Create Your Own Thaumatropes
Test your child’s optical abilities with this 19th century toy!
Before You Play
Tell your child that you two are going to make a thaumatrope (have him repeat the word). A thaumatrope is a card with a different photo on each side. If you spin the card quickly, the images appear as one; it's basically how movies work. Films are actually a bunch of single images, that when shown together in super quick succession, make it look like pictures are moving. Thaumatropes were invented in the 19th century.
Materials
Directions
Cut a rectangle out of the card stock. Let your child cut it, if he is able.
Have your child draw a set of colorful fireworks on one side of the card.
Now, flip the card over so the drawing he just drew is upside down. Have him draw a second set of fireworks on the new blank side.
Punch two holes on either side of the card, left and right.
Attach a piece of string or rubber band through each hole and tie it in a double knot.
Now tell your child to roll the pieces of string between his thumb and forefinger to make the card flip back and forth. Ask your child to describe what he sees. If the images don’t appear as one, your child should roll the pieces of string even faster. So, how do two images appear as one? It's an optical illusion! Explain to your child that the retina, part of the eye, is incredibly light sensitive. That’s why when you stare at a bright light and look away, you’re left with spotty vision. More importantly, the retina takes visual information and sends it up to the brain for processing. The brain figures out what the image is and what it means. Now, while the retina is excellent at sending the info super fast, there is a bit of delay. It’s small, but, it’s there. A thaumatrope plays with that teeny tiny delay, causing your brain to turn two images into one.
Encourage your child to draw other designs on another card to make another thaumatrope!
Jennifer Cooper is the blogger behind Classic-Play.com, an online resource for creative families. Her favorite pastimes include dancing around her living room, watching “The Pink Panther” with her kids, and daydreaming. Jennifer lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her husband, Photographer Dave Cooper, and two children.
Arts