For the last year we have been trying out different types of sensory play fillers and experimenting with how to dye them. To date, these Acrylic Rainbow Dyed Chickpeas have been the easiest to dye and quickest to dry!
One of the things that I loved about these is that they were so bright and playful. My kids played with them for a good 45 minutes before even adding in toys! Rainbow Dyed Chickpeas are an awesome sensory bin filler. They would even be fun in a sensory bottle!
How to Make Acrylic Rainbow Dyed Chickpeas
Items Needed
)
)
)
)
Directions
- Use one bag for each color of chickpeas you plan on dyeing. Disperse the chickpeas evenly among those bags. We used about 2-3 handfuls per bag and it filled up our sensory bin with more than enough to play with.
- In each bag add in a squirt of acrylic paint. It took us about a quarter size for each color. Seal the bag and shake. Letting your kids shake up the colors is a great way to get some proprioceptive input.
- Open each bag and set out to dry. We set ours, with each bag opened, in our sensory bin to keep them from spilling over. Check back in a couple minutes to seal and shake again in order to break up any clumps.
- After about 15 minutes your beans should be dried and ready to play!
My kids wasted no time at all to jump into play. They scooped, poured, and discussed colors.
Even Mr. Roo couldn’t resist how bright and playful the bin was!
Although, he did try to eat them and required very close supervision while playing. I can’t say I can blame him – they do look like some delicious candy!
So.Much.Fun!
Share This!
These are so beautiful and colorful! I am considering this activity for classroom use. Does the paint start to chip off at some point, or do the chickpeas start to crumble? Thanks for the idea!
Hi Chris,
We didn’t have any issue with either and ours lasted a very long time, however, they also were not being used in a classroom. I do think they would do very well in a classroom, but cannot give feedback as to how well they will last for that level of useage.
Hi there,
I love this idea. Just wondering how long the painted chickpeas last for?
Thanks,
D.
Hi D,
Ours lasted us at least a year before we threw them out.