Sensory Play for Toddlers - Coloured Rice & Beans

Sensory play for toddlers - coloured rice & beans

I have a beautiful German friend called Sarah who leads the kind of life I can only imagine.  Her world is full of scandi-inspired wooden toys, organic food and lots of handmade pretty "stuff".  Her life is the life I would lead if only I could be bothered to locate and dust off the sewing machine which has inched its way further and further into the depths of our roof storage. Yesterday Leo and I popped over for a play and were met with more fabulous homemade creativity - this time in the form of sensory play tubs filled with coloured rice and beans.  Hours of entertainment right there!  Chubby little hands sifting through the grain, pouring, scooping, mixing and inevitably spilling... magic to watch.  Follow the instructions below to make your own coloured rice.

How to Make Coloured Rice

You will need:

• Large quantity of white rice
• White vinegar
• Liquid food colouring (in a variety of colours)
• Large glass jar

Method:

• Mix 2 tablespoons vinegar with a few drops of food colouring in the jar
• Add 2 cups of rice
• Shake like crazy
• When colour is completely absorbed, tip rice out onto a baking tray and pop in a low oven to dry out
• Repeat for different colours

Photography: Angela Steyn

Soulful Gift Wrapping

Little Brown Packages Tied Up With String

I have always believed that gifts wrapped with love inspire the soul and make us remember that the joy of giving and receiving is often found in the anticipation of the unwrapping.  The contents of the package can be simple, but if it comes wrapped with care and imagination, the feeling it evokes will be treasured all the more.  AND the best bit is that it doesn't need to cost the earth... here I used cheap brown paper, cooking twine, leaves, sticks and shells to create an autumn theme present.  Total cost = $1.

Photography: Angela Steyn