Ice Cream MATH Playdate for Preschoolers

Hey moms – Have a bunch of kids coming over for a playdate? Make it an Ice Cream MATH Playdate Little ones LOVE eating and talking about ICE CREAM. These fun and easy learning activities for kids to make and play use supplies you probably already have on hand in your art stash.

The only extra needed: ICE CREAM.

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Ice Cream Math Playdate Ideas

Sample E-mail Invitation for Ice Cream MATH Playdate

We’d love to have you over for a playdate all about ICE CREAM this {day of the week} at {time}! We will be reading books, playing games, crafting and eating ice cream. Please bring a healthy ice cream topping to share. I’ll provide the rest.

Materials Needed for Ice Cream MATH Playdate

Before the Ice Cream MATH Playdate

1. Check out math themed ice cream books from the library (or order them online).

Just one more “may” be more about life than math, but it does make for a great tie into to the number cone activity.  Just one more than 1 is 2. Just one more than 2 is 3.  In the highly kid-relatable story, Ruby wants just one more of everything: bedtime kisses, one more minute of playtime, one more scoop of ice cream… Read more about the book here.

The Sunday Scoop is a great book for getting kids thinking about different combinations of numbers that make 6 (Addition!) It may be a little advanced for some young learners, but I like to keep their brains challenged! Read more about the book here.

Ice Cream: The Full Scoop is a non-fiction story that brings some additional math concepts to the table such as measurements and dates in history.  Although more science, I like to pull a few favorite pages from this book to share with kids during an ice cream math playdate to talk about numbers.  Oftentimes, longer books like these are better read in small groups. I’ve found little ones get much wigglier with their friends are over! Read more about the book here.

2. Draw an ice cream hopscotch game on the driveway
3. Set out bowls, spoons, napkins, and an ice cream scoop.
4. Cut brown triangles for cones and colorful ice cream scoops. Cut and write numbers on 10 scoops for each child.

Click for directions how to make an end of the year ice cream sundae keepsake

When the Kids Arrive for the Ice Cream MATH Playdate

Read an Ice Cream Story

We like to read a story and sing a song about ice cream when all the kids arrive. This helps build vocabulary and gets children thinking about all the vocabulary; freezing, creamy, and calcium are rich words to weave into your play and learning.

Make an Ice Cream Number Cone

Then demonstrate how to make an Ice Cream Number Cone

1. Select a paper cone. Then have each child find scoops with the numbers 1-10.
2. Put the scoops in order on the table.
3. Then place them in order on top of the ice cream cone.
4. Glue in place.

PLAY Ice Cream Shop

Set out an ice cream set in your pretend kitchen area for children to play with when they are done crafting and playing games. 

Fake money and a cash register may encourage kids to set up their very own ice cream shop (bringing a little more math and learning into your already fabulous ice cream math playdate!)

Play Ice Cream Hopscotch

Head to the driveway to play on your ice cream themed hopscotch.

Enjoy your Ice Cream Treat

You can even make your own ice cream.

Have a toddler?  You may want to set up for this Ice Cream playdate with play dough!

Even MORE Ice Cream Play and Learning Activities from the Early Childhood Education Team:

You can also use our list of the best ice cream books for kids available here:

Looking for More Playdate Ideas?

100 FUN & EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS is a great resource for playdate inspiration! You could pre-make some of the games and activities for kids to play when they got together OR gather some mom friends and have a game making MNO (Moms Night Out). 

Make a bunch of games so that you can keep your little ones engaged and learning .

The huge variety of activities means you can choose from high-energy group games full of laughter and delight, or quiet activities that kids can complete on their own.

Here are some additional ideas to do with your child…