When little ones are still at home while
their brothers or sisters are in school all day
parents need easy crafts to occupy them and
give the day some structure.
They often feel left out and having a craft
time each day makes little ones feel like they aren't
missing the fun. Here is an easy and frugal craft
activity that will do the trick:
Colored Rice Art
You'll need:
uncooked white rice
food coloring
white vinegar
non-toxic glue
cardboard or paper
pencil
Place 1/2 cup rice into a clean butter bowl or other
recycled container. Add 5 drops of food coloring and
1/2 tsp. vinegar to set the color. Mix around until the
rice has colored. Spread rice flat onto a baking sheet
covered with foil or parchment paper. Bake at 200
degrees for 45 minutes to dry the rice. You can make
more than one color at the same time. Keep the colors
separate and in one layer on the cookie sheet. After
they are dry and have cooled, place each color in a
snack size plastic bag and seal.
PROJECTS: You can use these to make mosaic
pictures with the kids. Have them draw a shape or
a simple picture and then glue the rice onto the
shape, using patches of different colors or creating
a pattern of some sort. You can write their name
in fat letters that they can fill in with the rice. Use
this to teach colors also by asking them to use
certain colors on certain sections of a picture. Create
an interesting bookmark by cutting a 2 inch by 6-8
inch long piece of cardboard and have them glue the
rice on the cardboard till it's full. Carefully cover the
cardboard on both sides with clear Contact paper.
Trim the edges and they have a neat bookmark!
About the Author
Brenda Hyde is a mom to three and lives with her husband
and children in the Midwestern United States. She is a
freelance writer and editor of OldFashionedLiving.com
