THE FUN WAY TO GIVE A TRAY A LITTLE LIFE: PAINTING WITH BEANS
Have you or your little ones ever looked at a plain tray and thought, “That’s… a little boring”? Well, what if I told you there’s a way to turn that bland little baking-sheet–looking thing into a swirl of color, texture, and pure tactile fun? And yes, using nothing more than paint and dried beans?
In this post, we’ll dive into the playful, low-mess DIY craft of painting with black beans, inspired by a creative sensory-play idea from a Mom just like you (me) who was desperately in search of ways to transform a simple tray. Great for kids, or anyone who wants a hands-on splash of creativity... no artistic training required.
The Fun Way to Give a Tray a Little Life: Painting with Beans
I bought a bamboo tray at Michael's Arts and Crafts store as storage, but it was a little bland and boring, so I came up with this fun activity to give the tray a little life. This one never gets old. I know my kids LOVE it, and yours will too!
MATERIALS:
Bamboo tray
Paint
Black beans
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Add a few drops of paint in different areas of the tray. Really let your little ones use their imagination. If you want to boost color recognition skills, you can even ask them to name the colors as they drop them down into the tray.
STEP 2: Add in the black beans to begin your fun, sensory journey.
STEP 3: Shake the tray so that the black beans move the paint around, sort of blending the colors. My beans stuck to the tray (I added too much paint), so Nicky used a spoon to move them around (she really enjoyed that).
STEP 4: Remove the black beans and let the paint dry.
If you just want to try this bean art activity for fun, use a small cardboard box. Nowadays, we all have way too many boxes, so give them some use before recycling day.
What Is the Best Paint for Painting Beans?
We all know how important sensory play is for a child’s development, so we want to get the activities correct from the start. Not sure what the best paint to use is? I can help you out! Here are my go-tos when it comes to painting with beans:
Crayola Kids Washable Paint Set: This is my classic go-to for messy bean-painting. It’s completely non-toxic, vibrant, and washes off skin and surfaces easily, making it perfect for sensory play or projects with little hands.
Cra-Z-Art Washable Tempera Paint Pack: This option is great if you want a budget-friendly bulk pack (lots of colours for multiple crafts). It’s more suited for group crafting or repeated bean projects.
Mont Marte Acrylic Colour Paint Set: This is another solid choice if your bean art is meant to last. Acrylic paint adheres well to beans, dries tough, and gives a richer finish. It’s good if your kiddo wants to make more of a display piece than something that gets thrown out.
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So there you go! Now you have a simple craft in your toolkit that takes minutes to start and minutes more to finish, yet leaves you with something fun, bright, and perfectly imperfect. Whether you’re after an easy rainy-day activity, a sensory project for little hands, or just a fun way to get creative on a lazy afternoon, this bean-painting method is surprisingly satisfying.
Grab a tray, some beans, and a few dabs of paint, and let the randomness do the magic. Happy crafting! And don’t forget, if you’re after more fun, fulfilling, and child-friendly activities, check out the Mothercould In Your Pocket Resource. For a one-time fee, you get a lifetime of sensory play magic that the whole family can join in on. What are you waiting for?
