Coloured rice is just the best sensory base. It's bright, satisfying to scoop and pour, and holds up beautifully across weeks of play. We use it constantly at Smudge, and it's one of the things families ask me about most.
So here's exactly how I make ours, step by step.
What you'll need
- White rice (any cheap long grain works perfectly)
- White vinegar
- Food colouring or liquid watercolours
- Zip-lock bags or containers with lids
- Baking trays
- Baking paper
Step by step
1. Portion your rice
Add about 1-2 cups of rice per colour into a zip-lock bag or container. Don't stress about being exact.
2. Add colour
Squeeze in your food colouring or liquid watercolour. For vibrant results, be generous. A good tablespoon of liquid watercolour per cup of rice, or about 20 drops of food colouring.
3. Add vinegar
Pour in about a tablespoon of white vinegar per cup of rice. This helps the colour stick and dry evenly.
4. Shake it up
Seal the bag and shake until every grain is coated. Kids absolutely love this part. Let them have a turn.
5. Spread and dry
Tip the rice onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Spread it out in a thin layer and leave it to dry. A few hours in the sun works perfectly, or overnight on the kitchen bench.
6. Store it
Once dry, store in jars, containers, or zip-lock bags. It keeps for months.
Tips from the studio
Liquid watercolours give the brightest, most beautiful colours. Food colouring works too, but the shades won't be quite as vivid.
Make more than you think you need. Kids go through sensory rice fast, and having a stash ready to go makes setup so much easier.
Try mixing different colours together in the tray for a gorgeous rainbow effect. Or keep them separate and let kids blend their own combinations.
How we use it at Smudge
Coloured rice is a staple in our sensory bins. We pair it with scoops, funnels, jars, cups, and sometimes add small figurines or natural materials.
It's perfect for pouring practice, colour sorting, imaginative play, and just the pure sensory joy of running your hands through it.
One of my favourite things is watching kids who are hesitant with paint or messy play absolutely light up with sensory rice. It's dry, it's contained, and it feels amazing. It's a gentle entry point into sensory exploration for kids who need a little more time to warm up.
Give it a try this weekend. Your kids will thank you (and so will your creative play rotation).