Ghost Rice

The blue rice already looks a little ghostly beneath the blacklight. Little hands hover over the bin, moving from one spot to another.

Then they reach in.

“It’s COLD!”

Hands pull back, then go straight in again.

This time they dig deeper, burying their fingers in the glowing rice before lifting two chilly handfuls into the air. Blue grains spill between their fingers and scatter back into the bin.

“You have to touch it!”

If your little ghosts are ready for more Halloween fun, there is plenty more waiting in our Halloween Activities for Kids collection.

And for more things to mix, make, scoop, and explore, visit our Play Recipes for Kids collection.

Make Ghost Rice

Ghost Rice only takes a few simple ingredients. The blue gives it that ghostly glow.  The real surprise is hiding in the freezer!

You’ll need:

• White rice
• Neon blue paint
• Water
• A zip-top bag
• A freezer
• A large sensory bin or container
• A blacklight

Mix Up Something Ghostly

1. Turn the Rice Blue

Pour the rice into a zip-top bag, then add the neon blue paint and a small splash of water.

Seal the bag tightly and let little hands take over. They shake it, squeeze it, flip it over, then shake it some more as streaks of blue work their way through the white rice.

Keep going until the rice is evenly coated in blue.

2. Let It Dry

Spread the blue rice out and let it dry completely.

A few grains may stick together as they dry. Break apart any little clumps with your fingers, then give the rice another stir.

Once it's completely dry, there's one more thing to do.

3. Give It Chills

Pour the rice back into the bag or another freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer until it's thoroughly cold.

The kids don't need to know about this part.

Let their hands find out.

4. Fill the Bin

Pour the chilled blue rice into a large sensory bin.

Add a few spiders, eyeballs, skeletons, or other Halloween treasures. Toss in scoops, cups, spoons, or tweezers, then tuck some of the little pieces beneath the rice where they can't quite be seen.

Turn on the blacklight.

Then call the kids over.

Let them reach in.

What Are the Ghosts Hiding?

Once they know the rice is cold, the digging begins.

They scoop through the glowing grains, filling cups and pouring them back into the bin. Fingers disappear into the chilly rice. Spiders get buried. Eyeballs are found, hidden somewhere new, then hunted for all over again.

Someone spots a spider glowing between the grains and reaches for it.

Someone else gets there first.

Soon both hands are in, pushing cold rice from one side of the bin to the other as scoops fill, treasures disappear, and blue grains scatter across the bottom.

Then someone stops.

“Where did the eyeball go?”

Back into the glowing rice they go.

Ghost Writing

A finger trails through the icy rice, leaving a line in the ghostly blue glow.

One line becomes a shape, then a silly face or a crooked little ghost. Names and letters appear beside them, with messages stretching through the glowing grains.

Then a hand sweeps across the rice, and every mark disappears.

Ghost writing.

Smooth the rice and begin again.

Ghost Rice FAQ

Does Ghost Rice have to be frozen?

No. The blue rice is still fun to scoop and pour at room temperature, but freezing it gives kids that unexpected chilly first handful that makes Ghost Rice different.

If you have time, give it the chills.

Does Ghost Rice glow without a blacklight?

The rice will still look bright blue in regular light, but you'll need a blacklight to bring out the ghostly glow.

How long does Ghost Rice stay cold?

It gradually warms as kids play.

When they're finished, pop the rice back into the freezer and the chill will be waiting for the next round.

Can we reuse Ghost Rice?

Absolutely. Once the painted rice is completely dry, keep it in a sealed container or zip-top bag between playtimes.

Store it in the freezer if you want that icy first handful waiting next time.

What age is Ghost Rice best for?

Ghost Rice is best for children who are past the stage of putting sensory materials in their mouths.

Because this activity uses painted rice and may include small Halloween pieces, choose add-ins that are appropriate for your child and keep an adult nearby during play.

More Ghosts Are Waiting

One ghost usually leads to another.

Ghost Foam
Pile up soft, fluffy foam, shape a few little ghosts, then bring out the vinegar and watch what happens next.

Ghost Leaves
Gather a handful of autumn leaves and give each one a ghostly little face of its own.

Ghost Bombs
Take these ghosts outside, give them a toss, and watch a ghostly cloud burst into the air.

And when they're ready to find something besides ghosts, there are pumpkins, bubbling experiments, spooky sensory play, and plenty more waiting in our Halloween Activities for Kids collection.

One More Chilly Handful

The scoops come out. The spiders and eyeballs are found, and the last few grains get brushed back into the bin.

Someone reaches in one more time.

Still cold.

Then the Ghost Rice goes back into the freezer, ready to surprise them all over again.

Save This Ghost for Later

Save Ghost Rice to Pinterest so that icy first handful is waiting when Halloween rolls around again.