There is no doubt that dinosaurs are incredibly popular amongst many young children. They often find them thrilling and fascinating at the same time. Here I’m going to have you embark on a frozen adventure that will captivate your child’s senses and transport them to the prehistoric world of dinosaurs is what this blog post is about. It’s dinosaurs in ice excavation sensory activity for kids!
In this blog post, we’ll explore the wonders of a cold sensory activity: freezing small dinosaur figurines in an ice tray and then melting them for an exciting excavation.
Dinosaurs in ice excavation sensory activity for kids
Engaging toddlers and preschoolers in sensory play is not only entertaining but also incredibly beneficial for their development. One exciting activity that combines learning and fun is freezing dinosaur figurines in ice blocks. This simple yet captivating activity offers a myriad of sensory experiences for young explorers.
How to prepare your activity
The wonderful thing about this sensory activity is that it involves very few materials and you can customise it to whatever theme your child has an interest in. For this demonstration, we are going to be focusing on dinosaurs.
Gather Your Supplies: Prepare small dinosaur figurines, an ice tray, water, and a freezer to embark on this frozen expedition.
Arrange the Dinosaurs: Place the dinosaur figurines into the compartments of the ice tray, arranging them in a way that they are as deep into the tray as much as possible.
This is something you can do alongside your child, if they are able to understand wait time will soon follow. This can be difficult for some children to understand.
Fill with Water: Carefully pour water into each compartment of the ice tray, ensuring the dinosaurs are fully submerged. This will be helpful to ensure they remain secure inside the ice at a later stage.
Freeze Overnight: Transfer the filled ice tray to the freezer and allow it to freeze overnight or until solid, setting the stage for an epic ice excavation adventure!
Let the excavation begin!
Children might like to place frozen dinosaur blocks into a large tray to explore and work on extracting them from the ice. We used simple rocks from the garden to try and smash the ice off the dinosaurs.
Of course safety needs to be priority when doing this activity.
This concept of play combines the excitement of palaeontology with the sensory delight of ice excavation. It really dose promise an unforgettable experience for young explorers.
Your child might also like to problem solve what could be the best strategy for removing each dinosaur from the ice. Is one way better than another? You can learn more about dinosaurs in the ice age in this video here.
Importance of Sensory Activities for Children’s Learning and Development:
Here are some reasons why I believe we should engage our children in more sensory rich activities.
- Cognitive Stimulation: Sensory play activates the brain, encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking skills in children.
- Fine Motor Skill Development: Ice excavation hones fine motor skills as children manipulate tools and chip away at the ice to reveal the dinosaurs.
- Language Enrichment: Engaging in sensory experiences prompts children to communicate their discoveries, enhancing language development and vocabulary.
- Creativity and Imagination: Ice excavation sparks imaginative play as children envision themselves as paleontologists uncovering ancient treasures.
- Emotional Regulation: Sensory activities offer a calming effect, helping children regulate emotions and manage stress through focused exploration.
- Social Interaction: Collaborative ice excavation fosters teamwork, cooperation, and communication among children as they work together to uncover the dinosaurs.
- Introduction to Scientific Concepts: Through hands-on exploration, children learn about scientific concepts such as freezing and melting, as well as the characteristics of dinosaurs.
- Sensory Integration: Engaging in diverse sensory experiences promotes sensory integration, enhancing children’s ability to process and respond to sensory stimuli effectively.
Engaging Kids in the Mesmerizing World of Dinosaurs:
Dinosaurs have long fascinated young minds with their colossal size and ancient mysteries. With Dinosaurs in Ice, children not only get to excavate their own prehistoric creatures but also immerse themselves in a world of discovery and wonder.
As they chip away at the ice, they’ll uncover the magic of palaeontology and embark on a journey through time.
Do you think your child would enjoy this activity?
Don’t forget to check out my other dinosaur activities
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