Funnel Rack

I hadn't planned on blogging about this, but I've had a few requests to.  So....here it is......

When I asked my husband to explain to me how he made this so I could share it with all of you, he said - "I eyeballed it, cut it, and screwed it all together".  So, I hope that helps if you are interested in making one. ;)  I also have no pictures of the process because he made it while my son and I were at the playground.  I guess this post just kinda stinks as far as being a DIY Funnel Rack post.  (Sorry)

I can tell  you that he used scrap wood from Home Depot, cut it/built it to fit inside our sensory table, and used a Hole Saw to drill the holes in the top.  The funnels fit snugly into the clear tubing (all purchased at Home Depot) and simply rest on top of the rack.

Funnel rack (yes, I need one more funnel/tubing)

Great for water play!

Dropping water beads into the tubing.  The water beads didn't fit through the funnels, so we just used taped to secure the tubing.

- AK (MESE, MECD)

SWING

Play that encourages gross motor skills should be a daily part of every child's life.  One way we develop gross motor skills in our home is through the use of our swing support bar and all its attachments.  Not only does this encourage strength, coordination, and an active lifestyle, but it also translates into patience, confidence, competence, perseverance, problem solving skills, etc. 
(Our swing was once in our playroom, but we moved it to the garage for a greater swinging range.) 
Here are our attachments that bring all the fun....

Our platform swing.  This swing allows for several different positions that are fun and beneficial for ALL children.  Sitting helps develop balance and trunk control and lying down is great for increasing shoulder strength and head control. Its also fun to climb around on as it swings - great for coordination and kinesthetic awareness.

 For do it yourself instructions on how to make a platform swing, CLICK HERE.

Also check out our fun SWING PAINTING post.

Climbing rope - helps develop bilateral coordination, grip and forearm strength, arm and back strength, etc

Trapeze bar and rings.  He loves to flip over the corn pit.  Building confidence, strength, and coordination.

Climbing ladder with a bell at the top for ringing helps develop balance, agility, strength, confidence, etc.

Infant swing - yes, he still fits in it.  A nice, relaxing ride.

"Regular" swing.  While he went through a fluke period of being able to swing himself using his legs, he's not doing it anymore.  When he learns how, though, it will provide a great workout for his entire body.

Chair swing - a comfortable ride stimulating the vestibular system.  Ahhhhhh - what fun!

Have you been inspired to install a swing in your home yet??  We love ours - all the benefits are just a bonus!

- 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 Sensory Swing

This is the sensory swing my husband made.  Ours is in the garage.

- AK

Things you need:

• Board (We found ours in the scrap pile at Home Depot for $1.  Its is 2.5'x21" - but you can use any size)
• Rope (also bought from Home Depot)
• Zip ties
• bath mat  (I got the cheapest I could find to fit the board at Walmart)
• staple gun

 Here is a full view of the swing.  The first thing we did was drill the holes in each corner of the board and then we cut out the circle board and drilled the holes in it (this piece keeps the ropes from caving in on the child).

 This is the attachment.  We secured a piece of wood to the garage ceiling and then secured the swing attachment.  We ran two ropes through a ring and bundled it with a zip tie to keep it from slipping.
Click HERE for swing attachment.

 A closer look

 This is the circular piece.  There are zip ties under each hole to keep it from sliding down.

 I used a staple gun to wrap the board with a bath mat, cut slits in the mat, and ran the ropes through.

 Bottom view - the ropes are knotted under the board.

- AK

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