Colored rice is pretty easy to make and is lots of fun for the kids (or the kid in each of us). This is also a very frugal craft which is always a bonus around here.
Colored Rice
1 Cup White Rice
1 tsp. Rubbing Alcohol
Liquid Food Coloring
In a zip-top plastic bag (or some type of lidded container) mix the rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring. Add the rice, seal the bag and shake. Once the rice is colored spread it out on waxed paper to dry. Repeat this process with other colors.
Once the rice is dry I like to mix several colors together. Colored rice is a great alternative to sand. Putting the rice in a shallow plastic tote box along with a few toys can provide preschoolers with much enjoyment.
Some items my kids enjoy using with colored rice are slotted spoons, funnels, and small containers. Basically, you probably already have plenty of items in your kitchen that can be used as tools for playing with the rice.
I might recommend putting an old sheet or tablecloth under the container to catch any rice that will more than likely spill (unless your kids are much neater than mine). Then you can just put that rice back into the container when the kids are finished playing.
Playing with colored rice is a great tactile learning experience with opportunities to use fine motor skills and color recognition skills.
