If you're looking for DIY toddler busy board ideas then we've got some great ones for you! Busy boards are a great toddler activity and you can easily make your own.
DIY Toddler Busy Board Ideas
Surprisingly, toddler busy boards are asked about a LOT in our Facebook group, with many of you keen to get in there and make one of your own.
There are no set rules for making busy boards - try to use what you have around the home and then take a trip to your local hardware store. Items that hey can lock and unlock, push and pull, open and close and that make noise or have different textures are what you are looking for.
Busy boards are great for inquisitive toddlers and assist with their fine motor skills and are a great sensory activity too.
How to make a busy board for toddlers?
I'm going to share lots of busy board ideas below that our lovely Facebook group members have shared in our group and you'll see that there's really no set way. It's about being creative and using what you have.
Most busy boards start with a piece of wood or peg board for the back and then various items are attached to it. Most people are adding items from the hardware store (be careful to make sure the materials are child safe), Amazon, Dollar Tree or Etsy.
Some popular items to include in your busy board are:
- Colored zippers
- Light switches (these night lights switches are great as they light up with batteries)
- bike horns
- Mirrors (use a baby safe one like this)
- Touch lights like these ones
- Calculator
- Phones - an old fashioned handset like these work well.
Some of the great toddler busy boards shared by our group members:
Amber shared this busy board idea - I love the ball drop with the pipe and the basket! The round buttons are wireless tap lights which you can find HERE.
Becky shared this busy board. This one uses a baby mirror and the Melissa and Doug latch board which you can get HERE. The addition of an old calculator is a nice touch too!
This idea for a toddler busy board was shared by Chelsea. She has used fidget spinners and a bike horn on hers.
This is a fun one from Jacqui - most of these items could easily be found at the dollar store.
This busy board idea was shared by Jenny.
Eden made her busy board to fit into a corner - a genius idea which makes storing it a bit easier.
Lauren shared her DIY busy board. I can see an etch a sketch on there along with lots of items you probably already have at home.
Maxine shared her busy board - I love the shiny backgrounds!
You can find some more of our favorite toddler busy board ideas below:
Peekaboo Busy Board - Busy Toddler
DIY Sensory Board - Learning and Exploring Through Play
DIY Toddler Busy Board - My Repurposed Life
DIY Zipper Board - Laughing Kids Learn
Jungle Activity Board - Dribbles, Nibbles & Scribbles
Mini Latch Board - Young House Love
Cap Twist-Off Board - Happy Toddler Playtime
Zoo Animal Peekaboo Board - Toddler Approved
How to Make DIY Latch Board - Little Lifelong Learners
Toddler Busy Board Supernova - Hands on as We Grow
Simple Felt Board with Storage - Best Toys 4 Toddlers
DIY Busy Board - Stay at Home Crafter
Buttoning Board - School Time Snippets
Car Dashboard - And Next Comes L
Peekaboo Sensory Board - Motherhood and Other Adventures
Boys At Play Busy Board - Design Dazzle
If you make your own busy board we would love for you to share it! Share a photo in our Facebook Group or over on Instagram - follow @myboredtoddler and use #myboredtoddler so we can all see. I might even repost a picture of it 🙂
Some more fun toddler activity ideas you might like are:
Esther Wells
Monday 25th of May 2020
Great. I actually was able to make my sensory board after reading this post
Vera
Sunday 17th of May 2020
Busy boards are great, and they are well worth the investment. My kid is still playing with his, and he is 7 by now! It really pushes the engineering, creativity, and open-ended play. I've written about the best way to build a busy board here: https://oyboystuff.com/how-to-make-a-busy-board-15-frugal-tips-for-making-a-busy-board/. I hope it helps someone! :)