Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin Exploration
Dye rice in bold colors, fill a bin, and add scoops and funnels — your toddler will pour, sort, and dig through this vibrant sensory paradise.
What You'll Need
- 1White rice (4 cups)
- 2Food coloring (4 colors)
- 3White vinegar
- 4Zip-lock bags (4)
- 5Large bin or tray
- 6Cups, scoops, and funnels
What You'll Need
White rice (4 cups)
Food coloring in 4 colors
White vinegar
4 zip-lock bags
A large bin or tray
Cups, scoops, and funnels
How to Play
Split dry white rice into four zip-lock bags. Add a splash of vinegar and generous food coloring to each.
Seal and shake until rice is evenly coated. Spread each color on a baking sheet to dry for a few hours.
Once dry, pour the colored rice into a large bin, layering the colors for a rainbow effect.
Add cups, scoops, funnels, and small containers.
Invite your toddler to plunge their hands in and start exploring.
Show them how to scoop, pour through the funnel, and transfer between containers.
Encourage sorting by color if they're interested, or just let them mix freely.
Tips
The vinegar helps the color stick to the rice and keeps it fresh longer. It dries odorless.
Rainbow rice lasts for weeks in a sealed container, making this one of the best reusable sensory bins.
Add letter magnets, small toy animals, or counting bears to the bin for themed extensions.
Lay a sheet or shower curtain under the bin — rice travels. A lot.
This is a great activity for practicing color names: "Can you scoop only the red rice?"
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 15 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: white rice (4 cups), food coloring (4 colors), white vinegar, zip-lock bags (4), large bin or tray, and 1 more item.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 2-3 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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