Light tables and sand painting – a milestone in early childhood development.

The light table for kids is more than just a fashionable toy. It is a universal developmental system that stimulates the creative and intellectual abilities of children. The benefits of drawing with sand are confirmed by practice. The development takes place in full accordance with the famous Montessori principles, aimed at raising a harmonious personality.

The, also called, Sensory table is a versatile activity that accommodates many ages from 10 months to 10 years and fosters developmental growth. It is more than a toy - it is a learning experience that will benefit your child through all the phases of their development.

Features of the light table - What is a Kids Light Table for?

Playing with sand is exciting and unlocks a child's creativity. However, adults often worry about the cleanliness of the house - sand is easy to scatter. But not when the game takes place on a special light table with an illuminated surface. The table is equipped with high sides that prevent sand from getting on the floor. Games use quartz and kinetic sand. Kinetic can be wet to keep its shape.

How to choose a kids light table for drawing sand

Material

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a kids light table is the material. Generally, there are four different materials: wood, LDPE, plywood and plastic.

The most environmentally friendly materials are wood and plywood.

When choosing a wooden table it is worth considering what material it is made of. The best option - conifers, such as pine. The weight of such a toy is about 4 kg. Such a tablet will serve for a very long time and will smell very fragrant, favorably affecting the human nervous system.

The size of the tabletop

On sale you can find sizes of mini-tables from 30x50 cm to professional sand tables, up to 70x130 cm.

We recommend choosing a tabletop of rectangular or square format, with dimensions no smaller than 50x75 (50) cm.

It is desirable that the size of the working surface, that is the light surface on which you draw (screen), is rectangular in format.

"Filling" the tabletop

Speaking about the "filling" of the tabletop, the presence of a compartment for the sand, the type of glass and backlighting, and the sand itself. So, in order.

The presence of a compartment for the sand is not required, but for children it is desirable. Sometimes you need a little more sand to play, sometimes a little less. For the sand not to be on the floor, it is convenient to pour it into the compartment, thereby adjusting its quantity on the screen.

Glass type - for children only unbreakable, necessarily matte, organic glass.

Organic glass (plexiglass) or, in another way, acrylic glass, only formally called glass, because in composition it is a polymeric material developed back in 1928 for the glazing of aircraft.

The frosting is necessary so that the light is evenly scattered across the screen, while at the same time reliably protecting your eyes from the light of the diode ribbon.

LED strip (LED) is used for backlighting. Backlighting is sufficiently usual - white. At the process itself, it does not affect how and the quality of the game does not affect anything.

Used quartz sand, a fraction of 0,1-0,3 mm we recommend buying 1.5-2 kg. With the careful game of this quantity is enough for a long time.

Colored sand can also draw, but with some skill. It is more suitable for applique on cardboard. In the sandbox, light-colored, almost white sand is most often used.

Light Table Activities

When the game is bored, it is enough to cover the playing surface, and the light table turns into a desk. It is used for various light table activities - from drawing and writing on the slate to board games. Time passes and the child grows. Telescopic legs of the table are designed to control the height of the surface. If there is more than one child, you can adjust the system to fit the smallest one.

The Positive Effects of Sand

The benefits of drawing with sand on light tables for children - in stimulating creativity, developing imagination, memory, fine motor skills. Also the loose material calms, it has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Overly active children become more assiduous, attentive, which increases their intellectual potential.

Drawing with sand has a complex effect, taking into account the principle of interhemispheric asymmetry. The light table is suitable for left- and right-handed children. The system stimulates both hemispheres, which in the future gives a child certain advantages - he becomes a harmonious personality with developed logical and figurative thinking.

Working with sand affects speech and writing. These areas are related to the development of the hemispheres of the brain. Additional stimulation brings positive results: children control speech, choose words quickly and accurately, and make fewer mistakes when writing, which children often make through lack of attention.

Sand and Movement Coordination

Playing with sand affects the coordination of a child's movements. The development of coordination is related to the cerebellum. Drawing on the light table with both hands at the same time is an excellent training. It is recommended to perform different movements - with one hand to draw geometric figures, and with the other - arbitrary figures. Then you can switch hands.

It is impossible to list all the useful effects of using a light table. This is an alternative to passive fascination with smartphones and computer games. The light table gives a child the joy of creativity, of getting a result with their own hands. It can have a positive effect on mental abilities, make learning enjoyable, teach a child that patience and assiduity are needed to achieve results.