So, I’ve discovered something…

My Kids Love Rice

No, not eating it. Although, Ronen tried.

When I bought a bag of rice, I had no idea how much fun could be had with it by a child. It’s crazy what they entertain themselves with! But, here they’ve been, playing away for almost two hours!

Some of you may think I’m a little behind, but I had never tried rice play with Garreth before, so this is news to me!

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How To Keep The Kids Busy For Hours With Simple Rice Play

I bought a 2 lb bag of white rice from Aldi’s. Although, I should have bought more. It would have been more fun for them to play with.

We gathered all the construction, tractor, and truck toys we could find in their room. Garreth loves them and they were perfect for the boys to scoop up the rice and haul it around.

I had a queen size flannel sheet that we laid out on the living room floor to set everything up for them. I was going to use the sheet to make cloth diapers out of, but now I like using it as a huge play mat for anything messy. It makes cleanup so much easier!

I got out a sheet pan for Garreth to put everything on to keep the bulk of the rice off of the sheet.

For Ronen, I just put half of the rice in one of the bins from their toy storage. He enjoyed swishing his hands in there and picking up handfuls and watching it fall.

He then decides to eat it.

And I told him no. He makes this face every time I use that word. Shame on me.

Children Are Entertained With The Simplest Things

Whether it be a cardboard box, something in your pantry, or even a blanket as a cape or tail, they will probably have more fun with that than with a new toy.

When they are finally bored of the rice, just put it in a container to play with next time you need something to keep them busy. Then, pull up the corners and sides of the sheet so any leftover rice falls to the middle. Carry it outside and shake it off.

While the rice was pretty easy to clean up, some of it still managed to escape the sheet with Ronen’s fits and Garreth’s wild playing. I think we will try pinto beans next time. They’re bigger and easier to spot and pick up if I leave some behind.

Have you ever tried rice play or dug around in your pantry for something to entertain your kids? What do they like the best?