Ready to learn how to make colored rice? Not only is this a great sensory activity for kids but it’s also a super fun way for them to learn more about colors and the colors of the rainbow as well.
With the colors of this rice being so bright and beautiful, the kids will love digging in it with their hands and finding all sorts of fun things that you might want to hide in there, too.
Be certain to check out our Muddy Oobleck Sensory Table With Animals as well as our Rainbow Colors Science Experiment For Kids. Both will encourage them to use their senses and minds to engage in creative play and learning. Another one of our favorite sensory activities is this DIY Sensory Foam Play Recipe.
How to make colored rice – Rainbow Rice
This colored rice sensory activity is great for early learners and preschool-aged children. You’ll be amazed at how simple rice and a few added colors can have the kids playing for hours on end.
Just make certain that you talk to the kids about how their rainbow will only stay a rainbow as long as they don’t mix the colors together. But once that happens, they’ll still love the texture and the feel of the rice so it’s still a lot of fun.
When using sensory bins, the children get to use their imagination for play. Don’t forget to check out all of our sensory bins.
Here’s a how to video:
How to make Colored Rice
You’ll find that the directions to make colored rice are very straight forward and simple.
This process is simple and actually not messy at all. The kids will love jumping in and helping to make their own colored rice!
Supplies needed to make colored rice
- Large tray or container
- Rice
- Food coloring
- Vinegar
- Oven safe containers
How to make colored rice – Rainbow Rice
Keep in mind that these steps are totally simple and take minimal effort on your part.
Before the kids can start playing with the colored rice, you’ll need to make the rice the varied colors first.
Start by dividing your rice into 5 oven-safe containers. You can do whatever measurement you want but I started with about a cup of rice in each bowl.
Next, take and add in 1 tbsp (1/2-1 TBSP) of vinegar and a few drops of rainbow colors. You can choose the colors that you want to use.
Take a spoon and mix.
Once that is done, put the rice in a line of colors on the tray.
Fun Ways to Play with Rainbow Rice
There are so many fun ways that the kids can play with colored rice. Some of our favorite sensory play ideas are:
- Dig in the rice with their hands
- Grab some beach toys and dig in the rice
- Try and make a rice castle
- Trace letters and numbers in the rice
- Write words in the rice
- Hide small toys and let the kids find them
There really are endless ways that you can play with the colored rice once made!
How we use our colored rice in sensory bins
Learn how to make a sensory bin here.
- Bugs sensory bin
- Spring Sensory Bin
- Shapes Hunt Sensory Bin
- Sight Word Sensory Bin
- Christmas Sensory Bin
- Valentine’s sensory bin
Find more Sensory table ideas.
We even used some plastic letters and hid them and then talked about the letters once they found them.
Learn how to make colored salt and check out the best playdough recipe as well. Both are fun and easy to do!
Colored Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- Large tray or container
- Rice
- Food coloring
- Vinegar
- Oven safe containers
Instructions
- Start by dividing your rice into 5 oven-safe containers. You can do whatever measurement you want but I started with about a cup of rice in each bowl.
- Next, take and add in 1/2 a teaspoon of vinegar and a few drops of rainbow color. You can choose the colors that you want to use.
- Take a spoon and mix.
- Once that is done, put the rice in a line of colors on the tray.
More Sensory Activities for Kids
- Water Beads Fun Sensory Bin!
- Preschool Shapes Sensory Table
- Rainbows and Butterflies Sensory Bin
- Halloween Water Play – Sensory Play for Toddlers
More Rainbow Activities:
- Skittles Rainbow
- Rainbow Q-Tip Art
- Rainbow Number Matching
- Rainbow Slime
- Fizzing Rainbow
- Rainbow books for kids
- Rainbow Fish Book Activities
- Rainbow Colored Ice Painting
- Rainbow Fizzing Ice Experiment
- Printable Color Wall Rainbow for Toddlers + Preschoolers
- Taste Safe Edible Paint Rainbow
- Rainbow Walking Water Experiment for kids
Amazing! Colors are so vibrant and the kids are having a blast – thank you!
[…] on my list is my favorite! I dyed some rice and made rainbow rice ❤ (it is such a super duper easy process… all you need is rice, vinegar, and food […]