Looking for a fun way to use those dandelions growing in your yard? This frozen dandelion sensory bin is inexpensive, taste-safe, easy to prep and fun for kids of all ages. Whether you have a toddler or an elementary schooler at home, they’re sure to love this activity!
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Have a ton of dandelions growing in your yard? If you’ve been looking for something fun to do with them, this simple activity is the perfect way to do just that.
This easy sensory bin is quick and easy to throw together, and because it is taste-safe, it is appropriate for both younger and older kids. I hope your children love this activity just as much as mine did!
Why You’ll Love This Activity
- Taste-safe: Because dandelions are fully edible, as long as you wash them before using and pick other edible flowers like clovers, this activity is safe for younger kids.
- Simple supplies: All you’ll need to set up this activity is water, an ice cube tray and some flowers from your backyard. The supplies couldn’t be simpler, and you probably already have everything you need at home!
- Inexpensive: All the supplies you’ll need for this activity are either free, low-cost, or already present in your kitchen.
- Easy to prep: This activity only requires a few minutes of prep time, making it perfect for busy parents. If your kids like being involved, they can even carry out most—if not all—of the steps themselves.
Looking for more fun activities to do this summer? Check out this Dandelion Play Dough, these Free Summer Coloring Pages, these Summer Water Activities or this Printable Summer Bucket List with 100+ activities!
Required Materials
- Dandelions: You’ll need yellow dandelion flowers for this activity. Avoid using dandelions that may have been treated with chemicals, and make sure to pick them after they’ve been exposed to bright sunlight for a few hours, so that they are in full bloom.
- Flowers: Using other flowers (or flower petals) is optional, but it’s a fun added touch. I used small flowers that I found growing on my lawn, including wild strawberry flowers. If you need this activity to be taste-safe, make sure to choose flowers that are edible or non-toxic. You can also add clovers or other small leaves.
- Ice cube tray: Plastic and silicone are both fine as long as the cavities are big enough to accommodate a dandelion flower. (You can even use a tray that makes ice cubes in fun shapes!)
- Water: We used regular tap water. Just make sure that the water you use is safe to drink if you need this activity to be taste-safe.
The full supply list and instructions can be found in the how-to card.
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How to Make a Frozen Dandelion Sensory Bin (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Remove flower stems. Gently wash and dry the flowers if needed, then remove their stems, leaving a quarter of an inch at most.
Step 2: Add flowers to ice cube tray. Place your dandelions, along with any other flowers you are using, inside the cavities of an ice cube tray.
Making This Activity Taste-Safe
Did you know that all parts of the dandelion, including the roots, leaves and flowers, are fully edible?
If you have a child at home who still likes to put everything in their mouth, simply make sure that any flowers you add to the dandelions are also edible flowers—for instance, lavender, clover flowers, rose petals, strawberry flowers, violets or lilac.
Step 3: Add water and freeze. Slowly pour water into the cavities of the ice cube tray to cover the flowers. (You can gently push them down into the water if you want them to be completely covered, but this is optional.) Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, until frozen solid.
Step 4: Set up sensory bin. Pop the ice cubes out of the tray and place them in a plastic bin or tray. You can complete the setup by adding additional flowers and water to the bottom of the bin, or any other items you think might be fun.
This activity was such a fun way to use dandelions for play! My kids had fun moving the ice cubes around and trying to get them to melt by adding warm water with a plastic dropper.
Because this activity is taste-safe, my almost-two-year-old was also able to join in on the fun, and he was very excited to be included! He kept playing with the water and flowers even after the ice cubes had melted.
Helpful Tips
- Get your kids involved: Both younger and older kids can help set up this activity by picking the flowers, helping to wash them, placing them in cavities of the ice cube tray, pouring water, and popping the ice cubes out of the tray once they are fully frozen.
- Wait for full sunlight: When picking the dandelions, make sure they have been exposed to bright sunlight for several hours and are in full bloom. The ice cubes won’t look as fun if the dandelions are partially closed.
- Use the flowers right away: The dandelions will start to wilt as soon as they are picked, so for best results, make sure you use them as soon as possible.
- Gently wash the flowers: If you need this activity to be taste-safe, you can wash the dandelions (along with any other flowers you choose to use) right before you use them to remove insects and dirt, but make sure the water is flowing very gently or it will cause the dandelions to close.
- Cover the flowers with water: The flowers tend to wilt in the freezer if they are exposed to air, so if you are planning on leaving the ice cubes in the freezer for a while before you use them, make sure to gently push the flowers down into the water so that they are fully covered. (This isn’t necessary if you’re planning on playing as soon as they’re ready.)
Looking for more inexpensive sensory bin ideas? Check out this guide for making sensory bins on a budget!
More Summer Activities for Kids
If you have tried this Frozen Dandelion Sensory Play or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Frozen Dandelion Sensory Bin
Materials
- 12-16 yellow dandelion flowers
- small edible flowers (clover, strawberry, lavender, etc.) optional, as needed
- water as needed
- 1 ice cube tray
Instructions
- Gently wash and dry the dandelions (along with any other flowers you're using) if needed, then remove the stems, leaving a quarter of an inch at most.
- Place the flowers inside the cavities of an ice cube tray, adding a single dandelion to each one.
- Slowly pour water into the cavities of the ice cube tray to cover the flowers. (You can gently push them down into the water if you want them to be fully covered, but this is optional.) Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, until frozen solid.
- Pop the ice cubes out of the tray and place them in a plastic bin or tray. If desired, you can add additional flowers and water (or other items) to the bottom of the bin. Let your child experiment with melting the ice cubes by adding small amounts of warm water with a plastic dropper.
Video
Notes
- Wait for full sunlight: Pick the dandelions when they are in full bloom after having been exposed to bright sunlight for several hours.
- Gently wash the flowers: Make sure the water is flowing gently when you wash the dandelions, as a heavy flow of water can cause the dandelions to close.
- Use the flowers right away: To prevent them from wilting, use the flowers as soon as possible after picking them.
- Fully cover the flowers: If you are not planning on playing with the ice cubes right away, make sure the flowers are fully covered with water to prevent them from wilting in the freezer.
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