A simple way to add a little magic to a regular construction play session. All you need is sunlight or a torch to turn magnetic tiles into colourful reflections and shadows that shift and glow as you build.
Try it outside on a sunny afternoon or indoors in a darkened room with a torch or lamp. Watch as their structures cast rainbow shadows across the floor or wall - great for encouraging creativity, experimenting with light and colour, and enjoying some calm, hands-on play.
Choose your light source: a sunny spot, or a dark room with a torch or lamp.
Set up a play surface and have tiles ready to build.
Build towers, walls or shapes with magnetic tiles.
Observe how the colours reflect and overlap on the ground or wall.
Move the light source (or structure) to see how the shadows change.
Encourage them to stack colours, experiment with angles or trace the shadows with chalk or paper if outside.
Shadow tracing: Place paper behind the tiles and trace the light shapes with markers or crayons.
Torch discovery: Experiment with different torches or light angles to see how the colours change.
Window wall: Stick magnetic tiles on a low window or fridge door where light comes through.
Snap a shadow: Take photos of your favourite colourful shadows for a DIY art gallery.
STEAM Chat: Talk about how light travels, how shadows are made, or what happens when colours mix.
