Whether you have a busy 10-month-old who’s on the move or a two-year-old fully exploring every crevice of your house, toddler busy boards are educational toys to help your child learn through play.
Toddler busy boards are a sensory toy that incorporate bits and bobs you have lying around the house into one place, ensuring your little one is playing safely and touching household items they think they aren’t allowed to touch. Saves them grabbing for that remote or shoe lying around again, right?
These children's boards are also known as sensory boards, fidget boards, activity boards or as Montessori educational toys, and they are suitable for a wide age range from children anywhere between the age of 6 months old to three years old.
Don't worry if you haven't got the things you need in the house to make a busy board or if you haven't got time to make one yourself, there are plenty of brilliant toddler busy boards you can buy online that'll keep your little ones entertained.
The best busy boards for toddlers in the UK 2023
1. SOKA Wall Element Rocket Activity Wooden Board
Description
For toddlers aged 3-year-old and above, this Montessori rocket inspired busy board will help to
2. Dinosaur Montessori Busy Boards
Description
A customisable busy board that can be made personal to your little one which comes in three
Rrp: £24.99
Description
We love the theme of this board - let your little one choose which sections of the board to play
Rrp: £24.99
Rrp: £20.99
Description
This classic wooden board will help your little one develop motor skills as well as recognise
Rrp: £20.99
Rrp: £24.99
Description
This busy board is great for children aged three and up, and has great potential to help your
Rrp: £24.99
6. Montessori Busy Board
Description
Suitable from 1 year, this customisable busy board featuring all kinds of different textures,
Description
Ideal for toddlers from 18 months, this simple activity board that can be mounted on the wall will
8. LED Light Electronic Busy Board Toddler Toy
Description
Have a toddler that's fascinated with switches? Here's an alternative that's safe and will keep
How to use the different items on the busy board
The purpose of a toddler busy board is to be a sensory toy for your little one where they can feel different textures, hear different sounds and see different colours.
There are some tools your kids can really get hands on with. For example, things like zips, light switches, fasten locks and honking horns. These will also help develop their problem solving skills.
Video: How to create your own DIY toddler busy boards
Here are 12 everyday items you can add to a board to create your own today:
• Old toys
• Whisk
• Drawer handles
• Bells and rope
• Wooden letters of their name
• Velcro
• Zips
• Ribbons
• Locks
• Light switches
• Old clothes
• Large beads
Benefits to getting your toddler engaging with busy boards
Toddler busy boards are motor skill activity centers which encourage babies and young toddlers to learn through play with items like zips, handles, wheels, string, latches and much more. Similiarly, activity cubes for toddlers also have the same effect.
Likewise, if you’ve gone to antenatal classes, you’ll know that creating treasure baskets for your child is important to help encourage sensory play. In short, these baskets are filled with items like wooden spoons, metal colanders or foil sensory blankets. These are so that your baby can experience different textures.
Developing your baby’s gross motor skills is really important and from the moment they hit six to seven months old, you may be starting to think about how you can help encourage your child to sit up, crawl and even walk.