Building a Light-Up Speaker: A Fun DIY Project with Your Preschooler
Teaching Kids About Sound Waves with a Simple DIY Project
How does a speaker work?
I know you plug them in, and sound comes out—some better than others—but beyond that, I’m pretty clueless.
When it comes to consumer electronics, I usually know every wire that’s plugged into the TV, wall, or computer. But when it comes to how that plug actually works, I have to admit I’m in the dark.
I am determined to make sure my kids aren’t clueless and - hopefully - can even build things themselves.
For adults getting into simple electronics, Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects are a great starting point. I’ve considered a few of these projects for when my son gets older, but I haven’t found one yet that I’m convinced would be a good fit.
So what can you build with a preschooler?
KiwiCo, best known for their infant and toddler subscription boxes, has a great set of projects for young adults that aren’t overly complicated and teach you something along the way.
I decided to try the Light-Up Speaker box with my son, and it was a hit! While this particular box is currently out of stock, I did spot a few on eBay. That said, they do have a new speaker project in stock and plenty of other projects you might find interesting.
The Project
The kit starts with a breadboard and a bunch of wires. After connecting the battery, you learn how to create a circuit for an LED bulb. Using that circuit, you then move on to constructing the actual speaker.
There were a few tricky spots where I had to step in, but for the most part, my son was able to make a solid first attempt. Occasionally, I had to make small adjustments—like moving a wire one spot over on the breadboard—but overall, he was very hands-on.
We both learned a lot. We got to work with a transistor, resistor, and capacitor—three common components I couldn’t have named before today.
The kit also walks you through how a speaker works: they’re made of magnets and electric coils that cause a “membrane” called a diaphragm to vibrate and create sound waves. My son might not remember all of that, but even if he retains 5 percent, he’ll know more than I did yesterday.