Ice Cube Tray Water Splash Play

An ice cube tray

Food coloring (2-3 colors)

Water

A towel or shallow baking tray to contain spills

Mix a drop of food coloring into water in a few cups — two or three colors is plenty.

Pour the colored water into an ice cube tray, alternating colors in each compartment.

Place the tray on a towel or inside a shallow baking tray to catch any splashes.

Sit your baby in your lap or in a supported seat facing the tray.

Show them how to poke one finger into a compartment and splash gently.

Step back and let your baby explore — they'll poke, pat, and splash on their own.

Narrate the experience: "Splash! That's the blue one! Now you found yellow!"

Use food-grade coloring only since babies will put wet fingers in their mouths.

The small compartments naturally encourage finger isolation — your baby has to use one or two fingers rather than a whole fist.

Lay a dark towel underneath so the colors really pop visually.

If your baby dumps the tray (and they probably will), that's part of the fun. Just refill and go again.

This activity transitions beautifully into bath time — bring the tray into the tub for round two.