IKEA hack – VIPrintStudio

Light tables are a fantastic tool for children, providing endless hours of sensory play, creativity, and learning. These illuminated surfaces are often used in educational settings and at home to encourage exploration and imaginative play. While they are undeniably beneficial, they come with some downsides—mainly, their high cost and large size. However, there’s an affordable solution to enjoy all the benefits of a light table without breaking the bank.

Benefits of a Light Table

A light table stimulates a child’s senses and curiosity by offering a glowing surface that can highlight colors, shapes, and textures in unique ways. It helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Here are just a few reasons why light tables are amazing for kids:

Sensory Play: The light table provides a sensory experience, as children can explore different materials on a glowing surface, enhancing their tactile and visual senses.
Encouraging Creativity: With the light shining through various objects like translucent blocks, colored papers, or even water, kids can engage in artistic expression and create visually stunning patterns.
Educational Value: The light table is a great tool for teaching children about colors, shapes, and even basic math concepts as they manipulate various objects on the illuminated surface.

Some Downsides of Light Tables

While light tables have many benefits, they do come with a few drawbacks:

Price: Light tables can be expensive, often ranging from $100 to $300 or more, depending on the brand and size. This price point can be a barrier for many families and educators who want to provide this type of learning tool for children.
Large Size: Light tables tend to be bulky and occupy significant space, making them less practical for homes or classrooms with limited space. They are also generally stationary, which means they cannot be easily repurposed for other activities.

A Cheaper, Flexible Solution

Because of all the downsides listed above, I designed my own light table insert. All you need is a simple $3 Trofast bin, an LED light source, and the light table insert. With this setup, you can create the same glowing effect of a full-sized light table for a fraction of the cost. It’s a quick, easy, and affordable solution that gives you the flexibility of a light table without the bulk!

Affordable: By using a simple LED light (want to know what LED light to choose from, check it out here) and a my light table insert, you can create a light table for a fraction of the cost. The total expense will likely be under $50, making it more accessible for families.
Flexible: Unlike bulky, stationary light tables, this DIY setup is portable. You can easily store the light table insert and LED light when not in use, and when it’s time to play, you can set it up in a snap. The flexibility means that when you’re not using it as a light table, your IKEA Flisat table can quickly transform back into your go-to sensory play table for all your favorite activities.
Space-Saving: The best part about this solution is that it doesn’t require a specific structure ( AKA IKEA Flisat table). As long as paired with the IKEA Trofast bin, it can even be placed on a flat surface, so it’s perfect for daycare settings or homes with multiple children vying for space.