Now that your toddler is cruising around, they’ve really begun exploring the world around them. You’re probably ready to start exposing them to more learning experiences while simultaneously keeping them busy! What better way to do this than with a toddler busy board?!
What are toddler busy boards?
A toddler busy board is a fun way for your toddler to learn about so many new concepts, textures, and objects all in one place. You can put different household objects, toys, and materials on the board for them to touch, feel, and explore with all their senses.
The great thing about busy boards is that they will keep your baby or toddler entertained and learning for awhile! Since there are a variety of items to explore, they shouldn’t lose attention that quickly.
We all know that toddlers are pros at making messes, so this is a great way to provide them with toys without the cleanup afterward.
Once you fasten or adhere the materials to the board they should stay put. This helps to ensure that the items stay in place on the board, limiting the risk of choking or making messes with all the materials.
There are a few busy board ideas below that will give you insight on how to make them and what materials to include.
Can you make them yourself?
Already-made toddler busy boards can get pretty expensive so it may be wise to make one yourself. They can be made using your choice of board, adhesive, and objects. There are literally hundreds of options for items that you can use to make a toddler busy board!
You don’t have to be that handy to make one. Just paste, glue, or tape any items that you wish onto a board that will hold strong enough, place it in front of your child and watch them be amazed at all the new sights and textures.
For your board, you can use large pieces of posterboard, oak tag, cardboard, wood, plywood, or felt. This is dependent on how heavy the objects are that you are putting on. Adhesive can be determined by the size and weight of the items. You can use Elmer’s glue, hot glue, Krazy glue, craft adhesive, or Gorilla glue. However, I would use the strongest adhesive you have so your child doesn’t rip them off in excitement.
There are tons of different items to use when making your board, as well. From household items to toys, the options are endless as long as they fit on the board!
You can choose to have a theme for your board, such as all things soft, all things red, all things squishy, or all things that make noise. You can also just have a very random distribution of items.
Toddler Busy Board Ideas
Here are some great ideas for toddler busy boards that you can make yourself or simply purchase.
This is a beautiful pastel board perfect for your little girls. You can use colored tape or paint to make designs on the wood. Something Turquoise has a fabulous step-by-step tutorial on how to make this beautiful toddler busy board using gold hardware and a painted white wood board.
Stay at Home Crafter provides a great tutorial on the items she used and how she attached them. I love the idea of the magnetic cookie pan, keyboard, and pill case.
This toddler busy board is for sale on Etsy and offers a gorgeous painted background and nighttime sky theme. Your child can put in puzzle pieces, open locks, and bang on the xylophone.
You can also purchase this board from Etsy and choose your color theme. Your toddlers will love to make time with the clock and learning to tie shoelaces!
This is another take on the dressing busy board from La-la-llama. It is a great example of a soft busy board that packs 12 activities to help your little ones learn how to get dressed. Made of premium wool material, this toddler busy board is lightweight yet sturdy. Designed to withstand the stress of normal play, the board and the fastenings on it are soft yet sturdy. As well as having detachable carry straps, the activity board can be folded for easy carrying.
Here is another custom toddler busy board idea with a small tutorial on the blog from Craft Her Way. With door knobs, light bulbs, magnets, chain locks, and fasteners, there’s bound to be something that keeps your toddler’s attention.
Another busy board available for purchase that is quite extensive! This one has a phone, various buckles, locks, and gears.
Family Hand Man has a great tutorial on how to make this board for your toddler. It may look hard to fasten these items to a board but it really isn’t!
Your toddler may feel like a princess with this busy board that’s in the shape of a castle! Add in some pinks and purples and a few hardware items and your little one will love it!
I love the peachy colors of this busy board, but you can actually choose the color theme in this one as well There’s a little maze, locks, clock, and a few different buttons. The options are endless!
The next two aren’t necessarily boards, but more like busy boxes. This is a great way to increase the surface area of your busy board and add more items. If you’re handy, you can even make one of these yourself, but this one is even available to purchase!
I love the size of this busy board house! It literally has everything your toddler will need to explore and play. From shoe laces and buckles to gears and numbers.
This sensory board you can actually get right from Amazon! With sections including shoe lacing, locks, and bead moving, your little one will definitely be practicing their fine motor skills with this one.
Using many different wooden objects and materials, you can make a sensory board just like this!
If textures are what your cild love, a simple texture sensory board is relatively easy to make. Simply put different tactile materials in small squares on your board for this look and feel.
I hope you found some inspiration to make your own toddler busy board or even purchase one yourself! They’re a great learning opportunity and limi the mess of toy clutter around your house.
