If you’ve read the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, then you’ll understand that this is a rainbow alphabet themed sensory bin for a reason! My good friend (who is also a toddler mom) made a sensory bin similar to this but used rainbow colored rice instead of rainbow beans. I loved her idea and knew I needed to re-create it in my own way. If you like rainbow sensory bins, then you'll love my St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Sensory Bin!
I really wanted to do something different for a sensory bin base. I’ve made 10+ sensory bins using different colored rice and my toddler was growing tired of rice in her sensory bins. I feel like they were boring her. She wasn’t as interested in them because each one had rice.
I changed it up and bought three two-pound bags of Great Northern beans. I finally got around to dying them with food coloring and realized I had way too many and only really needed two bags. I ended up dying way too many beans for this sensory bin, but now I am set and have a lot of different colored beans.
My three-year-old girl loved the rainbow beans and the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom board book as we read it daily—once before her afternoon nap and once at bedtime. We also used the alphabet letters from my girl’s wooden alphabet puzzle. She’s in preschool and is learning the letters so this is perfect for her age. At preschool, they learn one letter per week. I was pleasantly surprised that she played in this rainbow bean sensory bean for at least a week!
To make this fun DIY sensory bin, you’ll need a storage bin, Great Northern or cannellini beans, large one-gallon freezer bags, food coloring, vinegar, an alphabet puzzle, and a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom board book.
Benefits of sensory play
Sensory play is beneficial for toddlers and preschoolers, even older kids! Sensory bins stimulate multiple senses at the same time – including touch, sight, smell, and sound. They also improve fine motor skills as kids dig, scoop, squeeze, and grasp objects in the sensory bins. Sensory bins promote social skills such as taking turns, teamwork, cooperation with their peers, and communication among their friends, family, and parents.
According to Salus University Health’s article, they also support cognitive development as kids can sort hidden items by size and color. Placing letters and numbers inside the bin (like this alphabet sensory bin) can help kids learn the alphabet and numbers. Sensory bins are calming activities and provide a quite environment for children to play independently and calmly.
Items needed to make an ABC rainbow sensory bin
Bin. Grab a storage bin for this ABC Rainbow Sensory Bin activity.
Beans. Great Northern or cannellini beans make the base of this sensory bin.
Freezer bags. Large one-gallon freezer bags work best.
Food coloring. Food coloring is needed to make the rainbow colored beans.
Vinegar. White vinegar helps the food coloring stick to the beans, preventing the food coloring from spreading onto your hands.
Puzzle. Add the letters from a rainbow ABC puzzle to your sensory bin.
Book. You’ll need a copy of a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom board book to add to your ABC Sensory Bin. If you don’t have this book, add another ABC-themed book or toy.
How to make the best ABC Rainbow Sensory Bin
STEP 1: To dye the Great Northern beans into rainbow colors, first separate the beans into 6 separate one-gallon freezer bags. Add a few drops of food coloring and a half teaspoon vinegar to each freezer bag. We used red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple food coloring to make the rainbow colors. Spread the beans out on foil-lined baking sheets, allowing them to dry for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
STEP 2: Pour the dried beans into a storage bin, in order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
STEP 3: Spread the letters of the ABC puzzle throughout the bin, adding the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom board book. Present your invitation to play to your little ones and watch them explore, discover, and learn as they play!
STEP 4: If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Fine Motor Activity
Toss is some handy scoopers or bowls and this is a fantastic fine motor activity that toddlers and preschoolers love! Kids will need to use the small muscles in their hands and fingers to squeeze scoopers to pick up the beans, thereby improving their fine motor skills. My toddler girl was motivated to see a new color explosion with the rainbow colored beans, so she continued to fill up handy scoopers repeatedly, which was a terrific fine motor activity.
More kid’s crafts you’ll love!
St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Sensory Bin
Baking Soda, Vinegar & Food Coloring Experiment
Fourth of July Patriotic Sensory Bin
Simple Fourth of July Kid’s Crafts
Easy Brown Bag Easter Bunny Craft
Easy DIY Handmade Mother’s Day Cards
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this ABC Rainbow Sensory Bin, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this craft a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this sensory bin craft and always do my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this craft, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your DIY sensory bin photos!
ABC Rainbow Sensory Bin
Equipment
- freezer bags large one-gallon size
Materials
- Great Northern beans
- food coloring
- vinegar
- ABC puzzle
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or other similar alphabet book
Instructions
- To dye the beans into rainbow colors, first separate the beans into 6 separate freezer bags. Add a few drops of food coloring and a half teaspoon vinegar to each freezer bag. We used red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple food coloring to make the rainbow colors. Spread the beans out on foil-lined baking sheets, allowing them to dry for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
- Pour the dried beans into a storage bin, in order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Spread the letters of the ABC puzzle throughout the bin, adding the book. Present your invitation to play to your little ones and watch them explore, discover, and learn as they play!
- If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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