Creative Sensory Play Ideas: Icy Orbs
- Amy Godfrey
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
Suggested age: All!
Difficulty: SUPER EASY! Taste-safe for toddlers and those who mouth
Time: Overnight to freeze the balloon then as quick as you want
An example of the amazing results you can get from this playtime!
Imagine a simple experiment that sparks curiosity, creativity, and sensory exploration for all ages and abilities.
This sensory science activity uses just a few ingredients and tools to create magical icy orbs that invite touch, sight, and sound.
This experiment comes from the fantastic home learning resource Home Lab written by Robert Winston, a brilliant scientist who makes science accessible and exciting. We have yet to do every activity in this book but all the ones we've had a go at so far have been such fun - highly recommend this book! We got ours second hand online from World Of Books (which is one of my favourite online shops!).
Due to the nature of preparing this experiment in advance, it is a handy one to have ready for hot Summer holidays, when you're need of an activity to quickly change the energy or rainy day play.
It’s a safe, low-mess activity that encourages independent exploration or guided play.
Winter gloves are a great idea for our sensory-senstive folks.
What You Need to Get Started
Water
Balloon/s (they don't need to be water balloons, we had leftover balloons from various parties and used one of those. Small to medium size)
Freezer space
Liquid or gel food coloring / natural dyes (we buy Colour Splash)
Salt (a combination of fine to coarse and crystals is fun to explore with)
A wide dish or baking tray for playtime
Scissors to cut the balloon knot off before peeling away from the ice
Optional: waterproof sheets for table and floor (you'll know if this is you who needs this for your home!)
Optional: gloves to protect against the cold when handling the orb. Note: the players don't have to touch it at all if they don't want to, but some may be so fascinated by it that they are loathe to let it go, so gloves might be a good idea for them.
Parents/carers/teachers can easily gather these items at home, and the minimal setup means disabled families or sensory-sensitive children won’t feel overwhelmed.
Couple of little tips for parents/carers/teachers:
Prepare for mess: Use trays or waterproof mats to catch drips.
Supervise younger kids: Ice can be slippery or cold for too long.
Encourage questions: Ask what they notice about the ice, how it feels, and what happens over time.
Adapt for abilities: Use larger orbs for easier handling or smaller ones for more delicate play.
Combine with stories: Create narratives around the icy orbs to engage autistic or neurodivergent children who enjoy structured play.
A birds-eye view of the orb after salt, blue and green colouring has been added
How to Make Icy Orbs
Follow these steps to create your icy orbs:
Fill the balloon with cold water
If the hole is wide enough you can pop it over the tap fawcet (turn it on slowly so it doesn't ping off and spray everywhere!) otherwise use a funnel to carefully to fill the balloon about halfway to three-quarters full.
Tie the balloon securely
Make sure the knot is tight to avoid leaks.
Place the balloon in the freezer
Lay it on a tray or in a bowl to catch any drips. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.
Remove the balloon
Once frozen solid, snip off the knot and gently peel away the balloon. You’ll be left with a smooth, round icy orb.
Add salt
Sprinkle or grind salt onto the orb and wait 30 seconds or so to allow it to start to penetrate the ice
Add colouring
You can squeeze drops of liquid food colouring or gel directly onto the orb or mix up the colouring with a little water and use a dropper or teaspoon to add the colour.
There's not a wrong way to do this, and you can have fun with some silicone moulds if you'd prefer that to using a balloon.
This process is easy to follow and encourages the players to observe how the ice impacts the ice and watch in wonder at how the colours trickle down the channels made as it melts.
It’s a tactile, visual, and even auditory experience when the ice cracks or melts.
Tristan here is adding a gorgeous rich dark green gel directly from the tube
Why This Experiment Works for Sensory-Sensitive and Neurodivergent Kids
Many sensory-sensitive and autistic children benefit from activities that engage their senses in a controlled, gentle way.
Icy orbs offer:
Tactile exploration: The smooth, cold surface invites touch and curiosity.
Visual stimulation: The patterns inside the ice are fascinating for young old
Calming effect: The coolness and slow melting can soothe sensory overload.
Creative play: Kids can imagine the orbs as magical stones, planets, or treasure.
How to Extend the Learning and Play
Once you have your icy orbs, the fun doesn’t stop. Here are some ideas to deepen the sensory and science experience:
Sound exploration: Tap the orb gently and listen to the different sounds ice makes.
Create an icy treasure hunt: Hide small objects/nature finds like Lego/Playmobil figures, petals, leaves etc... frozen inside the orbs to discover as it melts.
Use in sensory bins: Add the orbs to a sensory bin with water beads, sand, or other textures.
Colour mixing: discovering how primary and secondary colours mix to make new colours within the ice and in the melt water as it pools in the bowl/tray.
Art inspiration: Use the orbs as models for drawing or painting ice and water textures.
As an example of inspiration for further creativity from this activity: After playing with this icy orb, Tristan said to me it made him thinking of a jellyfish and went on to tell me an imagined story of a jellyfish alien from an icy planet with magical powers! So keep an open mind for the wonders that can come from this one!
It’s about discovery, imagination, creativity and fun; not right or wrong answers.
I hope you enjoy this activity as much as we have!
Amy
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