DIY sensory bins are an amazing way to engage and interact with young children. Plus, they can be quick and easy to make, and inexpensive too! Kids love to play with rice, and this colorful rainbow rice sensory bin is easy to put together yourself! Rainbow rice sensory play is great for toddlers to preschoolers. We love simple sensory activities for young kids!
PinHow To Make Rainbow Rice
We love colors, and we love sensory bins! We use many sensory bins for all types of play and learning! One of our favorite fillers is plain old white rice. Sometimes, we make it a little festive and add some color.
Simple to do, take one cup of rice, 1/2 tsp vinegar, and food coloring and shake in a closed container vigorously. Dry on a paper towel and play. When not in use, I store my rice in a gallon zipper plastic bag.
Check out step-by-step instructions to color your sensory play materials below.
- Dye Rice
- Color Dry Pasta
- Make Rainbow Spaghetti
- Color Salt
Let’s get right to putting together this colorful rainbow sensory bin. We have used rice for our sensory bin below, but you will easily be able to substitute something else that is just right for your needs. See our list of the best sensory bin fillers.
PinThe Benefits Of Sensory Bins
Are sensory bins worth it? Yes, they are worth it. The more basic you keep the sensory bin, the better off you are. Remember, you create a tactile experience for your kids, not a Pinterest image. While we have fantastic pictures of sensory bins, they only stay that way for a minute!
Sensory bins are awesome hands-on tools for children to learn about their world and senses! Sensory play may calm a child, focus a child, and engage a child.
Here’s what children can learn from sensory bins:
Practical Life Skills ~ Sensory bins let a child explore, discover and create play using practical life skills (dumping, filling, scooping) and learn valuable play skills.
Play Skills {emotional development} ~ For both social play and independent play, sensory bins allow children to play cooperatively or side by side. My son has had many positive experiences with other children over a bin of rice!
Language Development ~ Sensory bins increase language development by experiencing all there is to see and do with their hands, which leads to great conversations and opportunities to model language.
Understanding 5 Senses ~Many sensory play bins include a few of the 5 senses! Imagine a bin of brightly colored rainbow rice: touch the loose grains against the skin, see the vivid colors as they mix together, and hear the sound of sprinkling over a plastic container or shaken in a plastic egg!
Find more 5 senses activities for preschoolers here.
Get Your Free Quick Start Sensory Bin Guide
How To Make Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin
Since I have been making sensory bins for a while, I have carefully stored items from season to season and reused them for different sensory bins. This year, I wanted to make a new rainbow sensory bin to welcome Spring!
Supplies:
- Rainbow colored rice
- Rainbow-colored play accessories
Putting Together Your Sensory Bin
1. Dye Your Rice
- Measure 1 cup of rice into a container.
- Next, add one teaspoon of Vinegar.
- Add as much food coloring as desired (the deeper color is more food coloring) to the rice.
- Cover the container and SHAKE the rice vigorously until the rice is evenly coated with the food coloring!
- Spread the colored rice on a paper towel or a tray to dry in an even layer.
- Repeat for each color of rice you want to make.
Check out a video and our best tips for HOW TO DYE RICE.
2. Fill your sensory bin
Add your colored rice to a large bin. Now it’s time to add your rainbow theme goodies to your container of gorgeous colored rice!
I added an old CD to make rainbows with on the wall or floor, a rainbow pinwheel, a rainbow container, rainbow cups, rainbow links, Easter eggs and some fun colored spoons from the local yogurt shop (measuring spoons work too!)
TIP: Keep in mind that just about everything came from the dollar store! Sensory bins can be inexpensive and easy to change around using many of the same materials!
PinColorful rainbow rice is terrific to awaken a child’s senses and give them sensory input to help them regulate their body! However, if your child has no sensory processing issues, sensory bins can still provide all the same benefits. EVERY child can benefit from a sensory bin!
PinMore Fun Rainbow Activities
- Play with rainbow foam dough
- Play with rainbow spaghetti
- Build a LEGO rainbow
- Enjoy squishy rainbow in a bag painting
- Make rainbow tape resist art
- Create coffee filter rainbow
Check Out These Helpful Sensory Bin Resources
There’s so much more to learn about sensory bins and sensory play.
- Sensory Bin Ideas and Themes
- Best Sensory Bin Fillers
- Non Food Sensory Bin Fillers
- Rice Sensory Bin Ideas
- How To Set Up A Sensory Bin
- Sensory Play Recipes You Can Use
More Fun Sensory Bins To Make
Here are more simple DIY sensory bin ideas below that you can easily put together yourself.
- Tropical Summer Sensory Bin
- Dinosaur Sensory Bin
- Ice Cream Sensory Bin
- Icy Ocean Sensory Bin
- Spring Sensory Bin
- Butterfly Sensory Bin
- LEGO Sensory Bin
- Penguin Sensory Bin
- Space Theme Sensory Bin
Click on the image below or on the link for the complete list of sensory activities for kids!
