When Isla was little, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to add some color to her rice sensory bin. We had purchased a 25 lb bag of brown rice from Costco, a bin with a secure closure from Target, and oodles of fun, inexpensive accessories (spoons, scoops, and funnels) from the dollar store a while back. Though we had been using them for months and having tons of fun, I knew I wanted to color the rice. I wasn’t sure when or how, but one morning, I felt motivated. I selected a color palette from my value pack of matte acrylic paint from Michaels and got to work. I hadn’t done much research beforehand, but luckily, everything went pretty smoothly.

Step-by-Step Directions for Colorizing Rice

1. First, I reserved about 1/3 of the rice to remain uncolored (see Note 2 below).
2. I divided the remaining 16-ish pounds evenly into five large freezer bags.
3. I added half a bottle of paint (maybe a little more) and a splash of water, then shook the bags around. I let Isla help, but I made sure the bags were securely closed and had her shake them over the bin, just in case.
4. If the rice didn’t seem coated enough, I added a bit more paint and a few drops of water. However, I avoided adding too much paint, as it could cause the rice to clump together while drying.
5. I covered cookie sheets with heavy-duty aluminum foil and parchment paper (since we use the pans for cooking). Then, I sprinkled the coated rice evenly onto the sheets.
6. Every 5-10 minutes, I used a plastic spoon to move the rice around to prevent clumping.
7. I let the rice dry for several days to be extra cautious, then carefully arranged it in colored sections inside the plastic bin, with the uncolored rice underneath.
8. Finally, I let Isla play and mix it all up! Of course, the separate colors only lasted a few minutes, but the rainbow rice has been a steady hit ever since.

Notes & Tips

• Document Your Color Palette:
  I was glad I took a picture of the colors I used—this has come in handy when I create fun additions for the bin and want to match colors.
• In Retrospect – Skip Yellow or the Uncolored Section:
  Since brown rice has a naturally yellow tint, the finished product turned out a bit more yellow than I would have liked.
• Preventing Grain Weevils:
  Bulk grains can attract tiny bugs called weevils. To prevent this, I freeze all bulk grains for 48 hours before use to kill any potential pests.
• Sensory Bins & Mess Management:
  Sensory bins can be frustrating for parents, but I truly believe they’re worth it. Ours gets played with more than any other toy, and I can see Isla growing through her play. Since day one, I repeat the rule in question form before she starts:
  “Where does the rice stay?” → “IN THE BIN.”
  To reinforce this, I sometimes introduce a stuffed animal “friend” who “doesn’t know the rule,” and Isla gets to teach them. If rice spills, we clean it up together. If she throws rice, the bin gets closed, and we revisit it when she’s calm.
  Cleanup Tip: Do a quick vacuum of the area before playtime so any swept-up rice can go back into the bin without worrying about other debris. Now that she’s older, she uses a hand broom and dustpan from her cleaning kit to tidy up herself.
• Adding a Calming Scent:
  I enhanced the experience by adding lavender essential oil to the rice. I put several drops on cotton balls and rolled them around in the rice bags. This masked any lingering paint smell and added a soothing element to sensory play.
• Unexpected Benefit – Helping with Pooping!
  This might be unique to Isla, but if I want her to poop before bed or a nap, I bring out the sensory bin. Something about the way she squats while playing or just relaxes makes her poop 8/10 times!

What Do You Actually Do with a Sensory Bin?

One of my aunts once asked me this exact question when she saw Isla’s bin. Here’s what we do:

• Use plastic measuring spoons and cups from the dollar store.
• Use funnels and plastic cookie cutters for different textures and shapes.
• Practice pouring skills and hand-eye coordination by transferring rice from one container to another.
• Experiment with sound differences when pouring into different containers or from different heights.
• Hide small objects, like a cookie cutter or puzzle pieces, under the rice and use hands to dig for them.

The big thing is that it’s a controlled way for Isla to explore and get a little messy—without actually getting messy! She loves it. Now that she’s older, I also create seasonal themes or hide objects for more interactive play.