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Fun and easy kids activities

Rainbow Rice Small World Play

Apr 25, 201310,280 views
Small World
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Quick Play Idea with Rainbow Rice Save

by TurkeyMom in Small World

Ages3–6 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Color small batches of rice by shaking them with a tiny drop of gel food color. Spread the rice in a shallow tub or on a cookie sheet with favorite small toys for calming, imaginative small world play.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Dry rice and small toys are choking hazards. Supervise closely, especially with kids who still mouth things.
  • Colored rice is for play, not for eating.
  • An adult runs the microwave step.
  • Gel food color can stain hands and surfaces. Let the rice dry fully before play.

Before the kids arrive

  • Make the colored rice ahead of time. The author made hers earlier in the week.
  • Gather a container of favorite small toys.

Steps

  1. Put a small amount of rice in a small container with a lid.

  2. Add a tiny drop of food color, close the lid and SHAKE until the color is even.

  3. Adult: pop the colored rice in the microwave for 5 seconds.

  4. Repeat with a new color for each batch to make a rainbow.

  5. Spread the multi-colored rice in a shallow tub or on a cookie sheet.

  6. Set out a container of favorite small toys next to the rice as an invitation to play.

  7. Let kids build a small world and make up story lines with the toys.

  8. When a problem comes up, like a toy that won't stand, ask 'How can you make it stand?' and let kids find a fix.

Tips

  • When I need to calm the kids down, I divert them to an activity that needs thinking, imagination or concentration. Something about rice or any sensory play is very calming.from the author
  • A cookie sheet works, but a bigger tub is recommended.from the author
  • There's nothing new here: simply adding a new sensory element gave new life to toys the kids have had forever.from the author
  • Ameri Gel food color always seems to give a vibrant hue.from the author
  • Our 4-year-old figured out on her own that play dough would make her doll stand up in the rice.from the author
  • Adding something different keeps kids interested for a long time and helps calm them down.from readers

Make it your own

  • Use any dry sensory base instead of colored rice.
  • Add play dough so toys can stand up in the rice.

Questions readers asked

What toys were used?

The post shows pet shop toys and a Lalaloopsy doll with small accessories. Any favorite small toys work.

Do I have to color the rice?

No. The author says any dry sensory base works. She used colored rice because she had it on hand.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · April 2013
Quick Play Idea with Rainbow Rice
When I need to calm down the kids, I divert them to an activity that needs thinking, imagination or concentration. Recently I used rainbow rice, a cookie sheet and small toys.
1 / 6

Rainbow Rice Small World Play: the original post

Did you know that we have a quick play ideas category here on the blog? Yeah, we have one and I have been ignoring it since we created it in the hopes of accumulating simple play ideas. I love having a stash of easy play ideas for those days when all things fail on the kids and parenting front. With that in mind, I have decided to share a basic kids activity idea every Friday with you all. Today’s post is about using a sensory base and small toys.When I need to calm down the kids, I divert them to a kids activity that needs a good amount of thinking, imagination or concentration. It works because they are intently focusing on the present..Recently I used rainbow rice, cookie sheet ( bigger tub recommended) and small toys to avoid a major melt down. Something about rice or any sensory play is very calming.

Small World Play using Rainbow Rice.

You don’t have to use colored rice, any dry sensory base works. I had colored rice on hand and used it. There are plenty of recipes for making colored rice and they are all great. However I used this very simple recipe earlier that week and made small amounts of colored rice.

rainbow rice recipe My rainbow rice “recipe” Find a small container with lid Fill it with small amount of rice Add a tiny drop of food color and SHAKE! Once you get a uniform color pop the rice in the microwave for 5 seconds and you are done. Fill up a shallow tub with the multi colored rice and add any favorite toys. I used Ameri Gel Food color and love it. They always seem to give a vibrant hue. Here is our invitation to play

small world play with rice My 4 year old immediately set out to create a small world with story lines. It was wonderful to watch solve problems she had with her world. ” Oh mom, this Lala Loopsy toy is not standing”..(Insert whine). Mom gently suggests” How can you make her stand? .. More whining- “Mooom she keeps falling down” 2 minutes later, “I know may be I’ll use play dough.” Great!

kids activities with rice

So many pet shop toys need a home.

small world play

If you think about it, there is nothing new here. My kids have been playing with these toys for ever . Simply by adding a new sensory element we have given new life to the toys. That alone inspired so much imaginative play.

rainbow rice play idea

A few of our favorite products

Thanks for reading

See you next Friday for another quick play idea.

Visit our Sensory Bins Category Page. Visit our Small Worlds Category Page

What readers say

💬 7 comments ✍️ 2 answered by the author

🎉 Worked for us

A hit that calms kids down

A parent tried rainbow rice play for the first time and found the new sensory element kept kids interested a long time and calmed them.

“You are right, just adding something different keeps them interested for a long time, and helps calm them down.”
OneMommy, May 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Simpler than most colored rice recipes

TurkeyMom explains she wanted a colored rice method even easier than the many recipes out there, so it's quick to make a batch.

“I have seen so many easy recipes. But it still had to get easier to attempt a batch.”
TurkeyMom, Apr 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Easy enough to try right away

A reader found the idea so simple she saved it to try with her own kids.

“This looks so easy! I will definitely be giving it a go.”
Emma Smith (@MyLittle3andMe), Apr 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 7 comments

  1. Andreia · Mar 2024

    Hi, thank you for sharing it!! Could please let me know where did you buy the toys and it names? Thanks

  2. TurkeyMomAuthor · May 2013 · replying to Elena

    Glad to hear that! We love rainbow rice as well..

  3. OneMommy · May 2013

    We just did our first play with rainbow rice yesterday -- such a hit! You are right, just adding something different keeps them interested for a long time, and helps calm them down.

  4. Emma Smith (@MyLittle3andMe) · Apr 2013

    This looks so easy! I will definitely be giving it a go. Saving it to a pin. Thanks :)

  5. TurkeyMomAuthor · Apr 2013 · replying to Sam @ Thrive 360 Living

    You bet! I have seen so many easy recipes. But it still had to get easier to attempt a batch. Hope you have fun with the colored rice.

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