How to Dye Coconut for Sensory Bins
If you are a parent looking for some time to yourself, or quiet play for kids, sensory bins are one of my favorite playful activities that can trick kids into learning through play! Learn how to dye coconut to add to your sensory bins with this easy tutorial.
Recommended Grade Level:
Supplies for Learning How to Dye Coconut
- Coconut
- Food Coloring
- Zip top bags
- Wax Paper
- Cookie Sheet
Sensory bins are quick and easy to put together and will keep your kids occupied for hours. There are endless possibilities when it comes to sensory bin fillers, such as dry pasta, rice or beads. Coconut is one of the best in my opinion. Since coconut is small and comes in so many different shapes and textures, it is perfect for little hands and a wonderful sensory experience. When you learn how to dye coconut for sensory bins and crafts, you’ll be shocked at how simple and easy it can be!
Materials You Will Need for Dyed Coconut:
- 7 oz bags of shredded coconut (2)
- Wax Paper
- Cookie Sheet
- Food Coloring (pink, yellow, blue and green)
- Sandwich-sized Ziploc Bags
- Sensory Bin or tray
- Scoops
- Tongs
- Cups
- Tweezers
How to Dye Coconut:
Step One:
Grab you bags of coconut shreds, your wax paper, food coloring and baggies! Get those materials all together ready to dye coconut!
Step Two:
Decide how many colors you want to dye your coconut into, and split the shreds into equal parts. Put those parts into baggies.
Teacher Tip: You can use off-brand baggies, or Ziplock. Make sure you get a bag that zips on the top, because the coconut is fine and shredded so it can easily come out the top.
Step Three:
Add a few drops of food coloring to each bag. Add more if you want the colors to be a bit darker. Seal the baggies and carefully rub the coconut around in the baggie. Repeat this until you get the desired color on the coconut.
Step Four:
Lay the wax paper on a cookie sheet, and let each color dry out. Sometimes overnight is the best. However, if you don’t have overnight, 3-4 hours should be enough to dry out.
Step Five:
Get that bin made! Add coconut as the base, then add cups, scoops, tongs or tweezers! Enjoy your bin!! Remember- if you decide to use this sensory bin for multiple days, store it in an air-tight container or a Ziplock bag!
Yay! You did it. What now?
Sensory bins are the best because they are not going to break the bank, and they are so easy to trade out seasonally or thematically. Now that you know how to dye coconut, you can swap out the colors to make themes for the entire year!
- Green + Red = Christmas
- Pink + Purple = Valentine’s Day
- Rainbow = St. Patrick’s Day
Further Ways to Use Dyed Coconut with Preschoolers
- Colorful coconut makes great art pieces!
- Use dyed coconut to create stress balls. Just add to Ziplock bags or balloons for sensory stress balloons!!
- Make fun pasta art projects! Glue pasta onto paper and create a colorful pattern or picture.
Other Sensory Bin Ideas For Preschoolers:
- Dye pasta colors that coordinate with holiday seasons for a fun seasonal sensory bin.
- Sensory bin play doesn’t have to be complicated! Just add a filler, some measuring cups, funnels, or small toys to play with! Dinosaurs and animal figures are popular choices of many children who love sensory bin play and many can be found at the dollar store.
- Pom poms, water beads, and beans all make easy fillers for sensory bins.
- Put your colorful coconut, rice or pasta into a bowl, shallow pan, or buy a fun sensory table that can be filled over and over again!
Frequently Asked Questions
These are frequently asked questions about dyeing coconut…
Does it matter what kind of food coloring I use?
You can use liquid food coloring as well as gel food coloring!
Are sensory bins expensive to make?
One common misconception about sensory bins is that they are expensive to make. Using coconut for your sensory bin filler is an inexpensive way to fill your bin up! You can check out our huge library of low-cost and DIY sensory activities for more ideas!
What if I don’t have shredded coconut?
You can find more ways to create sensory bin materials with these easy recipes.
How to Dye Pasta for Sensory Bins
Dyeing Rice for Sensory Bins
Does it matter what kind of food coloring I use?
You can use liquid food coloring as well as gel food coloring!
Dyed Coconut for a Sensory Bin:
Coconut is a great base for a sensory bin because of its texture, size and the sensory input it provides to kiddos! Be sure to tag us if you decide to dye coconut and how you use it.
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