How to make a homemade light box for preschoolers with 2 common household items. Great for home, in the car, playdates and sleep-overs!
A homemade lightbox is a wonderful piece of equipment to have in your daycare, preschool, homeschool or playroom. It provides a wonderful way for children to explore colourful objects and light in a whole new way.
For months now, I’ve been drooling over all of the fabulous light tables 
The other night, it occurred to me that I might be able to make my own.
I love making homemade toys for the hooligans, and I knew if I thought hard enough, I could come up with a simple way to make a light box using things I already had around the house.
This light box isn’t as large as a light table, but it works like a charm, and it’s perfect for one or two kids to gather around.
Bonus: because it’s small and light-weight, it’s portable. You can take this in the car, to playdates, to sleep-overs at Grandma’s house etc. Don’t you love that?
Here’s how it’s done. Prepare to be amazed by it’s simplicity! 🙂
How to Make a Preschool Light Box:
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Supplies:
About these LED lights:
These lights run on four AA batteries
I just pop the batteries out when they’re not in use.
About the container:
Look for an opaque (frosted) container. Something that you would store muffins or cookies in is perfect. You want one that’s translucent rather than see-through so it will diffuse the light. I found my containers in the kitchen section of a second-hand store.
How to make a homemade light box:
Set the light into the container, turn it on, pop the lid on the container, and voila: instant light box!
If your container doesn’t have a lid, or if the lid is coloured, and therefore, not see-through, you can simply turn the container upside down (without a lid) and pace it over the light to and get the same effect.
To test the light box, I just grabbed a few items from the kitchen since that’s where I was working.
For play, you’ll want to provide your child with objects and toys that are transparent and colourful so they’ll reflect the light. You can see some of the items we use here.
Small enough to take on the go
This light box is the perfect size for one or two little ones to play at. It’s small and portable, so your child can take it the car or to a play-date or sleepover.
Convenient storage
Your LED lights and all of the small items you use on your light box can be stored right inside the container in between uses.
Light Table Activities:
If you’re looking for fun ways for your kids to play and learn with their light table, HowWeMontessori has lots of ideas here.
You may also like these homemade toys for toddlers and preschoolers:
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
