Want to learn how to dye rice for quick and easy sensory play bins! Sensory play is the best preschool activity around! Colored rice is an awesome sensory bin filler and one of our top 10 favorites! Beautiful colored rice for sensory play is quick and easy to do for same day play. Our simple how to dye rice for sensory play recipe makes beautiful colors for whatever theme you choose.
How to Dye Rice Sensory Play Recipe
Easy and Quick Colored Rice Anytime!
Our simple how to dye rice for sensory play recipe makes beautiful colors for whatever theme you choose including rainbow rice. Also, make sure to check out our Ultimate Sensory Play Guide for great ways to use your colored rice!
Here’s how to dye rice for sensory activities. You can try pasta and salt too. Kids will have a blast digging their hands into this bin!
You Will Need:
- White rice
- Vinegar
- Food Coloring
- Fun sensory bin items like dinosaurs.
- Scoops and small cups for dumping and filling
How to Make Colored Rice Steps:
This how-to dye rice for sensory play is such a simple recipe! Prep and make it in the morning and you can set up your sensory bin for an afternoon activity.
Also, make sure to see our other dyed sensory play materials:
STEP 1: Measure 1 Cup of rice into a container. You can do more if desired just adjust the measurements. Or you can do several colors in different containers and mix them together for a rainbow theme!
STEP 2: Next add 1 Teaspoon of Vinegar. Try lemon juice instead for a fun lemon scented rice sensory bin shown here.
STEP 3: Now add as much food coloring as desired (deeper color= more food coloring). You can make several shades of the same color for a fun effect.
STEP 4: Cover the container and SHAKE vigorously for a minute or two. Check to see if the rice is evenly coated!
STEP 5: Spread on paper towel or plate to dry in an even layer.
STEP 6: Transfer the rice to a bin for sensory play. What will you add? Sea creatures, dinosaurs, unicorns, mini-figures all make great additions to any sensory play activity.
TIPS & TRICKS
The rice should be dry in an hour if you stick to the one cup per paper towel. I find the color is distributed the best this way too. For many sensory bins, I have made graded shades of colors for a fun twist.
This has also allowed me to experiment with how much food coloring to use to achieve desired shades! Check out our LEMON SCENTED RICE or our SPRING GREEN RICE SENSORY BIN to check out the graded shades for each one. Why not make a whole rainbow too!
Quick Tip: Store fillers in gallon zip lock bags when finished and reuse often! A beautiful bin of pink and red rice for Valentine’s Day also makes a great candy cane themed rice bin for Christmas!
HELPFUL SENSORY BIN MAKING IDEAS:
- Best items to add to sensory bins
- Everything you need to know about making sensory bins
- How to keep sensory bins from getting too messy
- Non-food sensory bin filers
- Favorite sensory play recipes
HOW TO DYE RICE FOR SENSORY BINS!
Look for more fun sensory play recipes for kids right here.
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Janelle Durham
Thanks for this post. I was working to compile my “Ultimate Guide to Sensory Tables” and needed to find a link to a good description of how to dye rice and yours was perfect.