Set up a fun and simple rainbow rice magnetic treasure hunt sensory bin, where your toddler or preschooler can explore the magic of magnets!

READ MORE…How to Start Doing Activities with Your Kids

Supplies:

• Any metal toy or small tool (i.e. Allen key, toy trains, coins)
• Magnetic Letters
• Magnetic Counting Chip
• Fridge magnets
• Rainbow coloured rice (see below for instructions on how to make)
• Magnetic Wands
• 41 Qt, Clear Sensory Bin (Large)
• Basket to put treasure into

How to make rainbow rice you’ll need:

• White rice
• Food Coloring
• White vinegar
• Large Ziplock Bags
• Baking Sheets or Tupperware containers
• Parchment Paper

For each colour use 1 cup of rice, 1/2 tsp of vinegar and several drops of food colouring. Combine everything together in the ziplock bad. Seal it carefully and mix contents throughly. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a few baking sheets or line a few Tupperware containers. Spread each colour of rice out on the parchment paper and allow it to dry over night.

How to Set Up the Magnetic Treasure Hunt Sensory Bin:

Set up for this activity is super simple! Grab your large sensory bin and fill it with all the metal objects you want to use. Cover them with the rainbow rice and let the treasure hunt begin!

Let your toddler fish around with the magnetic wands in the rainbow rice to see what they find. This was also a great opportunity to sneak in counting and letter recognition.

When she pulled out 5 chips, I started to count them as she put them into her treasure basket. If she pulled out an ‘R’, I asked her what sound it made. For younger toddlers model model model. Ask open ended questions and answer for them is they are unable to respond.

Looking for other sensory bins using magnets and magnetic wands? Check out these fun ideas:

• Magnetic Tubes Sensory Bin
• Clothes Pin Letter Dig Sensory Bin
• Magnetic Ice Sensory Bin
• Jingle Bell Magnetic Tubes Sensory Bin
• Magnetic Easter Hunt Sensory Bin

WILL YOU TRY MAGNETIC TREASURE HUNT SENSORY BIN WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE? Pin it for Later!