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Fun and easy kids activities

Glow-in-the-Dark Drawing Box

May 23, 20136,695 views
Quick Play Ideas
Glow in the dark play : Quick play idea in a box Save
glow in the dark art Save
glow in the dark play with box Save
drawing inside Save
glow dark flashlight Save
inside Save
7 Save

by TurkeyMom in Quick Play Ideas

Ages2–8 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group

Fit a black light flashlight snugly into a hole in a big cardboard box, then let kids draw inside with fluorescent markers on white paper and watch their pictures glow. A quick, low-mess invitation to play with the lights dimmed.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Adult cuts the flashlight hole in the box with scissors or a box cutter.
  • Don't shine the black light flashlight into anyone's eyes. Keep it fixed in the box hole pointing down at the paper.
  • Dim the lights rather than going fully dark, and keep the floor around the box clear so no one trips.
  • If you use permanent markers (the author mentions Sharpies), supervise closely and keep them off hands, clothes and walls.
  • Supervise younger children at all times, especially with markers, paint or play dough.

Before the kids arrive

  • Cut a hole in the top of the box just big enough for the black light flashlight to fit snugly.

Steps

  1. Adult: cut a hole in the top of the box just big enough for the flashlight to fit snugly.

  2. Push the black light flashlight into the hole so it shines down into the box.

  3. Lay white sheets of paper on the floor of the box and set out a couple of fluorescent markers.

  4. Dim the room lights and switch on the black light.

  5. Call the kids over to check out the "groovy" box.

  6. Scribble right on the cardboard first to see how the light makes the marker glow.

  7. Draw on the white paper for an even brighter, more dramatic glow.

  8. Stand back and admire the glowing pictures.

Tips

  • "Snug" is the operative word: the flashlight hole can't be too big.from the author
  • Drawing on the white paper was so much more cool to look at and admire than drawing on the cardboard.from the author
  • We were simply hanging out in the kitchen with the lights dimmed, and she felt she was camping!from the author
  • Save it for dinnertime whining and sibling fights: dim the kitchen lights, haul out the box, turn on the flashlight and hand over the markers.from the author
  • It was amazing to see how a simple marker, a black light and a box got her excited and kept her attention for a long time.from the author

Make it your own

  • Set up a glowing play dough party inside the glow box (idea from Four Little Piglets).
  • Paint with glow-in-the-dark washable activity paints instead of markers.
  • Reuse the big box as an art studio, for splatter painting, or as a pretend store.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · May 2013
7
This week's activity is tremendously fun: glow in the dark play. We have a big box, and the other day I surprised the kids with this simple invitation to play.
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Glow-in-the-Dark Drawing Box: the original post

Super easy fun kids glow in the dark play idea. Welcome to another week of quick play ideas.This week’s activity is tremendously fun- glow in the dark play fun. We have a big box and we have been having fun with it. We have used it as an art studio, for splatter painting****, as a store and the obvious gross motor play. The other day however I surprised them with this simple invitation to play.

7 I have a black light flashlight purchased from Amazon. Click on the following image to take a look. I cut out a hole big enough for the flash light to fit snugly. “Snug” being the operative word- the hole can’t be too big.

glow dark flashlight I set out couple of fluorescent markers and a white sheets of paper and called the kids to check out the “groovy” box. Keep in mind that this is our first glow in the dark play activity. So something as simple as this one elicited a big excited squeal from the kiddos. glow dark flashlight It was great to see the excitement on the kids’ faces and to hear my 4 year old’s constant reminder that the ” marker looks really pretty” . My 4 year old started off drawing and scribbling just to check out the light’s effects right there on the cardboard.

glow in the dark play with box To give it a more dramatic look I encouraged to try drawing on the paper and of course that was so much more cool to look and admire. It was amazing to see a how a simple marker, black light and a box got her excited and kept her attention for a long time.

drawing inside

She started drawing an elaborate scene and ofcourse with some animals in here. We love animals and animal activities.

art glow in the dark

This is what she created.

glow in the dark art

The glowing effect does really capture the kids. To top it off, we were simply hanging out in the kitchen with the lights dimmed. She felt she was camping!

inside

To make play time more fun inside the glow box consider setting up a glowing play dough party like Four little piglets.

glow dough

If you are willing to risk paint ( washable paint) purchase some glow in the dark activity paints here. Click on the following affiliate to take a look.

Everything is fun inside a box you know.

I have already thought of a GREAT time to use this glow in the dark play box - during dinner time whining and sibling fights. Dim the lights in the kitchen, haul the box, turn flashlight on and hand over sharpies and may be if you get around to making the glow in the dark play dough, hand over that as well. Hopefully this doesn’t get old too soon. Anyway I really think this glow box will come in handy quite often.

Thanks for reading

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