While my son is at school I tend to use that time for errands and it’s really not fair to my toddler so today when I saw the extra string of Christmas lights I decided we’d have some fun exploring colors. This DIY light table should not be used for long periods of time, only with a parent right there at the box and please don’t let your kids touch the light strands as they have lead, and remember to wash your hands after touching them too. We only played for about 10 minutes and that was enough time for the lights to get warm so I wouldn’t play longer than that .
- Gather your materials. You will need a clear plastic container with lid, some wax paper, a strand of white christmas lights, scissors and tape. For the colors we used take and toss cup lids. No need to buy expensive color forms if you have something you can use at home already.
- Start by putting the lights on the lid, I taped them down in 2 places just so they were staionary in the box.
- Cut some wax paper and line the bottom so the light diffuses well.
- Close the lid with the cord sticking out – mine closed no problem but you could cut a notch out if you can’t close the lid with the cord out. comfortably ( you don’t want to run the risk of the cord being cut, my lid was very loose and didn’t press into the cord).
- Plug in and play.
- She LOVED it.
- Explore.
- We piled them on , identified them – I had no idea she knew so many colors, we had a blast.
Please only try activities that you feel are safe for your family, I share what we have made and done with the request that you will only make and do what your child is ready for and you can do safely.
Book About Colors For Babies
I Love Colors
Love how you thought to flip the box over. I searched high and low for a flat top when making our class size lite box. Will keep this in mind for a smaller more portable one.
Love this! I am totally going to try it with my 1 yr old daughter… though I think my 3 yr old will think this is just as cool.
When I showed my son the pictures he asked if we could go do it so I had to go put it back together .
I’m 60 years old and I play with the light box every chance I get!
I used light boxes often as an architecture student and on the job, and never in a million years would I have thought of this easy way to make one myself! Awesome!
This is the first time I have seen this with Chrustmas lights. How inventive. I love it. I have a couple of small containers like this I got at the dollar store. Now each child can have a light box. 🙂
Not all the Christmas lights have lead. We tested our 10 year old strands last year and threw them all out since they did have lead. We bought new LED lights and those tested clean.
genius!!! why didn’t I think about that!!! I love this idea!
Just tried this today and had so much fun! Great idea!
I also used those push closet lights from the Dollar Tree. I have only one in my box but think next year I’ll have at least two for more light. Love the wax paper idea. As you know the bottom works really well for “table” top. Also used colored plastic pieces found at yard sale. Like your idea of lids. Thought about cutting up plastic bottles and letting kids use markers to color and then use those. Gives them ownership of box.
What a fun idea! The newer LED lights don’t heat up, either, and some are battery operated if you don’t want a cord sticking out! 🙂