Rice Sensory Bin

Rice Sensory Bin 💕 For older babies and toddlers (out of the heavy mouthing stage), rice sensory bins are a great way to engage your little’s senses and keep them busy. This is a superb activity to learn fine motor skills like scooping and pouring, and set up is so easy.

This type of play may seem intimidating—after all none of us want rice scattered around our house—but I have some strategies to help you contain the rice and teach your child how to minimize mess. I think it is worth the effort, my 16 mo has had so much fun with this the last couple months and it has been a great way to keep her occupied.

First, for younger crowds like 12 month to 2 years old, doing a rice sensory bin in a large bin like this 100 L bin can really help. Let them sit in the bin with the rice, and put enough clothes on them that they feel comfortable. I find that my 16 month old really prefers to wear socks in the bin so that the rice doesn’t stick to her feet.

If you don’t have a larger bin, or if you don’t have a hard floor, place something like a large tarp under the bin to catch stray rice.

Know that sensory bins are a learning process. The first time my 16 mo tried this, she was fond of dumping rice out of the bin. I consistently reminded her to keep the rice in the bin, and when she did not comply several times I stopped the activity. The second time she spilled less, and every time she has gotten better. Often now I can set this up and she won’t dump any outside the bin. Patience with your little goes a long way! 

I used about 4-8 cups of uncooked rice and gave my 16 mo different bowls, spoons and scoops. Metal bowls are fun because the rice makes a nice sound when poured inside. When the activity was over, I closed the bin and put it away, or dumped the rice into a plastic Tupperware or bag to save. The first two or so times she wasted about one or two cups of rice from dumping it, but now she hardly wastes any.