Light Panel - Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

A light panel is an illuminated board.  (There are also light boxes and light tables - same concept, just different construction.)  Light panels have tons and tons of uses and bring an added dimension to play – LIGHT!  They are a fabulous way to optimize sensory play (and even academic endeavors - for older children)....and did you know that light can be therapeutic for some children?  Oh yes!!  Here is our article, published in an online magazine that shows the endless activities and fun a light panel can bring - 

click here:

Rhythm of The Home

 Light table in our playroom.  Light table accessories hanging on pegboard.

Click HERE for more inspiration!
Click HERE for great light panel activities!

A light panel is fun for all ages!

We have had our light panel since my son was born (for 3 years).  Here he is exploring on it as an infant.

This is RLs youngest daughter as an infant exploring and learning the color green on their light panel.  

 This is the homemade light box AB made for her daughter.  Clear bin and Christmas lights - simple.  You can add some parchment paper to the inside of the lid to distribute the light more evenly.

Everyone can enjoy a light panel/box/table.   
Click HERE to see some you can purchase. 
Click HERE to see a do it yourself version. 

Also check out our pinterest page for more inspiration.

- AK (MESE, MECD)

DIY Light Table

The inspiration for this was taken from a combination of ideas from HERE and also our own findings. 

First off... let me tell you that converting a train table is not cheap!  LOL  It is cheaper than a light table this size purchased in a store but there is nothing cheap about it.  

I am going to explain what you need to make a light table in general... not necessarily a train table.  

1.  A table -  This can be a train table, a coffee table, a table you make yourself, etc.  

2.  White plexi glass - You can learn a little bit about plexi glass HERE.  We used #2446 3/16".  This will make more sense when and if you call a plastic place.  White plexi glass is hard to come across at a local hardware store.  You most likely will have to call a specialty plastic place.  

3.  A light source - There are a TON of options out there.  I know a lot of people have used rope lights but there is a HUGE difference in the brightness of light.  Please see pictures below to see the difference.  

We used daylight fluorescent bulbs.  There are all different types of tube lights.  They vary by size and length, and can be hard wired or plugged in.  The three different sizes are

T5

T8

T12

The lower the number, the smaller the bulb in diameter.  

We used T8 18" hardwire.  We chose this set up for a number of reasons.  

1.  They fit side to side the length of the train table.

2.   I was able to change them out with daylight bulbs

 3.  I am also able to change them out with black light bulbs.  I plan on converting this to a black light table as well with a piece of clear plexi.  

4.  My husband is handy enough to have them hardwired... that way we don't have to plug 4 lights in.

When you buy the lights they always come with a dim bulb. You have to buy an additional daylight bulb.  Daylight bulbs do NOT come in all sizes, at least at Home Depot anyway.  

If making the table yourself I would buy your light source first... and then build your table around the dimensions of the lights you are using.  If you are converting a table you have to do a little engineering and find sizes and lengths that will work with what you have.  Which is not always an easy process!  

Our finished light table!  This is bright!  We can use this with the lights on during the day and still get an awesome glow.  You can still use this as a train table as well.  Just lay the train table boards on top of the plexi.  

Rope lights... HUGE difference.  

How we installed the lights (These still need to be screwed down).  My husband cut a piece of plywood to set in the open space under the train table.  Since the boards were slanted, we could just lay this in without any hardware.  

Close-up of the light fixture we used.

Close-up of the bulb we used.  

RL  

DIY Activity Table

We converted our train table into a light table a while back.  Since then we have added many different elements to the table.  This is great for people who do not have a lot of space.  There are so many options with just one table.  The best part is... the table only cost $40.00 on Craiglist! You can customize it to your own children.  Here are some of the things we created...

LIGHT TABLE

For DIY instructions on how to convert a train table to light table click HERE.  

GEOBOARD

For DIY instructions on how to make a Geoboard click HERE

LIGHT BRITE

We cut 2 pieces of peg board the size of the train table boards.  We purchased Light Brite pegs on ebay.  I think they were around 5 or 6 dollars.  Just lay the panels on top of the light table and you have yourself a DIY Light Brite!  The pegs fit perfectly.  

WHITE BOARD/DRY ERASE

You can use the white plexi glass top to the light table to draw and paint on.  Here it is with the light on.

White board with the lights off.  

BLACKBOARD

We painted one side of our train table boards with blackboard paint.  Blackboard paint can be purchased at Home Depot.  We used two coats. 

WHITE WORK SURFACE

Lastly, we painted the other side of the train boards white.  We use this surface for everyday play... playmobil, building, legos, etc.  I also glued two pieces of Lego base plates to one end for lego play... which you can see below.  

LEGO TABLE

I used 2, 15 x 15 base plates... they also sell them in other sizes and colors.  

These are just a few options but the possibilities are endless.  

RL  

Illuminating Art

One rainy day I was dying to set up some fun water play on our light panel because my son loves to mix and pour.  So.....I wrapped and wrapped it with plastic wrap for protection.  Afterwards, I thought to myself - 'there has to be a better way'.  I asked my husband to build a protective cover for my light panel - so I could illuminate my sons art, and we could do more fun and exciting things on it.  Here are some examples.  There is SOOOOOOO much to be gained from these activities - gross motor skills, fine motor skills, pre-writing skills, color recognition, shape recognition, etc etc etc.  All in all, its just REALLY REALLY fun!  - AK

This was that first day - notice the plastic wrap - LOL. Water play - we started with blue and yellow and he poured the blue into the yellow to make green

Painting with watercolors

shaving cream on light panel

shaving cream on light panel - 2yrs old

Finger painting on light panel with pilot outfit on - LOL

Finger painting on light panel

Markers on the light panel

 You can even make prints.  Here my son is pressing paper onto the paint.

 My son showing me his finished product.....only the print is facing him, not me.  LOL

Money Saving Tips and Building Your Own Furniture

If you are like me, then you don't have $300 to spend on a Sensory table or $500 to spend on an easel.  If you husband isn't "handy", I'm sure you know SOMEONE who is.  Here are some of our money saving tips.  My husband is not a carpenter, so the "directions" are the best I could do.  LOL

[SIDE NOTE - All you REALLY need for some sensory fun is a large storage container]

My husband made this sandbox from scrap wood at home depot. I think the wood cost us about 3 dollars! Have you SEEN the price of wooden sandboxes? WOW!

 These are the corner board my husband used to screw the sides of the sandbox together.  He also put boards around the top for seating.

Easel - The base is a post that was cut and sanded to a shape we liked (you don't have to do that), then a notch was cut out for the 2x4 legs and frame. He used trim to hold the plexiglass in place.  The plexiglass thickness is 1/4 inch, it's 3x3, and it's 10 inches from the ground.

 A closer look at the base.  We cut out a notch and screwed the legs into the base.

 A closer look at the trim.  We used the trim to keep the plexiglass in place.  We nailed in the bottom and sides first while holding the plexiglass in place for a tight fit - this is a two person job.  Then we put on the top wood and the trim on the top last.

 Sensory Table - top is 2'x4', legs are about 1.5' tall - but you would want to make it to fit the height of the child. The bin is a Sterilite storage container - its 22"x15".  We simply place it on top as a template, traced it, then cut a hole just inside the line on the table to drop in the bin.  I painted it white so that when we do activities with color, the true colors show.
(Another option is to find a coffee table from a yard sale or off of Craigslist and cut a hole in it big enough for a container.)

 This is the cover my husband built for our light panel.  You will need plexiglass and wood.  (I wish I had more specifics, but I dont.  You will need to build it to the dimensions of your light table or panel.  All supplies were bought from Home Depot)  The plexiglass simply sits in the frame (its removable for washing).  The frame has a lip on it (to discourage spills from making it to the light panel - but I always stand by with paper towels during water play, just in case).

 A closer look - my husband pretty much eyeballed it to get the right fit.  He nailed 4 boards together for the frame, then added an edge with a thinner board, and dropped in the plexiglass.  

 Plexiglass is removable as seen here - it just lifts out.

 This is the frame (he also cut out a notch for the chord - seen here).

 This is the light panel cover ON the light panel.

For DIY light table click HERE and HERE
For DIY sensory swing click HERE
For DIY mirror exploration station click HERE
For DIY bead maze click HERE
For DIY activity table click HERE

-AK
MEd, MECD

Playing With Light Document

We have finally finished our playing with light document.  Its 59 pages long and includes:

·    Infants

·    Toddlers

·    Beyond Toddlers

·    Pictures and links to the light activities on our blog

·    Light panel invitation ideas

·    Natural light play

·    Projected light play

·    Supplies list

We hope you find inspiration and ideas within these pages.  For those of you who requested more “beyond toddler” ideas, we hope you are pleased and use what we have provided as a springboard to even more fun ways of learning through play. 

ENJOY!
**We would love to hear your feedback on our blog.**

Total cost is $6.00

Castles, Tunnels, Caves, Bridges, Pyramids.....and LIGHT

My son loves to build.  Just to make it interesting - we added light.  There are many skills that are learned through these activities - coordination, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, cooperation, concepts of light, colors, shapes, etc etc etc.

-AK

My son has been talking about "reflections" a lot lately - what better way to reinforce that then through play!

Light and Mirrors - very cool!

"Its a tunnel, Mommy."

Adding on to his "tunnel"

Building on the light panel (and this is not my son, obviously.  RLs girls did this as well)

RLs daughter building on light panel

Using the projector in a different way. - AK