reply
    4. OneMommy says

      July 16, 2013 at 1:47 am

      Never would have thought about freezing them in water. We have just begun experiencing water beads -- so fun!

      (Oh, and my counters look the same way...)

      Reply
    5. Louanne says

      July 15, 2013 at 8:23 pm

      First - I like your background mess because that is REAL LIFE 🙂

      Second - what a great idea. We have had so much fun since you first posted this and I ordered some. Thanks.

      Reply
    6. Megan Sheakoski says

      July 15, 2013 at 6:58 pm

      What a fun idea Vicky!!!!

      Reply
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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