At the beginning of the week, I created a Light Table for my boys and they have already spent hours on end playing with it. The best part was that I was able to make it out of items that I already had in my home, so it didn’t cost me anything! Today, I’m going to show you how to make a DIY Light Table that’s sure to keep your little ones busy too!
What is Sensory Play?
We all know that sensory play (or messy play) is extremely important to a young child’s development, but what exactly is sensory play? Sensory play is any activity that stimulates one or more of your child’s senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. This hands on fun is the best way to help your child develop cognitively, linguistically, physically, socially, and creatively. Sensory tables are a great way to provide your child with the opportunity to explore their senses.
DIY Light Table – What You’ll Need:
As I said, I made this light table out of items I already had in my home and chances are, you already have these items on hand too!
- See-Through Storage Bin
- Large Cardboard Box
- White Christmas Lights
- Masking Tape
Directions:
1. The first thing you need to do is to cut your cardboard box into a rectangle that fits snugly inside your storage bin.
2. Next, tape the Christmas lights onto the piece of cardboard so that they stay in place and the lighting is even throughout your light box.
3. Cover the inside of the lid of your storage bin with masking tape. This will give your light box an even, soft glow. I’ve also seen this part done with tissue paper but I feel that covering the entire lid with masking tape works better.
4. Place the Christmas light covered cardboard cutout inside the storage bin and cover with the lid, leaving the end of the cord hanging out so you can plug it into a wall.
That’s all there is to it! It took me less than 30 minutes to put this together. The storage bin that I used is actually the same bin we use as our rice table. I just place the cardboard right on top of the rice, so for us, this is really two Sensory Tables in one! I highly recommend you do the same! I do hope you go ahead and build this simple Light Table for your little ones. Children learn through play and this sensory table is guaranteed to provide your child with endless hours of learning! Please check back tomorrow for some fun Light Table Activities!