Frozen Dandelion Sensory Bin
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.
Servings: 1 sensory bin
Ingredients
- 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
1. Getting kids involved: Let your kids be actively involved in the prepping process by allowing them to pick and wash the flowers, place the flowers inside the ice cube tray, pour the water and pop the ice cubes out of the tray.
2. Making this activity taste-safe: Gently wash all flowers and supplement the dandelions with other edible flowers such as lavender, clover flowers, rose petals, strawberry flowers, violets or lilac.
3. Helpful tips:
- 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.