Many people find that eucalyptus helps to open up their air-ways, helping them to breath more easily while they are sick. You can easily add a touch of essential oil into kids activities in all sorts of ways! Today, I used it to make a sick-day sensory bin. Read on for the easy tutorial.
Eucalyptus rice is very easy to make. Rice in general makes a great sensory material, lending itself to all sorts of play. Adding essential oil to the rice only makes this therapy even more effective. For more ways to play with rice be sure to visit our play recipes collection.
How to Make Eucalyptus Rice
Materials
- Rice
- Food coloring
- A zip-seal bag
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Play bin/container
Method
- Begin by adding 2-3 cups of uncooked rice to a large zip-seal bag.
- Add 2-3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
- Add a few drops of food coloring for richer coloring, if desired.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of water. This just helps to coat the rice in color.
- Tightly seal the bag. Then, mix the contents inside until all of the rice is saturated and the ingredients are combined.
- Open the bag and allow the rice to dry for 4-6 hours.
- The rice may clump together a bit as it dries, but that's ok. It will easily break apart during play.
- Pour the eucalyptus rice into a large bin or container, and the fun can begin!
Sick Day Sensory Bin for Kids
Sick kids typically don't feel like doing very much. Set this sensory bin up in front of the television, and the vapors from the rice "should" help to open up their air-ways as they play.
Handling the rice is therapeutic in itself and very comforting. Kids will start to feel better without even realizing it!
After play, tuck this rice away for another sick day. Simply store it in an air-tight bin or container, and it can be used again and again!
Extend the Fun
- Make rice that glows-in-the-dark.
- Make ghost rice.
- Make scented rice for autumn.
- Use rice to dye Easter eggs.
- Make play rice using Kool-aid.
- Make a holiday sensory bin using rice.
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