Awake up your senses with a zingy lemon sensory tub!
Lemon scented sight words sensory tub
Watch our Sensory Tub Masterclass
Click to play on the video above to see our sensory tub masterclass. You’ll learn how to make a sensory tub for your children using simple materials, the benefits of sensory tubs for children, and how to use a sensory tub to teach children about math, literacy, science and fine motor skills.
You’ll also see lots of ideas for sensory tub fillings plus find out how to get great printables to add to your tubs. Subscribe to NurtureStore’s YouTube channel to get more sensory play videos!
On dark winter mornings, bring a little zing to your day with this lemon scented sight words sensory tub.
The tub smells so good. It’s energising and lovely to play with, and it’s also great for letter and word practise.
Here’s how to dye and scent the rice and add a literacy twist.
Materials needed:
:: uncooked rice
:: yellow food colouring
:: lemon extract
:: plastic tub with lid or plastic bag
How to dye rice for sensory play
Place uncooked rice in a plastic tub (with a lid) or a large plastic food bag.
Add a drop of yellow food colouring and a little lemon extract.
Put the lid on the tub/fasten up the bag and scrunch, squash or shake until the colour spreads right through the rice.
Lay the rice out over night to absorb the colour and essence and to dry.
Sensory tub play ideas
Use the rice to fill a sensory tub. Add bowls, spoons and other loose parts and invite your children to play. The lemon smell is so uplifting and gives the senses a boost.
Add in fridge magnet letters to make an alphabet-themed sensory tub. In addition to the zingy smell, the three dimensional shapes of the letters help the children to learn with all their senses.
Children can use scoops and spoons to hunt out the letters.
Can they find the whole alphabet?
Can they find the letters of their name?
Can they spell any words?
How to make a calming sensory tub.
At the other end of the day, try our bedtime sensory tub which uses calming lavender to help children chill out.
The boys always love to play with rice and I’m looking for fun sight word activities, so this is a perfect combo! Off to check my cupboards for lemon extract!
When I saw all the letters I was SURE the base was going to be alpha-noodles!!! THAT would be cute!!!
I love the idea of a scented sensory bin!
Oh, love the zingy morning and then the calming lavender evening version. What age would you say this is suitable from? We have an 8 month old visitor for the next coupe of Mondays & Tuesdays, as long as I don’t let him put it in his mouth, do you think it would be ok?
Hi Cara. Yes, I think it would be lovely. Obviously you don’t your little one to eat any of it, but all the ingredients are food-based and would be great to play with.
Thanks Cathy, I’m going to resurrect our treasure basket for him too after looking at your super baby ideas. :0)
This is a really great idea! Thanks for posting. 🙂
Have some drying for the 18 month old to play with tomorrow. Had lemon essence in the cupboard and the rice smell so good every time I touch it. Will it remain slightly sticky? Have only ever used hand sanitiser to colour before.
Hi Nina. That might depend on the type of colour you’ve used. I find ours soaks in.