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[Childcare] Shaved Ice Craft Ideas by Age and Materials

[Childcare] Shaved Ice Craft Ideas by Age and Materials

Last updated:2025/7/11

Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

As it starts getting hotter, you can’t help but think about summery craft ideas.

Many teachers may be struggling because craft ideas can easily become repetitive.

Shaved ice is a familiar motif for children and has a refreshing feel, making it perfect for summer crafts.

This time, we’ve gathered shaved ice craft ideas by material and age group!

With a bit of ingenuity, you can create shaved ice with all kinds of vibes, and the kids will love it.

If you use them for pretend play, they might even open a shaved ice stand.

Enjoy the summer through shaved ice crafts!

[Childcare] Shaved Ice Craft Ideas by Age and Materials (1–10)

[Scribble Drawing] Shaved Ice Craft for 1-Year-Olds

When it comes to drawing methods for children around ages 1 to 2, scribbling is the go-to.

This activity uses that scribbling to make shaved ice art.

First, have the children freely scribble with crayons on white construction paper.

Any colors and any number of colors are fine.

Cut the paper into the shape of ice, then stick it onto a bowl made from another sheet of construction paper to complete the shaved ice! The feel of the shaved ice changes depending on which part of the paper you cut out, so try to find the best section.

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Shaved ice stamping with sponges and bubble wrap

This is a shaved ice craft where you add color with stamps to ice made from construction paper.

If the teacher prepares the shaved ice and the bowl, the children only need to stamp, so even infants can enjoy it.

Using various materials for the stamps—such as sponges or bubble wrap—lets kids appreciate different shapes and textures.

Prepare several paint colors and let the children choose their favorites.

After making them, they’ll also be perfect as wall decorations in the classroom.

Give it a try!

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[Pretend Play] Spinning Shaved Ice Machine

Let’s make a shaved ice machine and play pretend shaved ice shop! We’ll make the machine using a milk carton and straws.

Use the straw as the machine’s lever and set it up so it can spin.

Decorate it by adding stickers or pictures made from construction paper, and it’s done.

Instead of having each child make their own, aim to make about three machines to suit the class size.

For children aged four and up, it’s also recommended to let them help a little with the making process.

For the shaved ice, put cotton inside a paper cup or similar container and color it with paint to create the look.

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[Kitchen Paper] Shaved Ice Bleed-Painting for Ages 2 and Up

A great activity for kids aged two and up is making a shaved ice craft using paper towels and a bleeding-color painting technique.

The teacher can pre-cut construction paper into the shapes of shaved ice and a bowl, and apply double-sided tape to the shaved ice piece.

Have the children tear paper towels into small pieces and randomly place them onto the exposed double-sided tape.

Then, use a dropper to suck up water-diluted paint and drip it onto the paper towel like syrup to add color.

Thanks to the properties of the paper towel and the watery paint, the colors will bleed beautifully for a lovely finish.

Give it a try!

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[Flower Tissue Paper] Ages 0+ — Crinkly Shaved Ice

Shaved Ice Craft: Arrangement Example Using Tissue Paper for Wall Displays (Childcare, Ages 1–3)

[Flower Tissue Paper] Ages 0+ — Crinkly Shaved Ice

Shaved ice made by crumpling tissue paper is a craft activity that even 0-year-olds can enjoy.

The teacher first cuts out parts like the shaved ice, bowl, and spoon from construction paper and assembles the pieces.

Apply double-sided tape to the top area of the shaved ice, and have the children stick the crumpled tissue paper onto that section.

Peel off the backing from the double-sided tape right before sticking so the children can attach the crumpled paper immediately.

Cut the tissue paper into small pieces to match the size of the shaved ice, and it’s recommended to sort them by color so children can imagine flavors—red for strawberry, green for melon, and so on.

Display the finished shaved ice on the wall or around the room.

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[Pretend Play] 3D Shaved Ice

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Rainbow Shaved Ice for Summer Festival Pretend Play! [July Craft]

[Pretend Play] 3D Shaved Ice

Let’s make 3D shaved ice and play “shaved ice shop”! Crumple a sheet of newspaper into a ball, cover it with a coffee filter, and secure it in a container like a paper cup.

Use a straw to pick up watercolor paint diluted with water and drop it onto the coffee filter to add color.

This straw coloring activity is suitable for children around age 3 and up.

Layer several colors to make bright, beautiful shaved ice—highly recommended! Stick a straw or spoon into the side of the container to finish.

Make lots of different shaved ices and enjoy playing shop together!

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Pretend Play: Making Shaved Ice Using Cotton

[Nursery/Kindergarten] 39 Summer Craft Ideas [July & August]

Pretend Play: Making Shaved Ice Using Cotton

Let’s make shaved ice using cotton that can be used for pretend play.

Prepare a paper cup or similar cup and fill it with cotton.

Be careful not to pack in too much, or the cotton will overflow.

Once you’ve filled it, paint the cotton with your favorite color of paint, and you’re done.

It’s easy to make with just a few steps, so try making a bunch and use them as pretend play tools.

Of course, you can also use them for playing a shaved ice shop, so give it a try!

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