DIY Activity: An optical illusion at your fingertips

Team StoryWeavers|July 09, 2020, 09:57 IST| 12

Are you browsing for indoor activities to keep your little ones engaged? Well, you are in the right place. We have an interesting DIY activity that you can do with your child and have lots of fun in the process. 

Let’s learn to make a ‘thaumatrope(pronounced Thaw-Ma-Trope). Considered as the great-grandfather of modern-day animation, thaumatrope is an optic toy that is based on the concept of the optical illusion of ‘persistence of vision – where many closely spaced still images appear to be a moving whole – just like any cartoon on the television. 

The thaumatrope is a perfect combination of science and craft – an activity through which your children can learn and play simultaneously.

Thaumatrope facts

DIY Thaumatrope Materials

DIY Thaumatrope

Thaumatrope On A StickYou can also modify this thaumatrope and make a stick thaumatrope. All you have to do is replace the two rubber bands with a straw or a chopstick and a tape.

Follow the same procedure from steps 1-7. Align the straw with the circle and tape it at the edge of the circle. Your stick thaumatrope is ready to use. All you need to do is give it a nice twist in between your palms.

Children are always curious! They ask a lot of questions and are keen to learn from their surroundings. This activity is a great way to keep them engaged while introducing them to the world of animation. 

Tell us about your experience of making a thaumatrope with your child. 

About the Author


Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!