8 Ways to Play: Bright Explorer™ Light Box - MaisonBattat

8 Ways to Play: Bright Explorer™ Light Box

 

Watch our Bright Explorer™ glow and let the good times flow! This light box is sure to brighten playtime with sensory activities, shape learning, pattern matching, and so much more.

It comes with:

    • A color-changing light box (5 color settings)
    • A sensory bin
    • 51 translucent shapes
    • 8 translucent bugs
    • 10 pattern cards
    • 4 fun tools
    • 2 transparency sheets
    • A storage container with a lid

     

    We’re shining a light on some fun, educational ways to play with this sensory playset:

    All About Shapes

    Help your child learn basic geometric concepts with this light box! Use it to teach your little one to classify, name, compare, contrast, compose (combining multiple shapes to make one shape), or decompose (breaking a shape apart to make multiple shapes) shapes.

    Start by showing your child the shape pieces and talking about their defining characteristics. For example, a square is a square because it has four equal sides, not because of factors like size, orientation, or color. Then, compare shapes, pointing out their differences and similarities! For example, a square and rectangle both have four sides, but the square’s sides are all equal and the rectangle’s are not.

    Once your child has a basic grasp of shapes, move on to the activities below! They can pique your child’s curiosity for shapes, encouraging them to look for them in their surroundings, and build their analytical skills.

    Activity Ideas

    1. Put one of the transparency sheets on the light box. Ask your child to identify shapes on it, then place the shape pieces on top.
    2. Ask your child to pick a pattern card and to copy the card’s pattern with shapes on the light box. Then, try building the card’s pattern using different shapes than the ones on the card. Your child can create their own version of the pattern (for example, building a different version of a pig).
    3. Ask your child to pick a pattern card and find the shapes they need to copy the card’s pattern. Show them the card for just a minute, then hide it from them and ask them to copy the pattern from memory.
    4. Pick a card, name the pattern on the card, then ask your child to build it on the light box without looking at the card.
    5. Pick a card, then give your child instructions on how to build it on the light box. Use names of shapes and prepositions of place (next to, under, over, etc.). For example, “Put a square above a semicircle.”

     

    Sensory Stimulation

    A sensory bin is a container filled with a variety of materials to touch, smell, and look at! It’s a great tool for developing kids’ sense of touch, sight, hearing, and smell all at once.

    Activity Ideas

    Fill the sensory bin with different household items for a rich sensory experience for your child! Make sure there is a variety of textures, colors, sounds, and scents to target multiple senses. Add the included shredded paper to the bin or experiment with other additions like warm or cold water, rice, pasta, dried fruits, twigs, sand, or flour.

    Then ask your child to use the tools to pour, pick, and move the objects in the bin! Along with building strength and coordination in their fingers, hands, and wrists, this activity can also help build their kinesthesia (one’s perception of their body’s position and movements).

    Be Careful! Adult supervision is recommended. Take extra caution when your child is playing with smaller objects, like pasta or rice.

    Every Child is Unique

    …and so are their sensory processing systems! Some kids are more sensitive and may become overwhelmed by the sensory information they receive; for example, if something is too loud or if they touch an unfamiliar texture. Other kids may need to be more stimulated with stronger smells and a larger variety of textures. It’s important to pay attention to your child’s reactions during sensory play and adjust the activity accordingly!

    We hope these activities sparked lots of laughter and learning! What’s your kiddo’s favorite way to play with this light box playset? Share with us @battateducation—we’d love to shine the spotlight on you!