By Hillary Kleck
It may seem like $10 won’t get you much these days when it comes to toys and entertainment, and especially therapy aids. But we’ve done the work for you with a thorough search of Amazon.com to bring you the best ten light toys for your Alexander Hamilton (the first US Secretary of the Treasury and face on the $10 bill).
Listed below are the Top 10 Light Toys Under $10 to incorporate light play around your home, during pretend play, and even on your clothes! We’ve also included activity ideas specifically designed for children with visual impairments for each product. Remember- there are often opportunities for teachable moments when you’re just having fun!
Light Toys at Home
Cozy up with a night light in the bed! The ultra-soft and fuzzy blinking heart Bright Light Pillow is fun for everyone. A little squeeze turns the light on then it automatically shuts off after fifteen minutes. The Bright Light Pillow comes in a variety of colors and shapes for you to choose the perfect one for your child. We also found another great bedtime pal- Flashlight Friends! Flashlight Friends are cuddly stuffed animals that double as a flashlight. Each one stays cool to the touch and shuts off automatically. Choose from a penguin, dragon, puppy or unicorn!
Like a scene from “FernGully: The Last Rainforest”, you can bring the outside in with Uncle Milton’s Fireflies in My Room. A collection of large green leaves hang from your ceiling while seven fireflies glow brightly to bring a little warmth and comfort to your child’s bedroom. A remote control makes it easy for children to turn it on and off from anywhere in the room. If you’re looking for a bedside light, check out Rainbow Over My Bedroom. Reviewers say it works great to cast a colorful rainbow in the corner of a dark room!
Who says you can’t have fun with lights in the bath? This water toy plays six different light shows for your little one to watch while she washes. Try adding lots of bubbles and dimming the lights for more fun! Love it? You can find more glow-in-the-dark bath activity ideas on WonderBaby’s Light Box & Other Ideas that Glow Pinterest Board.
Light Toys for Pretend Play
Motion Activated Light & Sound Sword
Pretend play may look different for children with visual impairments but that doesn’t make it any less important and fun! Use pretend play as a time teach socialization and independence skills, giving your child the chance to explore freely and even ask questions. Incorporating light toys can be very motivating and stimulating for children with low vision so why not make storytime come to life with these Light & Sound Swords or a Frozen-themed Wand!
Your own mini light show is ready at the push of a button. The easy on/off function of handheld LED light toys is a great way to teach cause and effect and fine motor skills, while the low hum and vibration of this Spinning Light Toy has a multi-sensory appeal to children who are legally blind. Use it for reward time or as a visual stimulating distraction during the next long car ride.
What is childhood without bubbles? Making bubbles is maybe one of the simplest activities in the way of ingredients, but for some children, the oral motor skills necessary may not be developed. Enter the LED Bubble Maker! With a push of a button, every kid can join in on the bubbly fun while kids with light perception can also enjoy colorfully-lit bubbles in the dark!
Light Toys to Wear
Keeping your kid’s shoelaces tied during playtime just got easier with these pull-to-tighten LED Shoelaces. They are available in a variety of bright colors and include flashing, solid, and color-changing phases. Wear them at night for added safety and fun!
Put light at your fingertips with these LED Gloves and make your own light show! They work best in a very dark room or outside at night where kids (and adults!) can wave them around to create a storm of colorful light streaks- a bright idea to encourage gross motor skills and movement using light play!
A similar option to the LED Gloves is a set of LED Finger Lights. With a hinged clothes pin action grip, each plastic lights clamps on the individual finger tip. Whether your child is learning to use a QWERTY keyboard or 6-Dot Perkins Brailler, these make great light play fun for focusing on finger isolation, or use them to point out body parts while you read the “Belly Button Story Book”. The possibilities are endless!
For less than $10, you can make your next gathering a Glow Party with a Glow Stick Party Pack! Crystal from “Growing a Jeweled Rose” shares an idea for a black light themed play date in her pinned post “Glowing Party for Kids: Tons of Activities” using neon balloons, glow sticks, and many more colorful ideas for children of all ages.
There are many more light play toy activities scattered throughout the WonderBaby Pinterest Boards. You can also have our dedicated Light Play pins delivered to your Pinterest Home Feed by following WonderBaby on Pinterest.
