Rainbow rice is a bright, taste-safe sensory bin that is quick to make and endlessly playful. A tub of rice in every color of the rainbow invites little ones to scoop, pour, bury, and run their fingers through it, and it looks wonderful too.
Making the rice is easy and the children can help. Put a few cups of cheap rice into a separate freezer bag for each color. Add a couple of teaspoons of vinegar and a few drops of food coloring to each bag, seal it well, and let your child scrunch and squash the bag until every grain is coated. Add a little more coloring if any rice is still white. Then tip the rice out to dry, either spread across a tray or on some newspaper.
Once the rice is dry, pile it into a large tub or tray and set out a few tools alongside. Scoops, spoons, small bowls, funnels, and cups all give something different to do. Filling and emptying containers is great for early hand control, and the sound and feel of the rice running through fingers is calming and absorbing.
A big clear storage box makes a brilliant base, as children can climb right in and be surrounded by the rice, which keeps most of the mess in one place. Younger toddlers love the whole-body experience of sitting in it, while older children enjoy sorting the colors, hiding little toys to find, and pouring from one container to another. Stored in a sealed box, the rice lasts for months and can be brought out again and again.
What you need
- A few cups of cheap rice
- Food coloring and a little vinegar
- Freezer bags for mixing
- A large tub or tray, plus scoops, spoons, and bowls
This works well for toddlers and preschoolers, roughly ages 1 to 4, and it is a lovely one to keep on hand for a rainy day. For more dyed-rice fun, take a look at this rainbow rice fishing, and for a quieter session these summer coloring pages are lovely too.