TinyStepper

Brave Hands Torch Drawing

At a glance: Use a torch to draw shapes and letters on the walls and ceiling in a darkened room — turning the dark into a canvas for play. A 10-minute, low-energy indoor activity for ages 19m–4y.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 19m-4y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

19m–4y10 minslow energyindoornone mess

Dim the lights and give your child a torch. Show them how to 'draw' on the ceiling — circles, zigzags, letters, faces. Suddenly the dark is not something to endure but something to play with. The torch gives your child power over darkness: they control the light, they choose where it goes, and they discover that dark rooms are full of possibility when you bring your own light.

Best for this moment

for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

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

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in body awareness.

More help for this situation

Instructions

Get ready
  • Close curtains and dim the room — not completely dark at first. Have a torch ready.
  • Turn on the torch and demonstrate: 'Watch! I can draw on the ceiling!' Make a big circle of light.
  1. Close curtains and dim the room — not completely dark at first. Have a torch ready.
  2. Turn on the torch and demonstrate: 'Watch! I can draw on the ceiling!' Make a big circle of light.
  3. Hand the torch to your child: 'Your turn! Can you draw a circle?'
  4. Call out shapes: 'Draw a zigzag! A big letter S! A smiley face!'
  5. Play chase: your torch draws one thing, their torch tries to catch it — the lights dance across the ceiling.
  6. Make shadows with your hands in the torch beam — a rabbit, a dog, a bird.
  7. Gradually make the room darker as your child becomes more confident: 'The darker it gets, the brighter your torch shines!'
  8. End by pointing the torch at the ceiling and saying: 'You are the light-bringer. The dark is not scary when you have your torch.'

Why it helps

Systematic desensitisation — gradually increasing exposure to a feared stimulus while pairing it with a positive experience — is the evidence-based approach to childhood fears recommended by paediatric psychologists. By giving the child a torch, you put them in control of the light, which directly addresses the helplessness that underpins fear of the dark. The playful context creates a positive emotional association with darkness that competes with and gradually replaces the fear response.

Variations

  • Tape coloured cellophane over the torch to project different colours — red, blue, green light on the walls.
  • Play 'torch tag' — you shine your light on the wall, your child tries to catch your spot with their light.
  • Trace your child's hand shadow on paper pinned to the wall — a brave handprint they can keep.

Safety tips

  • Use LED torches only — they do not get hot. Filament torches can burn if held against skin.
  • Do not shine torches directly into eyes — show your child to point at walls and ceilings, not faces.
  • If your child becomes distressed at any point, turn the main lights back on immediately. Never push exposure beyond their comfort zone.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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