Three cool ways to keep kids entertained with ice cubes on hot summer days
There's lots of fun to be had with a pile of frozen cubes, and they hardly cost a thing.
So for some icy fun, try these simple challenges . . .
COOL FOR GROUPS: For a kids' party or if you've got a crowd over for the day, try an ice relay.
Players pick up an ice cube with a spoon from one bowl then race to drop it in another, before running to let the next player go.
The winning team is the one to transfer all their cubes and get back to the start first.
Also, with a bit of preparation, you could set up a frozen bowling game. Freeze water in plastic water bottles to use as the bowling pins. Then, try to knock them down with a ball.
FUN FOR ONE: Keep boredom at bay with some games kids can play on their own or with a friend.
Give them a big bowl of ice cubes and a tray. Let them build a slippery tower on the tray and see how high they can make it until it collapses.
For arty kids, get them to paint with coloured ice.
Add food colouring to the water in an ice cube tray.
Then, as it starts to freeze, add a lolly stick or toothpick to each cube to use as a handle.
I save £2,500 every summer by planning kids' activities in JANUARY... here's how you can too
Once they're frozen, tip the cubes on to a tray and use to paint on paper, watching as the colours melt and blend, making amazing patterns.
MELTING MAGIC: Just the effect of ice melting can be magical to behold for little minds.
Freeze small items in a tray of ice cubes then get your kids to excavate them as they melt.
You could turn it into a nature trail, freezing herbs, flowers and leaves.
Another idea is to freeze small toys so the little ones discover their favourites as the ice melts.
Also fun is freezing little snacks — half grapes, blueberries and slices of apple can all be frozen in water.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
7
Deal of the day
7
GET wonder walls with the Fleur vinyl wallpaper from John Lewis, down from £40 to £12 a roll.
Cheap treat
SOFTEN up with Nivea rich nourishing body lotion for dry skin, 400ml, down from £7.99 to £3.99 at Boots..
Top swap
FOR an easy drinking summer tipple, La Vieille Ferme rosé, £8.75, at Sainsbury's rules the roost.
But Aldi's Le Petit Poulet rosé, £6.49, also slips down nicely.
Shop & save
FAMILY feasts just got cheaper with eight Birds Eye chicken burgers down from £4.75 to £2.37 at Iceland.
Hot right now
FREE 45-minute My Pet Pals workshops start at Pets at Home today and run every day at 2pm in the holidays.
Kids can meet the animals, earn stickers and work towards getting a special badge. Sign up at petsathome.com.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
7
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Tram Sunday' event returns to Fleetwood for 40th anniversary
Transport enthusiasts are marking the 40th anniversary of the Fleetwood Festival of Transport, traditionally known as Tram celebrate the milestone, organisers are encouraging attendees to dress up in 1980s outfits, with prizes available for the best-dressed adult, teen and event is a free, family friendly event showcasing of retro and vintage cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, electric vehicles and replica cars from film and will be no vintage trams this year, as the Blackpool fleet will not be up and running until the start of the Lightpool event in October, but it is hoped they will be back for next year's event, Wyre Council said. Batmobile and DeLorean Alongside the vehicle displays, visitors can enjoy live performances and street theatre, food and drink stalls, fairground rides, family zones and kids' entertainment, market traders and local crafts, the Local Democracy Reporting Service the vehicles on show are Lightning McQueen from Cars, Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters, the A-Team Van, the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles Van, KITT from Knight Rider, the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard, the 1989 Batmobile, the DeLorean from Back to the Future and Transformers favourites Bumblebee and Optimus Dooney, marketing manager for the festival, said: "Reaching this milestone is a real achievement and the interest from transport enthusiasts and local families is as strong as ever." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
The married 91-year-olds using Instagram to preserve Gujarati culture
A couple have become an unlikely hit on Instagram for their efforts to preserve their native Gujarati and Sharda Chandarana, both 91, have amassed thousands of followers on the social media platform where videos of their day-to-day life have been watched millions of of the couple, from Birstall, Leicestershire, have been posted by their granddaughter - showing them bickering playfully in Gujarati or dancing."We are Gujarati and we must teach our children the Gujarati language and make them proud to become a Gujarati," said Mr Chandarana. The couple, known as Nini and Nanu, have gained more than 84,000 followers on Instagram after their granddaughter Rupa Nathwani began posting about Nathwani said she initially intended only to show the humorous side of their relationship after her grandfather complained about how long her grandmother spent praying in 2024 - but the clip has been viewed 5.1 million times. The family are now using their online popularity to promote Gujarati language and culture."It was all very spontaneous," Ms Nathwani said."I just happened to be in the room when they were having one of their cute arguments and I just thought 'oh let me just record it, this is just funny'. "And then I uploaded it without thinking about anything and that was eight months ago, so it all happened very quickly, and we're completely overwhelmed with the response."She said she believed fewer and fewer young Gujaratis in Britain were sticking with the language."Whilst I think that English is an important language to know living here, it would be a shame not to pass on something that's so precious as well - which is speaking in your own language," she figures show there were 213,094 Gujarati speakers in England and Wales in number had declined to 189,000 a decade later. Mr Chandarana said he thought he was "too old" to be on social he said he was pleased to be able to use his new profile to highlight the importance of his native Chandarana said: "We shouldn't forget our sanskriti, our culture."We are proud to be Gujarati so we teach our children so everybody can be proud."Their granddaughter added: "I think they've got so much charm, vibrancy and personalities for that age, people love them for who they are, and they don't try to be anything else. "Nini's quite devotional, she's quite into her culture."Nanu likes to have a beer and they're both vocal about who they are and I think they're loved for being themselves."Many of the couple's Instagram followers have praised them for helping them reconnect with their said: "So much to learn from a generation that's almost dismissed."You helps me keep alive the little Gujarati I do understand. We are also learning new words from them." The couple met for the first time in Uganda in 1956 and were married the year after in a simple and intimate loved watching movies together and going on long 1971, they moved to London where Mr Chandarana worked in relocated to Birstall in 2023 to live with their daughter and grandchildren, and have now been married for 68 their secret to a long-lasting marriage?Mrs Chandarana says "forgive and forget", while Mr Chandarana added: "Love is very important."
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Young and old set to celebrate 50th Derby Caribbean Carnival
Derby Caribbean Carnival is set to mark a half century on Sunday and all ages will be out to enjoy the festivities - including three generations from one Maria Slack, 54, is a former Carnival Queen who has been involved in the event for 20 years, and her troupe MProductions has won the carnival dance competition for the past two will be joined by her daughter Aaday Adlam, who was a carnival princess in 2012, while granddaughter Jasmine Muir, 17, is a singer and dancer with aspirations of being crowned carnival royalty year's 50th Derby Caribbean Carnival takes place from 12:00 to 21:00 BST on Sunday at Osmaston Park. A procession will leave Cathedral Green in the city centre at noon and arrive at the park at about 14:30, said will be entertainment including Caribbean food stalls, arts and craft stalls, a beer tent, sound systems and music including headliner Maxi Priest. Maria said: "I'm very excited, I can't believe it's here - it's come around so quickly."I love absolutely everything about the carnival - the music, the people, the costumes, bringing lots of people together from different regions, the atmosphere, the vibe, the food, the funfair, it's just all great."Maria first entered the dance competitions 23 years ago with a troupe and won the then spent time with dancers at the West Indian Centre where she "was made to feel so welcome" before going it alone with her own MPRoductions said: "We've got people from Leicester, Nottingham, Northampton, from as far as London, Birmingham, all over - Derby Caribbean Carnival brings so many people together." Maria's daughter Aadaya Adlam, 35, no longer lives in Derby but still travels from Bristol for the said: "I always loved dance but I was really shy to begin with."And then joining something like a carnival troupes, I just gained a lot of confidence, and I ended up going for Carnival Princess back in 2012 - and I won it."And from then a buzz was created. And I just wanted to be in like every single year."Aadaya said she hopes the event can continue for another half-century: "A lot of the kids that I was friends with have now grown up and their kids are now doing it."It keeps going, keeps growing, keeps evolving."We need to get the youth in and make sure we can have another 50 years."Her daughter Jasmine is already a regular in the dance contests, and is hoping to emulate her success and be crowned royalty. She said: "My mama Maria, she was Carnival Queen, and then my mom was Carnival Princess so now I just feel like it's my turn."Joining the troupe is honestly the best thing I've ever done to be honest."I've done it for three years, it brings everyone together, everyone is always laughing and so excited for carnivals in the summer."Jasmine said anyone who has not been to Derby's Caribbean Carnival before should visit."It's such an enjoyable experience, there's so much to do," she said."You can never be bored going to a carnival."
