How to Make Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin Filler

Learn how to make a rainbow rice sensory bin that will keep your kids playing for hours! 

Rainbow rice is hands down one of our favorite sensory bin fillers and today, I’m going to show you how to make colored rice at home with just 3 main ingredients!

What are the benefits of sensory bins? 

If you are unfamiliar with sensory bins, the premise is that sensory bins provide a fun way to play while actively engaging multiple senses.  They are a great way for children to build an understanding of cause and effect, observation, and even spatial reasoning.  Sensory bins promote motor skill development and provide a great way to encourage independent play.  

And they are not only for toddlers.  Sensory bins are fun for kids of all ages and we love how versatile they are.  

How to Make a Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Now that you know what sensory bins are, let’s jump right in and learn how to make your very own rainbow rice sensory bin.  

We love to use rice as a sensory bin filler for a number of reasons: 

1. Rice is usually inexpensive and can be purchased in bulk. 
2. Rice provides a taste safe sensory in filler. 
3. Rice lasts a really long time if you keep it sealed. 
4. Dry rice is easy to sweep and vacuum up if you make a mess. 

Of course, it is perfectly fine to use plain, dry rice to fill your sensory bin.  But we love the added fun that dyeing the rice fun colors adds.  

In fact, it’s so simple, your kids can join you in the process.  

Rainbow Rice Supplies

First things first, grab your supplies.  Don’t worry, there are not many!

• White rice
  • We used about 3 pounds of white rice for a 6 quart sensory bin and about 5 pounds for a larger bin.  Feel free to use more or less depending on how many children you have playing. 
• Food coloring
• White vinegar
• Measuring cup and tablespoon
• A container with a lid for mixing 
  • a sealable plastic bag will also work
• A large tray for drying
  • We used our large baking sheets and they work great. 

Directions

1. Decide how many different colors of rice you want to make and divide your rice accordingly.  (We tend to make colors in 1.5-2 cup batches and have found that to work really well.)
2. Add 1.5 cups of plain rice to your mixing container. (These are the containers we use)
3. Add 8-10 drops of food coloring. 
4. Add 1 Tbsp of white vinegar. 
5. Close the container tightly and shake it well until all the rice has been colored.  
6. Carefully pour the rice onto a tray and spread it out to dry*. 
7. Leave the rice to dry for up to an hour or until it is thoroughly dried through.  

*We use the same container for each color, wiping it with a paper towel between each color.  If you are using plastic bags, it might work better to have a separate bag for each color.

RELATED: RAINBOW PAPER CRAFT

Fun Ways to Play with Rainbow Rice

Rainbow rice is so easy to make that your kids will want in on the fun.  Invite them to dye the rice with you!  This is a great opportunity to learn about colors and color mixing.  They will absolutely love watching the food coloring spread to all of the rice.  

Once your rice has dried and you are ready to play, here are some fun ways to use your sensory bin: 

1. Practice scooping and pouring with scoops, bowls, and even funnels.  Kids will love to fill up their bowls or little bins with rice. 
2. Hide small toys and go on a hunt to find them in the rice. (Then hide them again!)
3. Hide puzzle pieces and have kids find the pieces and match them to the puzzle board. 
4. Use a toy scale to weigh the rice.  Can you make both sides of the scale balanced? 
5. Just enjoy feeling it in your hands.  Really.  I cannot even tell you how often my boys just want to play in the sensory bin just to pick up handfuls of rice and  watch them fall out of their hands.  

Of course, these are only a few ideas.  How will you play with your rainbow rice sensory bin?  

Check out these posts for more fun rainbow themed activities!