Rainbow Rice

To make your own sensory dyed rice you only need plain rice and paint.

You’ll also want to have on hand: 

6 large ziploc bags (one for each color)

Acrylic paint (non-toxic)

Wax or parchment paper for drying

Baking sheet

A large storage container for placing the rice in (we used a 28 quart bin)

Measuring cups, spoons and other materials to play with the rice once done

Is this rice taste safe? 

While most paint is non-toxic, we do not recommend using paint for little ones that may want to taste the rice. If you have a younger toddler that still puts things in their mouth, then using food coloring is a better option. You can follow the same method with food coloring. Just be mindful that food coloring can stand surfaces when still wet so protect your surfaces while using it.

How to Dye Rice

To substitute with food coloring, instead of adding paint, add your food coloring to the recipe below. You can add a teaspoon of vinegar for every cup of rice if you’d like but this is not necessary.

Some ideas for playing with your rice: 

• Use kitchen tools like measuring cups and funnels for play
• Add play toys like plastic dinosaurs, bugs or or mini dump trucks
• Use recycled materials like paper towel rolls and little boxes or washed margarine containers

Instructions

• Add 3 cups of rice into a large ziploc bag. 

• Start with a large squirt of paint to start. Smoosh around in the bag until the rice is fully covered. It's better to add less paint and keep adding as needed. The less paint you have to coat the rice, the better as it will be less likely to stick together. Keep adding until the rice is fully covered and there is no longer any white rice.

• Once completely mixed, lay the rice out flat onto a piece of parchment paper on a baking tray.

• Let the rice dry for 1-2 hours. If still wet, make sure the rice is lying flat to allow the paint to dry.
• Repeat the above for each color you would like to make. We made red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
• Rinse out your ziploc bags after use and store for making rainbow rice again. Or you can use the bags for storing craft supplies.

Notes

Repeat the above instructions for each color you would like to make. 

If you find mixing 3 cups of rice to be too much in one bag, you can do the rice in 2 batches by putting 1.5 cups of rice in the bag at a time. 

If you have a smaller sensory bin to fill, cut back on the amount of rice needed. 

Rice will keep for at least one month but we have had our sensory rice for much longer.

Keep stored in a cool, dry place. 

Watch the video here > https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/rainbow-rice/

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