SENSORY PLAY: Colored Rice Recipe

I am always looking to do some fun, creative activities with my children. Fun activities that both entertain and stimulate in some shape or form. Not to mention, I do this to keep the children out of my hair for more than 5 minutes.

Here is a recipe that a dear friend of mine shared with me. The exciting part is that this recipe only requires three ingredients. Grab the kids and start making the colored rice.

INGREDIENTS
White rice
Food coloring
Water

TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Glass jars / Plastic bags that seal
Measuring spoon
Glass dropper
Foil / Baking paper
Oven/serving tray

METHOD
A cup of rice for each color. 
Place 1 cup of rice in the jar.
In your measuring spoon, mix 10 to 15 drops of food coloring with 10ml water. 
Add the mixture to the rice. Close the lid tight and shake it like you mean it. 
Make sure you mix it well, you might even have to take a spoon to loosen the rice and mix again. Once it’s all mixed, through it out on foil or baking paper to dry.
Rinse measuring spoon and dropper.
Repeat with more colors.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the rice alongside my children. Furthermore, it is a great sensory playtime for the children. Help them identify the different colors and for older children counting the colors. This is a fantastic way to work on their wrist movement by scooping the rice and filling cups or ice trays, focussing on their fine motor skills trying to pick the small grains up.

When the children are done making a big mess, you simply grab the vacuum cleaner and clean the rice up. Big mess, but very little fuss!

TIP: place a large bedsheet or tablecloth on the floor before the big mess starts, it helps keep the mess contained and easy to clean.