SparKits
Ice Melting
Let's Begin
Gather Materials
Bowls or dishes (for making ice)
Large tray or plate with sides
Table salt
Kosher or rock salt
Dropper or spoon
Liquid food coloring
Cup of warm water
Step 1
First, fill a few different sized bowls with water and put them in the freezer to freeze (at least three different frozen ice pieces). Next, loosen the ice from the bowls with a little warm water and set them on a tray or plate with edges. Now, have your child use the dropper, to drop a few drops of food coloring into the warm water.
Step 2
Next, have your child use the dropper to drop the warm food coloring onto the ice, and observe what happens. Talk about what you are seeing happen. Do the same on a different piece of ice using the table salt. Sprinkle it on and see what happens. On another piece of ice use the rock salt and observe what happens using that salt.
Step 3
Finally, let your child continue to openly explore using the warm water, and different types of salts. Continue to talk about what they are seeing and what they think about it.
CDC Milestones
Curious about your child’s development? All children develop at their own pace, but the Center for Disease Control’s developmental milestones can be a helpful guideline. Here are a few examples:
1-year-old
- Shows fear in some situations
- Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
- Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
18-months-old
- Explores alone but with parent close by
- Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures
- Drinks from a cup
2-years-old
- Shows more and more independence
- Knows names of familiar people and body parts
- Might use one hand more than the other
Additional family resources
Early Learning with ECA
Learning begins at birth. ECA provides foundations for learning, starting with age-appropriate experiences for infants, toddlers, and preschool. ECA also offers a range of family support programs that encourage family involvement with children’s learning.
Free tips and learning games
This free texting service provides quality, developmental information for parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age eight right to your phone. Messages include research-based, age-appropriate content from national experts, along with local updates of events and resources.
Free resources at your library
Your local library has many resources for you as a parent as well as for your child. We encourage you to take advantage of all they have to offer. For an online list of libraries by city, go to publiclibraries.com/state
Find help in your community
Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-502-0700 for free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral assistance. Trained 2-1-1 Specialists can connect you to local organizations that can assist you with food, housing, health care, transportation, education and more.
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Use of the materials described above are done so at your own risk and any children interacting with these materials should do so only under close adult supervision.
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