How to Make a Magical Rainbow Water-Bead Bin

We recently discovered the magical world of Orbeez / water beads and now my kids are obsessed! Learn how to make this super fun Magical Rainbow Water Bead Bin. It’s great for kids of all ages—toddlers through upper elementary. And I have to admit, I thought it was pretty magical too!

Soo, I’m a little embarrassed to say that I’m totally new to this water bead/Orbeez obsession.
I first started hearing about it when we my daughters started seeing the commercial for the Orbeez soothing spa on the Disney Channel.
“Mom! I totally need that spa to relax! It helps reduce stress!”
This….coming from my 7 year old who watches way too much TV and does not have any stress.

“Umm, you don’t have any stress and it looks like that’s for 4th graders—you need to wait a couple more years.”
I then patted myself on the back for such quick thinking.
Dodged a bullet there…..or so I thought….

Fast forward to a recent trip to the library.
The library, a safe place where only studious things occur…..or so I thought….
Cue very dramatic music!

I forgot that it’s also a place to discover new magical wonders….

or in our case….new magical obsessions….

And that’s where we it happened…that’s where our family’s obsession with the crazy world of  Orbeez (or as the educational library called them…Water Beads!) actually began.

How to Make a Magical Rainbow Water-Bead Bin

It all started out innocently enough; we were attending a “Messy” Storytime complete with lots of colorful sensory boxes and spring crafts. And that’s when we saw it…the water bead box!

My daughters and their friends could not get enough of this sensory sensation.

Squishy, colorful, and strangely relaxing. I had to try it myself.
It basically felt like a giant tub of those Boba Tea pearls!
And suddenly, I was feeling quite thirsty.

So what are these magical balls of squishy colorful fun?

Water beads are little superabsorbent polymers, which were developed in the 1960’s to improve plant irrigation. They give off low-levels of water, so you can also use them in flower vases or potted plants to prolong water levels.

They’re also the same material that’s used in diapers!

The amazing thing about these water beads is that they’re mezmorizing for all ages!

Literally all ages—preschoolers like them for sensory tables and counting activities, and big kids (including preteens) like them for crafts, water activities, and as we know from TV commercials…“soothing kid spas.”

You can order them online (as water beads or the Orbeez toy refills) in any color and they come in a tiny dehydrated seed form. Once you put them in water, they grow and grow and grow! (According the Orbeez website, they’ll get up to 150 times their original size!)
When they’re exposed to air, they’ll dry out again. You can then re-soak them and start the entire process over.

How to make your own Magical Rainbow Water Bead Bin:

Materials:

A pack of water beads (or Orbeez)
A plastic tote/bin
Water

Instructions:

Fill the tote with water and then add the water beads. Then watch them grow. I believe it takes about 12 hours for them to gain maximize size. But most of the fun is just in playing with these fun squishy balls.

When you’re done playing, cover your bin with a big piece of aluminum foil and cut a little slit in the top so air can evaporate. This will keep the balls around the same size. If you want them to grow bigger overnight, then make sure the cover is sealed.

I fear this magical Rainbow Water Bead Bin is only the beginning….stay tuned for more as our new water bead obsession grows……

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admin

HI! I’m a Shana, self-proclaimed Media Mixologist, wife, and mom to two little girls. I love to mix up cocktails of crafts, recipes, wellness, family and business with just the right amount of sparkle to help you shine everyday. So, grab a glass, and let’s celebrate the cocktail of life!