Easy Rainbow Rice
๐๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐๐ปSensory play is one of the most effective ways to help re-center a child who may be feeling worried or anxious because it is mindful, interactive, and immersive.
Itโs also just really fun. ๐
When us adults engage in the activities with our kids, we find ourselves unexpectedly enjoying the benefits too--feeling not only the mental shift to a calmer mindset, but a physical shift as our bodies and muscles become less tense ๐ช๐ฝ, our heart rates slow ๐ซ, and our minds race a little less rapidly ๐ง as we enjoy present purposeful play with our kids. ๐ฏ๐
Using a few simple ingredients that you probably already have lying around the house, you can make ๐Rainbow Rice๐, a fan favorite sensory bin filler.
Youโll need:
โ 1 cup white rice
โ 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice
โ A few drops food coloring
โ A few drops lavender essential oils for bonus calming effect (optional)
โ A large Ziploc baggie or bin to mix it up
โ a paper towel or cookie sheet for drying
Lay flat to dry, and it should be ready in about 1 hourโฒ. I sometimes like to leave mine to dry overnight if I make it in a large batch. In order to fill a bin, I often will use anywhere from 3-6 cups of rice total and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Just add a few scoops and bowls, and maybe your childโs favorite small animal or people figurines and enjoy!
๐งน๐งผ๐งฝClean up tips: I like to buy giant tablecloths from my local @dollartree to lay out on the floor underneath the sensory bin to help make clean-up more of a breeze. When play is done, I can just grab all the corners of the cloth and dump back into the rice bin for future play. The rice stores great in either a large Ziploc baggie or an air-tight tupperware container so you can use it again and again.
Itโs also just really fun. ๐
When us adults engage in the activities with our kids, we find ourselves unexpectedly enjoying the benefits too--feeling not only the mental shift to a calmer mindset, but a physical shift as our bodies and muscles become less tense ๐ช๐ฝ, our heart rates slow ๐ซ, and our minds race a little less rapidly ๐ง as we enjoy present purposeful play with our kids. ๐ฏ๐
Using a few simple ingredients that you probably already have lying around the house, you can make ๐Rainbow Rice๐, a fan favorite sensory bin filler.
Youโll need:
โ 1 cup white rice
โ 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice
โ A few drops food coloring
โ A few drops lavender essential oils for bonus calming effect (optional)
โ A large Ziploc baggie or bin to mix it up
โ a paper towel or cookie sheet for drying
Lay flat to dry, and it should be ready in about 1 hourโฒ. I sometimes like to leave mine to dry overnight if I make it in a large batch. In order to fill a bin, I often will use anywhere from 3-6 cups of rice total and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Just add a few scoops and bowls, and maybe your childโs favorite small animal or people figurines and enjoy!
๐งน๐งผ๐งฝClean up tips: I like to buy giant tablecloths from my local @dollartree to lay out on the floor underneath the sensory bin to help make clean-up more of a breeze. When play is done, I can just grab all the corners of the cloth and dump back into the rice bin for future play. The rice stores great in either a large Ziploc baggie or an air-tight tupperware container so you can use it again and again.