TinyStepper
Parent and curly-haired toddler cuddled on a green sofa reading a picture book together

Bedtime Light Show

Create a calming DIY projector using a colander and torch, filling the dark bedroom ceiling with 'stars' your child made.

Activity details

12m–3y10 minslowindoorTorch

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather a metal colander (or any kitchen container with holes) and a bright torch.
  • In your child's bedroom with the lights still on, show them the colander and torch: 'We're going to make stars tonight.'
  1. Gather a metal colander (or any kitchen container with holes) and a bright torch.
  2. In your child's bedroom with the lights still on, show them the colander and torch: 'We're going to make stars tonight.'
  3. Turn the torch on and hold the colander over it so dots of light appear on the ceiling — do this with the lights still on so it's not scary.
  4. Ask your child: 'Shall we turn the big light off so we can see the stars better?' Let them make the decision.
  5. If they agree, dim or turn off the light and watch the dots appear more brightly on the ceiling.
  6. Gently move the colander to make the stars 'dance' across the ceiling. Let your child hold the torch if they want.
  7. Lie on the bed together and look up at your star ceiling — count the dots, find patterns, make up star names.
  8. Slowly rest the colander down and whisper 'The stars are watching over you while you sleep — goodnight, stars.'

Parent tip

Set out torch before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

This activity creates a simple but mesmerising light effect that makes the dark bedroom ceiling come alive with dots of light. A colander held over a torch projects dozens of small circles — instant 'stars.' The key is that your child helps create this, so the dark bedroom becomes a place they've decorated, not a place that was imposed on them. Used as part of a bedtime wind-down, it bridges the gap between lights-on and lights-off.

Why it helps

The EYFS framework places consistent routines and predictable transitions at the heart of supporting young children's emotional security and self-regulation. Fear of the dark often intensifies at bedtime because the transition from light to dark happens to the child, not with them. This activity gives the child participatory control over the darkness in their bedroom, which directly addresses the learned helplessness that fuels nighttime anxiety. The calm, quiet format also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, supporting the physiological wind-down needed for sleep onset.

Variations

  • Poke holes in a cardboard box instead of using a colander — your child can help make the holes, deciding where each 'star' goes.
  • Drape a thin scarf over the colander for a softer, more diffused glow that feels less sharp and more dreamy.
  • Add a story: 'Each star is someone who loves you — that one is Granny, that one is Daddy...'

Safety tips

  • Use an LED torch only — never a lamp or anything that produces heat near bedding.
  • Ensure the colander is clean and has no sharp edges before giving it to your child.
  • If your child asks for the light back on at any point, do it immediately and cheerfully — no pressure.

Want to try another?

Bedtime Story Basket

Get weekly activity ideas for your toddler

One email a week with practical toddler activities, behaviour tips, and developmental insights. No spam, unsubscribe any time.