Your cart is currently empty!
Tag: Theme-Light and magic
Counting with Light – A Glowing Math Activity Using Translucent cubes on the Light Table
Make Early Math Magical with Light Table Counting! ✨🔢
Turn math into a sensory-rich adventure with this light table counting activity! Using translucent blocks and a VIPrint Studio Light Table Insert, your child will explore numbers in a hands-on, glowing way that makes counting, sorting, and number recognition super engaging.
Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, this activity combines visual stimulation with early math learning—a win-win for playful education!
Materials Needed
✔ IKEA Flisat sensory table
✔ VIPrint Studio Light Table Insert
✔ Light source (LED panel or light pad under the table)
✔ Translucent lucite cubes or math manipulatives (e.g. see-through cubes, discs, or tiles)
✔ Dry erase markerRecommended products
How to Play: Light Table Counting Game
1️⃣ Set Up the Scene
- Put the light into the trofast bin.
- Put the Light Table Insert on Trofast bin into your IKEA Flisat sensory table.
- Turn on the light to illuminate the space.
- Write number 1-10 on the insert.
2️⃣ Start Counting!
- Ask your child to place the correct number of translucent cubes on or next to each number card.
- Encourage counting out loud: “One… two… three…”
3️⃣ Add Color Sorting or Patterns
- Sort blocks by color while counting.
- Try patterns like ABAB or AABB as they count (e.g., red-yellow-red-yellow).
📌 Tip: Use different shapes or colors for added visual interest and math extension!
Level Up the Learning
🌟 Math Challenges
- Ask: “Can you find two groups of 3 blocks?”
- Try simple addition: “Put 2 red + 2 blue—how many do you have now?”
🎨 Creative Play Integration
- Build towers with a certain number of blocks.
- Create light block bar graphs based on favorite colors or fruits.
Why This Activity is So Effective
✔ Builds Number Sense – Kids learn 1:1 correspondence, quantity recognition, and counting skills.
✔ Engaging Sensory Play – The glowing table makes math extra fun and interactive.
✔ Develops Fine Motor Skills – Picking up and placing blocks improves dexterity.
✔ Encourages Independent Exploration – Kids love the freedom to build and learn at their own pace.🌈 Looking for more math-inspired light table activities? Follow us for weekly sensory learning prompts!
📣 What’s your child’s favorite number to build with glowing blocks? Share below! ⬇️💡
Color Mixing Magic on the Light Table – Explore Primary Colors with Translucent Shapes!
Turn Your Light Table into a Color Science Lab! 🌈
Ready to wow your little one with a bit of STEM + art? This light table color mixing activity is a mesmerizing way to teach children about primary and secondary colors. Using magnetic tiles or translucent plastic sheets, kids can explore how colors blend—visually and hands-on—right on their IKEA Flisat sensory table with a VIPrint Studio Light Table Insert!
Materials Needed
✔️ IKEA Flisat sensory table with Trofast bin
✔️ VIPrint Studio Light Table Insert
✔️ Light source at your choice（puck light，or light bar）
✔️ Translucent magnetic tiles (red, yellow, blue) or translucent light table geometric shapesRecommended products
How to Play: Color Mixing on the Light Table
1️⃣ Set Up the Table
- Place the Light Table Insert on the Trofast bin into the IKEA Flisat table.
- Turn on the light source underneath to create a glowing play surface.
2️⃣ Explore Color Layers
- Start with primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.
- Overlap tiles or sheets to see what happens:
🔴 + 🟡 = 🟠 Orange
🟡 + 🔵 = 🟢 Green
🔴 + 🔵 = 🟣 Purple
3️⃣ Create Patterns & Pictures
- Let kids use the tiles to build houses, rainbows, or mosaics, noticing how colors change as they overlap.
- Encourage them to predict the result before layering colors—great for critical thinking!
Extend the Learning!
🔍 Ask Questions:
- “What do you think red and yellow will make?”
- “Can you find a way to make brown?”
- “What happens if we layer all three?”
🎨 Create Color Recipes:
- Have your child draw or write down the color combos like a mini scientist!
- Use a printable sheet for tracking discoveries.
Why Kids Love This Activity
✔ Visual & Sensory Exploration – The light makes everything more magical and engaging.
✔ Teaches Color Theory – Understand how primary colors mix into secondaries.
✔ Encourages Creativity & Prediction Skills – Inspires kids to guess, test, and learn.
✔ Perfect for Quiet Time or Group Play – Relaxing and focused fun!✨ Want more light table ideas? We’ve got tons of creative play prompts coming up!
Tell us in the comments what color combo your little one liked best! 🌈💡
Light Table Shape Matching with Magnetic Tiles & Dry Erase Markers
Fun & Engaging Light Table Activity for Kids
Looking for a hands-on way to teach shapes, spatial awareness, and problem-solving? Try this Light Table Shape Matching activity using magnetic tiles and dry erase markers! It’s a fantastic way to explore geometry, fine motor skills, and creativity—all while playing with light!
This activity starts simple and can be easily leveled up for more advanced learning. Plus, stay tuned for our next posts with even more exciting variations!
Materials Needed
✔ Magnetic tiles (various shapes)
✔ Dry erase marker
✔ IKEA Flisat Sensory Table (this is even optional)✔ IKEA Trofast bin
✔ VIPrint Studio light table insert
✔ LED light (puck light or light bar )
For best results, 6 puck lights or 2 light bars recommended.
Recommended products
How to Play: Basic Shape Matching
1️⃣ Trace the Shapes:
- Place a single magnetic tile on the light table insert.
- Use a dry erase marker to trace around it.
- Remove the tile and admire the outlined shape!
2️⃣ Match the Shapes:
- Hand your child the same shape and encourage them to place it over the traced outline.
- Repeat with different tiles to reinforce shape recognition.
📌 Tip: Start with simple shapes like squares and triangles before moving on to complex ones!
Level Up: Shape Combinations!
Want to make it more challenging? Try these upgrades:
🔺 Mix & Match Shapes – Trace two or more tiles together to create new forms (e.g., two triangles forming a diamond). Let kids figure out which tiles fit!
🧩 Pattern Matching – Create a series of shapes and let kids find the right magnetic tile to complete the pattern.
🌟 Guess the Shape! – Trace a shape without showing the tile. Can your child guess what it is before matching?
📌 Advanced Play: Trace a partial shape and challenge kids to find the missing piece!
Why This Activity is Amazing
✔ Encourages Shape Recognition – Great for early geometry skills.
✔ Develops Fine Motor Skills – Tracing and matching help with pre-writing and dexterity.
✔ Boosts Critical Thinking – Combining shapes improves problem-solving abilities.
✔ Engages in Open-Ended Play – No wrong way to explore!🌟 Next up: More light table activities that take shape exploration to the next level! Stay tuned!
Would your little one enjoy this activity? Let us know in the comments! 👇✨
Why a Light Table is an Excellent Toy for Children (And a Cheaper Alternative!)
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.
Looking for more play ideas with your new light table? Check it out here!
Trofast Insert – Light Table Insert for Flisat Sensory table
$22.00 – $30.00A simple way to explore light & magic