Easy Ice and Beads Threading Activity for Preschoolers

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Threading beads activities are such a wonderful way for your preschoolers to build their fine motor and hand/eye coordination skills.

This frozen bead activity adds a fun sensory challenge to your classic threading beads activity using a favorite around here – ice and water play!

We have so many different types of beads in our craft storage and I wanted to extend this threading challenge through some sensory play.

We LOVE sensory play around here!

This activity can be done year round, but it is a really great one to plan outside on those extra warm spring and summer days.

Your preschoolers will love the challenge of melting the ice first to release the beads to string in this activity.

Your older kids will want to join in on it as well and it can keep them busy for hours!

Threading beads helps support so many different aspects of learning such as color recognition, pattern making, and counting skills.

My favorite thing about threading is the repetition that it provides for children alongside the slowness.

It is a different and much needed opportunity for them to slow down in such a busy world they live in!

Here is another threading activity to try using basic items from around your home to slow things down with your toddlers or preschoolers when you are needing a breather!

For this preschoolers bead and ice activity you will need:

• Beads (any type of smaller bead will work, we used perler beads specifically but pony beads might be better for toddlers or beginner threaders)
• Ice cube trays of any size or design
• Pipe Cleaners
• A plastic tray, water droppers, squeeze bottles (this fine motor skills tool set on Amazon is a great starter set.)

Preparing You Threading Beads and Ice Activity for Kids

This was an easy activity to prep ahead of time.

It does involve freezing so you will need to plan a few hours ahead of time.

I filled our ice cube trays up with beads to cover the bottom, added water and let sit in the freezer for 24 hours.

Once frozen, I used a plastic tray to hold the ice cubes.

I added a bowl of water and a few items to help melt the ice, such as water droppers and squeeze bottles

A few simple tools from around the house make this frozen beads activity stemtastic for preschoolers!

I also added salt to help melt the ice faster.

I placed a few pipe cleaners along the tray for the actual stringing of the beads.

Beads and Ice Threading Activity for Preschoolers

My preschool child got to work quite quickly.

She loved the challenge of melting the ice cubes to release the beads.

My children could play with water and ice for hours!

Speaking of ice and water, check out this easy rainbow ice cube play that is so fun for toddlers and preschoolers.

Once my she had enough beads, she easily threaded the beads onto the pipe cleaners.

My preschooler has a strong sense of pattern making.

I knew that she would love to use the beads to make her own pattern as she went!

This was such a fun fine motor activity not only for my four year old, but for my older children who eventually joined in as well.

I love that everyone could work together, but at their own individual pace.

Share with us in the comments

Have you ever tried threading activities using something different than beads with your preschoolers? What are some items you have used?

I love this round up of different threading ideas that you can try and explore with your child.