HappytoHS Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 DS3.5 is going through a flashlight phase right now and I'd love to introduce him to the way mirrors can bend light. Is there a toy or game (not an app) out there--nothing fancy, just a way to experiment with light and mirrors--or can someone suggest a way I might make something like this for him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 In our light play kit, we had a prism, a flashlight, I think two hand mirrors (check forsmallhands.com for a small one?), a glass jar, a shiny spoon, some plastic color-mixing overlay paddles, and then some books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amiesmom Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 We played a game in a dark room with a flashlight shining in one direction and a target in a different area, each of my three kids had a mirror, they had to work together to make the light bounce off of each mirror and hit the target. They thought it was great fun! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappytoHS Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 Thank you both for the excellent ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 This game uses a laser and mirrors. He'd be too young for the logic aspect of the game at this age, but the components are really fun to play around with anyway, you can really see how the light reflects at different angles. (This typically goes on sale before Christmas, so you can find it at a lower price. We spent $14.99 last year.) http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-1004-Laser-Logic/dp/B00B5OL28Y 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappytoHS Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 This game uses a laser and mirrors. He'd be too young for the logic aspect of the game at this age, but the components are really fun to play around with anyway, you can really see how the light reflects at different angles. (This typically goes on sale before Christmas, so you can find it at a lower price. We spent $14.99 last year.) http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-1004-Laser-Logic/dp/B00B5OL28Y I found this and it is super cool but quite a bit too *old* for DS3. It is almost exactly what I had in mind, though. Amiesmom's idea is great for an intro and when sibs and/or parents are available to play, but for solo play, if I were going to do a DIY version of the handheld game but more little-kid friendly, can anyone suggest how I could I do it and what I would use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 What about just bouncing the light off the mirror held at different angles, so he could see how the light moves around the wall? You could also have him look into a mirror while holding the flashlight toward it, and see it reflecting into his face. Another related idea, you could shine the flashlight through a glass of water and show how the light diffuses before hitting the wall... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Usborne Science with Light and Mirrors Mirror activities for kids Mirror activities for preschoolers here and here (the second link is esp. good) Get a make-up compact from the Dollar Store, remove the mirror and experiment with it. Shine the flashlight on the wall and make hand shadow shapes. Put colored cellophane in front of the flashlight and change the color of light. Some flashlights allow you to twist the end and focus or spread the beam. Flashlight games and activities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I was going to suggest Laser Maze or Laser Khet too, but both are clearly too old for a preschooler. One thing we did (though my kids were older, you could adapt) was to make lots of little mirrors on stands and play with them in the dark. To make them cheaply, buy a cheapie wall mirror from Target or WalMart or Ikea or wherever and take it out the frame. Mark out small mirrors (maybe 6"x6" or 6"x4" or whatever makes sense with the dimensions of the mirror) on the back using a ruler. Use a glass cutter (these are less than $5 sometimes) to score the mirror. Use duck tape to edge the mirrors and (and this is important!) to back the mirrors as well - that way if they break, they'll stay all stuck to the tape and there's less worry of cut fingers or toes. Then duck tape on old wooden blocks to the back of the mirrors. Now they'll stand up. I have ours (most of them... a couple bit the dust) still. We turned out the lights and stood them up all over the table (our table is huge - you could use a floor if you don't have a giant table). We played a game where there was a monster (a stuffed animal works) and a flashlight. You can't move the flashlight or the monster - only the mirrors. The flashlight is a "magic light" that you have to shine on the monster to defeat him. To make it harder, you can put up obstacles all over as well - blocks or other toys or whatever. Another good thing to do is to put two of the mirrors together standing up like a V shape and put pattern blocks in between them and play around with the patterns they create. Move the mirrors open and closed more and see how it changes. Also, and this lasted for EVER when we first did it, play around with holding the mirror up right above your eyes or next to your eyes. See how the world looks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappytoHS Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Thank you Lori and Farrar. Love, love, love all the ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 We LOVE this game: http://www.simplyfun.com/PublicStore/stores/aimee/AM/product/Mirror-Mansion,765,216.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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