Raising young children can be challenging, especially when trying to teach them valuable life skills with their limited attention span. We are always on the lookout for an easy peasy homeschool hack (even though we don’t technically homeschool our kids). That being said, learning starts at home whether you homeschool your children or not. While screen time may be a convenient option, there are more effective ways to educate their developing brains. Although I recognize the benefits of screen time, it’s more suitable as a short breather for the parents rather than a primary teaching method. Children need to connect with their environment, and it’s a perk when they get to do hands-on learning activities.
How Do We Make Learning More Fun?
As parents, we often wonder how we can make learning basic counting and alphabet exercises more engaging for our young ones. One effective method is to incorporate lights and touch-responsive activities. This helps to capture their attention for a more extended period of time. Who doesn’t love a good button to touch? Anyways, to achieve this, Edgar came up with an easy peasy homeschool idea to help Melianna learn numbers and letters in a fun way. Don’t worry, would like to share this idea with you.
He designed an LED powered seven-segment display that can be easily mounted on a wall or board. It assists children in learning 1-3 digit numbers and three-letter words. Each space on the display uses the seven-segment method for representing letters or numbers. All the necessary supplies can be conveniently purchased on Amazon or at Home Depot. Additionally, this project is remarkably simple to assemble.
Are you unfamiliar with the term seven-segment display? I also was unfamiliar with it until Edgar explained it to me. However, once he explained it, I realized I had always known what seven segment displays were; I didn’t know its specific name. In fact, these displays are all around us – they’re the numbers we see on digital alarm clocks (if anyone still uses those), calculators, digital clocks on ovens and microwaves, and the digital number and letter displays in older cars. In essence, seven-segment numbers and letters are everywhere in our daily lives.
What You’ll Need
- LED closet lights. A single touch activates the lights Edgar used for this display. Feel free to use any lights of your choosing. They need to be able to create the seven-segment letter or number. Keep in mind that motion sensor lights will not work. You can decide on the amount of letter and digit spaces. You will need groups of seven lights for each area. Since Edgar constructed three spaces, he needed a total of twenty-one lights.
- MDF (medium density fiberboard) (optional). Edgar used MDF to make this project portable. Feel free to mount it directly to the wall. In my personal opinion, the portability is a bonus.
- Batteries for the lights
- Tape measurer. You will want to make your marks before mounting the lights to the MDF or wall.
Implementing This Easy Peasy Homeschool Hack
To start, insert batteries into the lights you plan to use and test each to ensure they are functioning correctly. The nice thing about the lights Edgar chose is that they are touch activated. Obviously this was a big hit with the kids, and it extended their engagement time. As I mentioned earlier, motion sensor lights will not work for this project.
After ensuring all the lights work, take your tape measurer and make your marks on the MDF (or wall) with a pencil. Make your marks according to the dimensions of the lights you will be using and the display size you would like. For reference, I’ve included a picture depicting how Edgar made his marks. Yours will look different depending on the your light dimensions. Also, Edgar’s camera angle alters the appearance of his marks.
Attach your lights using your preferred adhesive once you have placed your marks in the designated locations. Edgar used lights with 3M sticky pads, which worked well for him. Depending on your child’s age and progress in learning, you can begin with one seven-segment space and gradually increase to three. For example, Xander is three years old and would benefit from one area. Whereas Melianna, who is four and a half years old, would benefit most from three spaces.
You have completed the task once all the lights have been attached. Now, it’s time to involve your child and help them practice letters and numbers using their new, enjoyable toy.
Below is Edgar’s full DIY video for a step-by-step visual guide.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this easy peasy homeschool hack to give your little one a fun activity to help encourage counting and ABC practice. It's just one of Edgar's easy, do-it-yourself suggestions to make learning more entertaining and interactive for your child. Give it a try, and let us know how it goes! Please share your thoughts, questions, or experience with this letter and digit light display in the comment section below. We would love to hear your feedback! Check out Super Simple DIY Dad for more exciting ideas!
