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Colored Rice Sensory Tray

Have you ever dyed rice?  It’s a really easy process and really enhances sensory play.  I’ve never made it before, and thought that we needed some. 

We gathered our materials.
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You’ll need:

  • Rice
  • Vinegar
  • Food Coloring
  • Plastic bags
  • Measuring spoons

You simply add 1/2 cup rice, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 4-5 drops of food coloring into a plastic ziploc bag.  I only made a quarter cup of each color of rice. Next time I’ll make much more.

Then, have a helper shake the bag.
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Let the mixture sit for a while.  The longer you let it sit, the better the color will be.  I changed our yellow dyed rice to green instead.

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Pour out the mixture onto paper towel lined cookie sheets to dry.  I let ours dry 4 hours.
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Pour the rice into a sensory bin and add any utensils you want and let you child explore.

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His favorite part was learning how to use tongs to pick up the rice.  It was challenging for him, but he figured it out!
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Oh, and if you don’t want a big mess to pick up, than don’t leave the open bag of rice out for your child to find….oops.  We just made another fun activity out of it…and I got the privilege of cleaning the floors that day!

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by Amanda Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Play Tagged With: Fine Motor Play, Invitations to Play, Preschool, Sensory Play, sensory tray, Toddler

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jode

    March 15, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I love coloured rice play although i have never used vinegar when colouring mine for the girls….is that to preserve Amanda?
    At least it vacumns up well!!!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      March 15, 2012 at 6:40 pm

      Honesetly, it’s just a recipe that I found. I have heard of using alcohol or hand-sanitizer, but I had more vinegar on hand so that’s why I used it.

      Reply
  2. maryanne @ mama smiles

    March 15, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    We love colored rice play!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      March 16, 2012 at 12:31 am

      We do too! I can’t wait to make more!

      Reply
  3. Sawyne

    March 16, 2012 at 12:15 am

    Just did it. Love it!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      March 16, 2012 at 12:31 am

      Good! So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  4. Growing a Jeweled Rose

    March 16, 2012 at 4:06 am

    It looks like little man had fun! We love a mess, and I know you do too, so it looks like you had a fabulous day <3

    Reply
  5. Gina

    March 16, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    You have amazing ideas! I can’t wait to try the colored rice for Easter. My 1 and a half year old loved playing with a dry bean sensory bucket. He played for over an hour. I posted pics on my blog and linked it to your post about 31 days of play. http://famigliaandseoul.blogspot.com/2012/03/sensory-fun.html. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      March 17, 2012 at 12:06 am

      Thanks! I’m so glad the beans were such a success with your son. Thanks for the link on your blog…your son is too cute! I have friends who adopted from South Korea 2 years ago. Congrats!

      Reply
  6. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories

    March 17, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    My son would love helping to make the colored rice – not to mention all of the sensory play fun!

    Reply
  7. Mama Cass

    March 17, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  8. Mama Cass

    March 17, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    I have never heard of colored rice before! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

    Reply
  9. Tracy

    March 19, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    I’ve got my rice sitting right now, hopefully getting nice and brightly colored!

    A word of caution: if you use Up & Up brand (Target brand) zipper bags, double bag them! I got vinegar all over the counters. PEEEW! (or maybe I just got a bad box of baggies?)

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    May 21, 2012 at 6:01 am

    nice idea.. thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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