Last winter I converted our train table to a light table. While it can still be used as a train table, it sees the majority of action as a light table on these frigid winter days with their early sunsets. Our clear Magna-Tiles are mainstays, and we have been amassing other toys that are well suited for light play. Here are some recent favorites (you can get two of them at your neighborhood liquor store).
1. Color paddles ($9.31 from Amazon) are great for hands-on learning about color.
2. Plastic shot glasses ($8.24 from Punchbowl) are easily stacked, and they can be glued together to create new forms.
3. This Letter Construction Activity Set ($39.99, Learning Resources) consists of straight and curved lines that snap together.
4. Plastic stirrers ($3.99, Party City) are a cheap and popular addition to our light table arsenal.
5. Plan Toys water blocks ($40.49, moolka) promote color and shape play.
(Images: As credited above)
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I made a light table using a plastic bin and Christmas lights (I lined underside of the top with wax paper to diffuse the light). My daughter is in kindergarten and learning to read, but she hates working with me on it. BUT if I turn off all the lights, turn on the light box and pour coloured salt (just salt and food colouring) on the light box and write words in the sand with my finger, she loves it! She's supposed to be working on sight words at home, and this has been a very relaxing and fun way to do it.
@Pine Tree: awesome ideas--both the salt and the way you make her sight word practice fun!
Here are some other toys that we like to use with our light table:
Sticks to make shapes and teach geometry as they get older :)
Slot translucent builders
Rainbow cubes We get something similar with lids from the office supply and fill them with different objects.