Light Tables 101 (featuring 101 ways to use a light table)

Welcome to Light Tables 101

Some of our light table toys set out to play with

What is a light table? A light table is an illuminated table, panel, or box. They are used for learning and exploring different educational toys and materials, as therapy for autistic, sight impaired  and other special needs children,  for artists to draw and trace on, for Doctors to view X-Rays,  and widely used as an educational staple in Reggio Emilia based schools. 

There are four forms of a Light Table, they all do the same thing but vary in size. However each form of a light table have different types, sizes, and quality as well. Plus certain light boxes are generally only for use by Doctors for X-Ray viewing. I have seen some Moms buy them off ebay and use them effectively as a light table though.

1. Light Table (looks more like a table, some are for standing up and some are lower to the ground)
2. Light Panel (sits on a table and is easily portable)
3. Light Box (more box like, usually sits on a table or floor)
4. Light Pad (similar to a light panel)

You can also use an overhead projector too, they are amazing and wonderful for playing with light too! When using an overhead projector you are not just playing and learning with light you are playing and learning with projected light, color, images, etc!!

My twins using their overhead projector

Why would you want a light table for your children? Because they are an amazing way to explore light and learn about how different materials react to being placed on a light source. Light tables are a unique educational item that can help your child learn and explore through a whole new world. For example, take a colored translucent drinking glass and set it on a wooden table. Look at the glass. Oh boy, it's a glass sitting on the table. Big deal, huh? Well ok now take that same glass, remove your lamp shade, turn on the lamp and hold the colored translucent glass in front of it. Now what do you see? What do you think? It looks pretty interesting now, right? Well this is what a light table does. It makes learning so much more interesting. It opens your eyes and your children's eyes to a whole new way of learning. 

My glass of water in front of an LED candle

This is a great website to learn more about Reggio Emilia Education

I highly recommend reading Making the most of light and mirrors if you really want to learn a lot about light tables, playing with light, and adding mirrors into the mix. It is an amazing book! I love this book and often show it to my other Mommy friends.

You can see all of the awesome and amazing ways my Twins play on their light tables here

101 ways to explore and learn on a light table

1. Light Tables  by Montessori Ici
2. DIY Light Panel Letter Cards by PAHM
3. Colour on the light table by Happy Hooligans
4. Light box color by Sense of Wonder
5. DIY light table shapes by Growing a Jeweled Rose
6. Fun with the overhead projector by Sense of Wonder
7. Art Project: overhead projector by Tinkerlab
8. Embroidery hoop and tactile letters by De Tout Et De Rien
9. Bottles of discovery by De Tout Et De Rien
10. Water Beads, whats all the buzz about by Child Central Station
11. Salt on the light table by Child Central Station
12. Our light table set up by Caution! Twins at Play
13. Constructing letters by PAHM
14. Bingo Play by PAHM
15. Create educational materials for the light table by De Tout Et De Rien
16. Skittles, Easter eggs, and light table by De Tout Et De Rien
17. Bottles of discovery: when exploration is a game  by De Tout Et De Rien
18. Exploring the light table in preschool by Teach Preschool
19. Gel Window Decorations on the light table  by De Tout Et De Rien
20. Art and light by PAHM
21. More activities for the light table  by De Tout Et De Rien
22. DIY sounds bingo by PAHM
23. DIY translucent geo board by PAHM
24. Translucent alphabet building blocks on the light table  by De Tout Et De Rien
25. RSV Vaccine/Playing Scientist by PAHM
26. And it goes to the light table  by De Tout Et De Rien
27. Broken up with the bubble wrap   by De Tout Et De Rien
28. Paper towels, color, water by PAHM
29. Multisensory, Tactile tracer bags by PAHM
30. Igloo by PAHM
31. Colored water, containers, and droppers by Caution! Twins at Play
32. Water, color, containers, and light by PAHM
33. Color - glow - illuminate by Caution! Twins at Play
34. Pretty colors by Caution! Twins at Play
35. Hexbug Nanoville by Caution! Twins at Play
36. Some things we did today by Caution! Twins at Play
37. ice ice baby by Caution! Twins at Play
38. Cutting and building by Caution! Twins at Play
39. Light, mirrors, and projection by Caution! Twins at Play
40. Nonstop Shenanigans by Caution! Twins at Play
41. Lots of light table fun today by Caution! Twins at Play
42. A glass mosaic adventure by PAHM
43. Stamps, easel, playstand, and zoo by Caution! Twins at Play
44. Bears, beads, and letters by Caution! Twins at Play
45. Light table geo board by Caution! Twins at Play
46. blocks, counting fruit, lightbox by Caution! Twins at Play
47. Paperclips, rubber bands, and hula hula tiki men by Caution! Twins at Play
48. Color and light by Caution! Twins at Play
49. Every day is a new adventure by Caution! Twins at Play
50. A little bit of this, a little bit of that by Caution! Twins at Play
51. Roads, trees, and light by Caution! Twins at Play
52. The magic of a days play by Caution! Twins at Play
53. May the force be with you by Caution! Twins at Play
54. Fun, home made light table worksheets by Caution! Twins at Play
55. Translucent silly putty by PAHM
56. Bed time disco party by Caution! Twins at Play
57. Gems, marbles, tiles, and light by Caution! Twins at Play
58. Castles, tunnels, caves, pyramids, and light by PAHM
59. A spotlight on basic skills by PAHM
60. EnLIGHTening math by PAHM
61. Illuminating art by PAHM
62. Lava lamp in a box by PAHM
63. Sands, salts, and light by PAHM
64. Through the sands of time by Caution! Twins at Play
65. DIY paper dolls for the light table by Caution! Twins at Play
66. The Andy Warhol freeze dance by Caution! Twins at Play
67. Can we build it? Yes we can! by Caution! Twins at Play
68. DIY light table games by Caution! Twins at Play
69. Bubbles and light by PAHM
70. Glitter window hearts by Caution! Twins at Play
71. Mirror Exploration by PAHM
72. Sand storm by PAHM
73. All you need is play by Caution! Twins at Play
74. Pouring, building, playing, creating by Caution! Twins at Play
75. More overhead projector fun by Caution! Twins at Play
76. A classic with a twist by PAHM
77. Exploration light table by Pink and Green Mama
78. Projected colors by PAHM
79. Light box Mandalas by Flights of Whimsy
80. For the love of rocks an early literacy adventure by PAHM
81. Light and color by Montessori Candy
82. Science on the light box by Testy yet trying
83. Water beads and light by PAHM
84. Seasonal sensory bin and light by PAHM
85. Black sand and light by Caution! Twins at Play
86. Everyday light table play by Teach Preschool
87. Full of awesome by Caution! Twins at Play
88. Halloween skills by PAHM
89. Introduction to the light box by Speech room news
90. Big giant tree of light by PAHM
91. Projected play by PAHM
92. A beautiful house by Reggio Kids
93. Ice skating sensory bin by PAHM
94. Atmosphere for creativity by Casa Maria's creative learning zone
95. Color, dancing, and Easter by Caution! Twins at Play
96. Storytelling on the light box by Filth Wizardry
97. Color mixing activity from Little Hands Big Work
98. It's always time to play by Caution! Twins at Play
99. The magic of child guided play - A light panel forest by PAHM
100. Outside Inside by PAHM
101. Life is full of hidden art by Caution! Twins at Play

Where to purchase light table toys

• Best light toys and building sets
• Developmental and Educational toys
• Constructive Playthings
• Discount School Supply
• Lakeshore Learning
• Eduzone
• Asco

Where you can purchase a light table

• Ultra thin portable light panel  *best value and most perfect distribution of light*
• Light Tracer II  *good starter*
• Large Light Table *beautiful light table, used in schools*
• Jonti Craft Light Box  *another nice one*
• Artograph light pad  *this is nice too*
• Mid sized Light Table  *this one is really nice too*

DIY light tables and light boxes

• DIY train table to light table conversion by Play at Home Mom
• DIY plastic storage container to light box conversion by Caution! Twins at Play
• DIY cheap and easy light box by Happy Hooligans
• DIY light table by The Iowa Farmers Wife
• Easy DIY light table by Tinkerlab
• Easy DIY light table by Two Big Two Little
• Our DIY light tables by Child Central Station
• DIY light table by Kass Minor

Be sure to see part 2 of Light Tables 101 entitled Light Table TOYS 101!!  view it HERE!!

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