Rainbow Ideas

Rainbow Rice for Sensory Boxes

There are three ways to color rice.

1. Liquid Water Color

2. Food Coloring & Alcohol

 

3.  Purelle (hand sanitizer)

& Food ColoringFor the first method: You will need rice, baggies and your coloring choice. I measured out 1 & 1/2 cups of rice and put it in the baggie. Note: if you are mixing you can get away with regular bags, but if your toddler is mixing I recommend freezer bags to cut down on tears and spills.

 

Then you squirt in your liquid water color. Here, I am mixing green and blue for a pretty turquoise color. The more you use the richer your color will be, and the less white rice you will have. Zip the bag closed and start mixing. Done!

 

For the second method: Put a tsp of Alcohol and your desired amount of food coloring in the bottom of a baggie, add 3/4 cup of rice and seal bag. Mix and Done!

 

For the third method: 4-5 pumps hand sanitizer per sandwich bag and 4-5 drops of food coloring. Mix and done!

 

One of the downfalls of using the food coloring method is, you have to let it dry and it stinks. Put it on wax paper in a cookie sheet and let it sit out for a few hours.

 

And in food coloring vs watercolor  watercolor is washable, food coloring is not.

 

 

Bathtub Rainbow Paints

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Dish Detergent

1/2 Cup of Cornstarch

1/2 Cup of boiling water

Food Coloring (liquid kind is best)

I used the antibacterial scented hand soap, but whatever you use, know your kids will coat themselves with it – so be sure to pick something you know they don’t have a reaction to.


Directions:


In a sauce pan, mix the cornstarch into the hot water until it is dissolved and the consistency is pasty. Add the soap and mix until there are no chunks. Heat on medium until just boiling. The soap should have a gel-like consistency as it cools. Add food coloring. Store in an airtight container. The paint may separate slightly when stored, so be sure to stir before use. Test the paint on a patch of your tub to ensure that your food coloring does not stain – and have fun!

 

Playdough

 

Homemade Playdough from My Montessori Journey

1 c. flour

1/2 cup salt

1 T. cooking oil

1 T. cream of tartar

1 c. water

Food coloring of your choice

Add-ins of your choice (i.e. spices, extracts, glitter, etc.)

"Stir ingredients together well. Just measure them into the saucepan you will be using to cook the dough, but mix them well before heating up the pan. Over medium heat cook the dough, stirring constantly until it forms a ball. (NOTE: When it starts to pull away from the sides somewhat and clump together and most of the "wet-looking" parts look dry, it's ready to remove from the pan.)

Turn dough onto a board (or the countertop) and knead until very smooth. (NOTE: It will be pretty warm to the touch, but try to knead it until it becomes a nice, smooth ball. If it feels sticky, you can work a little more flour into it and it will be fine.)

Cool. Store in a covered plastic container OR in a sealed ziploc bag. (ANOTHER NOTE: This dough does seem to always stick in the saucepan somewhat. I have tried spraying the pan first, but I still have a crusty residue on the pan when I'm finished. I am used to this now and just plan on soaking the pan after I make a batch. I just wanted you to know about that though so you wouldn't think you had goofed something up if that happens.)


When I add spices, I usually start with about a teaspoon (though I never actually use a spoon). I just shake a bunch in until I think it's going to produce the desired level of scent. (I like a LOT of scent.) If you are adding an extract like vanilla or peppermint, for example, probably just a teaspoon will be enough, but you can experiment with a little more than that. Also add gradually if you are doing glitter. I would still start with only about a teaspoon and go from there."

Rainbow Ice (NOT for eating)

This idea came from Sweeter Than Sweets

Color Bath Dropz by Crayola

water

ice cube trays and/or old plastic bowls, bath toys, or anything you can fill up with water

3 large bowls

spoon or ladle

cookie sheet that fits in your freezer

Fill each bowl with about 3 or 4 cups of water. No need to measure but the less water, the more intense the color. This is a good thing, but if you spill on your way to the freezer, you might end up with a blue carpet. Remember these Dropz are intended to be used in a bath tub with much much more water. Pour into molds and freeze.

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