These rice bins are excellent for sensory play with kids. From scented rice and colored rice to seasonal sensory bins, these are great for play & learning.
Sensory bins provide so much learning and fun for kids of all ages! Toddlers can play with this and practice their scooping and dumping, while older children can find the process very calming. This post contains fun ways to play with rice bins, from colored rice, to scented rice to seasonal bins!
*This post contains affiliate links.
Rice Bins for Kids
One of our favorite sensory bin fillers is rice. We love to color it, keep it plain, add scent, and more! Plain rice provides a wonderful sensory experience for kids, add some fine motor tools, cups and spoons and you’ve got a ton of learning packed into one bin! *A scrapbook paper bin is our favorite.
Below is a collection of sensory bins from this site as well as others that all have a rice base. You will find so much inspiration for learning and fun here!
Easter Sensory Bin with Colored Rice
Garden Sensory Bin for Outdoor or Indoor Play
Colored Rice Earth Day Sensory Bin
Colored Rice Sensory Bins
Making colored rice is so fun and easy! There are a number off different ways to make rainbow rice, experiment with a few of them and see which you like best!
Bug Discovery Bin // The Best Ideas for Kids
I Spy Sensory Bin // Happy Hooligans
Easter and Spring Sensory Bin // One Time Through
H is for Horse Sensory Bin // In Our Pond
Solar System Rice Bin for Kids // Parenting From the Heart
Rice Sensory Bins // Powerful Mothering
Colored Rice Sensory Play // The Ladybird Adventures
Rainbow Rice Sensory Play // Rainy Day Mum
Rice Art Sensory Play for Older Kids // Mama Smiles
Magnetic Letter Name Search Sensory Bin // Powerful Mothering
Sensory ABC Activity // Powerful Mothering
Exploring with Frogs and Sensory Play // Powerful Mothering
Scented Rice Bins
Using flavored extract and essential oils are just a couple of ways you can add scent to your rice! This further enhances the sensory experience for kids, and can provide a fun seasonal flair to your play.
Peppermint Scented Rice Christmas Sensory Bin // Parenting From the Heart
Pumpkin Spice Sensory Rice // Parenting From the Heart
Cinnamon Scented Rice Sensory Bin // Little Bins for Little Hands
Lemon Scented Rice Sensory Bin // Little Bins for Little Hands
Colorful and Scented Rice Using Jello // Fun a Day
Sunflower Scented Rice Sensory Play // Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
White Rice Sensory Bins
While colored rice is beautiful, you don’t need to add this step to make a fun and engaging sensory bin. Check out some of these below using just plain, white rice!
Fine Motor Sequin Themed Sensory Bin // 3 Dinosaurs
Construction Sensory Bin with Rice // Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Number Sensory Bin // 3 Dinosaurs
Simple Rice Sensory Bin for Toddlers // My Bored Toddler
Sensory Play and Exploration with Rice // Schooltime Snippets
Rock and Rice sensory Bin // 3 Dinosaurs
Everybody Cooks Rice Sensory Bin // Powerful Mothering
Pirate Sensory Bin // 3 Dinosaurs
Shape Sensory Bin //3 Dinosaurs
Seasonal Rice Bins for Kids
Playing with a sensory bin can be such a fun way to introduce a season or a holiday to kids. By engaging all of their senses, they are really retaining information!
Easy Sensory Bin with Seasonal Erasers //3 Dinosaurs
Fall Sensory Color Rice Bin // Powerful Mothering
Fall Rice Sensory Bin // 3 Dinosaurs
Snowflake Winter Sensory Bin with Flicker Candles // Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Fun Gingerbread Sensory Bin // Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Jingle Bell Magnetic Sensory Bin // Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Pro tip: When you are ready to pack of the sensory bin, but aren’t quite ready to be done with the learning, put your rice in a bottle and make a fun sensory bottle for another fun way to engage the material!
So, the next time you are at the grocery store, grab a big bag of rice and go make a rice bin!
*Note: I do want to mention the importance of teaching children to respect food and be mindful of the fact that there are areas of the world where food is scarce. That said, I do value experiential, play-based learning and sensory play, and therefore see the benefit to rice bins and just don’t consider it waste. This article on why playing with food isn’t wasteful from Preschool Inspirations has SO many valid points, I urge you to give it a read <3
Which rice bin will you make first?
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