HOW TO DYE OATS fOR SENSORY PLAY: A COLORFUL DIY ADVENTURE
Sensory play never fails to transform playtime into something truly magical. Maybe it’s the vibrant colors, or maybe it’s the way it taps into children’s natural curiosity—but it always turns ordinary moments into engaging, exciting experiences. Best of all? From creativity and cognitive growth to confidence and self-esteem, sensory play supports so many developmental benefits.
You don’t need any fancy equipment, expensive toys, or hours worth of patience. In fact, some of the best sensory tools are household items—like rolled oats! This simple ingredient is one of the most versatile materials you can have in your toolkit. They’re safe, simple to clean up, and, even better, easy to dye.
That’s right—today, we’re talking about how to dye oats for sensory play! Whether you’re adding them to a sensory bin or using them in a color sorting activity, these vibrant dyed oats are a fun way to keep little hands busy and curious minds engaged. Ready for a day full of fun? Let’s dive in!
How to Dye Oats for Sensory Play: A Colorful DIY Adventure
If you’ve been part of the Mothercould community for a while, then you know I’m no stranger to pantry staples and a little food coloring or natural dye. I’ve covered everything from colored pasta to how to dye salt (and plenty more), just check out my color-dyed archives! That said, it’s only right to throw dry oats into the mix. It’s one of my favorite materials to use. It’s easy to work with, kids love the texture, and it can be used for so many activities.
Plus, playing with oats can actually support key areas of growth! It encourages development in fine motor skills, language, emotional regulation, and so much more. This means that little ones can learn, explore, and thrive, all while experiencing endless hands-on fun.
Below, you can find an easy step-by-step guide for dyeing oats with food coloring. Plus, I’ll also share a handful of different coloring options—both natural and artificial—that work perfectly for creating vibrant, rainbow-colored oats.
What Can You Dye Oats With for Sensory Play?
Food Coloring: Check out my “How to Get Food Coloring Off Hands” post to keep the dyeing process totally stain-free!
Tea: Brightly colored teas are the best—like passion tea and hibiscus blends.
Boiled Purple Cabbage: Best boiled with baking soda and lemon or lime juice. I have a step-by-step guide for this on the Mothercould In Your Pocket resource!
Beet Juice: Great for vibrant reds or deep crimsons, depending on how much you add.
Spirulina Powder: Ideal for dyeing oats a deep, natural green.
Matcha Powder: If the spirulina powder is too dark, matcha is excellent for creating a nice, light green.
Butterfly Pea Flower Powder: Often nicknamed “blue matcha,” this powder is perfect for a fun, bright blue-ish, purple-ish color!
Chalk Dust: Creates an exciting pastel effect. This is the perfect budget-friendly option if you already have chalk on hand!
With each dyeing method, it’s important to be mindful of what is and is not taste-safe. With tea and food coloring, for example, you don’t have to worry about little ones popping an oat or two in their mouths.
And of course, with things like chalk dust, you want to encourage no hand-to-mouth play. (Easier said than done, I know!). It’s not as harmful as it is yucky, but still not ideal, nonetheless. And since oats are relatively small, always keep your hawk eyes out during play!
How to Color Oats for Sensory Play
To keep things simple, straightforward, and taste-safe, I’ll walk you through how to color oats using food coloring. It’s quick, easy, and only takes a few minutes!
Materials:
1 cup of rolled oats per color (so for rainbow oats that use every single color, you’ll need 7 cups!)
1 Ziploc bag per each color oat
Liquid food coloring (as needed)
½ to 1 tsp of white vinegar per color, or 3 to 6 tsp in total
A handful of paper towels
Instructions:
Step 1: Pour your oats into a Ziploc bag. Remember, each cup of oats should go in its own bag—you don’t want to mix until after! If a whole cup of oats is too much for the bag, a half cup will work just as well.
Step 2: Grab a bowl and mix your white vinegar with a few drops of food coloring. The more food coloring you add, the deeper the color will be.
Step 3: Once you’re happy with your color, pour the mixture into the bag of oats. If you’re unhappy with the color after pouring, just add a couple more drops!
Step 4: Seal the bag and shake. Make extra sure you close it all the way—you don’t want food coloring spilling out! Then, still on the outside of the bag, massage the food coloring into oats that don’t look completely dyed.
Step 5: If you want a little extra color, add more food coloring and a tiny bit of vinegar. Then, repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the results!
Step 6: When you’re finished, pour the oats on a paper towel to air dry. Once you notice they’re fully dry, they’re ready for sensory play fun!
Make sensory play as bright as it is fun with colorful oats!
You don’t need super expensive toys and extravagant ideas to make little ones happy. Ultimately, all your kids want is a space where they can learn, grow, and explore—all while having fun. And fortunately, sensory play has never failed me there! I hope this brief guide helped enhance your kiddos’ playtime—I can’t wait to see all you guys do with these colorful oats!
Looking to incorporate even more fun and imaginative play into your routine? Order our new book, Playful by Design—it’s out NOW! This guide can transform your home into a place full of creativity and connection, designed to ignite kids’ imaginations and foster independence.
And, don’t forget to head over to the Mothercould blog. Here you can find kid-friendly recipes, helpful cleaning hacks, and sensory play activities for kids of all ages! Also, make sure to check out Mothercould In Your Pocket. This resource can be your new go-to for all things sensory play, yummy recipes, and engaging activity packs.
