This Christmas sensory play activity has so much going on, and yet it’s really easy to assemble! We use our favorite dyed rice recipe (I go into detail in my pom pom sensory play post), add different types of stars, and it’s ready to go! The best part of this activity is all the different textures, sizes, and fine motor going on. Toddlers and preschoolers love this hands-on idea!
Earlier this month we loved our gingerbread boxes, and in February we will once again play with our heart boxes. Year after year our toddlers and preschoolers love anything with lids. There’s something about filling a container and snapping on the lid. Over and over again. This time around I wanted to include some size discrimination.
I found wooden stars in different sizes that all fit into the paper mâché boxes.
And then I added bug tongs and scoops to move everything around.
This resulted in a hands-on activity that had multiple children enjoying at once!
Supplies Used with this Christmas Sensory Play Activity
Paper mâché star boxes Wood stars in assorted sizes – Hollow Wood stars in assorted sizes – Solid Dyed rice (we also tossed in some macaroni as well for more texture) Bug tongs Scoops How to Dye Rice
Grab a gallon sized plastic baggie that can be sealed. Pour about a cup of rice inside the bag. Add about a teaspoon of white vinegar. Add as much coloring as desired. (I love using Wilton icing color!) Seal the bag and shake until the rice is coated well. Open the bag and dump the rice onto a paper towel, spreading it out so it’s a very thin layer. Allow to dry thoroughly.
If you want to have different colors of rice, do the above procedure for each color and then, when dry, mix the colors.
Add the paper mâché boxes, stars, tongs and scoops.
As the children gathered around the Christmas sensory play table, I asked them to find the stars. Which ones were big? How about small? Stars were scooped and moved into the boxes, along with the rice. And, of course, they were dumped. Because that is what this age group loves most. We enjoyed this star sensory bin all week during our Christmas theme. But you know what? It would be a great addition to the space theme, too!
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