One of my favorite things to keep my little ones entertained? Montessori busy boards! If you’re not familiar with them, Montessori busy boards are great educational learning toys. The often wooden boards are filled with different educational activities that are designed to keep your toddler busy, engaged and help them develop important skills, such as fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
Some of the activities you might find on a toddler busy board include things like latches, switches, knobs, and beads. These activities are not only fun for kids, but they also help with their development.
When it comes to Montessori busy boards, there are plenty of options available for purchase online. You can find them in a variety of sizes and styles, ranging from simple boards with a few activities to larger, more complex boards with multiple layers and dozens of activities.
deMoca Montessori Busy Board for Toddlers
This toddler busy board is a Montessori toy designed to help kids develop their fine motor skills with 10 different activities. We love that it’s not only educational but also really fun for little ones. It has all sorts of features like zipper snaps, shoe tying, a labyrinth, gear wheels, and more. It’s also lightweight and perfect for travel, making it a great option for long car rides or flights. We bought this sensory board for my 1 year old son and he absolutely loves it! It’s held up really well over the past 8 months, even with all the throwing and tossing around in the car. It’s been a lifesaver on car rides and can really help develop your kids fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way.
Toddler Busy Board for 1 Year Old
Another great Montessori busy board for toddlers that’s perfect to keep your kid busy. It’s great to learn and play at the same time. This Montessori busy board has so many great features like latches, pegged puzzles, a clock, and even a lock with a key. It’s made with high-quality natural wood and is non-toxic, making it safe for little ones.
HELLOWOOD 17 in 1 Wooden Busy Board for Kids
This Montessori busy board features 14 activities to challenge and entertain your child, while also promoting sensory play.
The sensory board is double-sided and foldable, making it easy to take with you on the go, and each side features different games and multiple activities for kids to explore. Your child will learn how to count, tell time, and master essential life skills like buttoning, snapping, zipping, and more. It’s a great educational toy for children ages 3 and up.
Gojmzo Toddler Busy Board
This is a great educational toy for toddlers, perfect for kids aged 1-4 years old! It features an animal-shaped alphabet on the front and back covers and more cognitive skill development activities. This 21-in-1 Montessori busy board includes zippers, shoelaces, buttons, belt buckles, alphabet, clock learning, and finger counting, all designed for basic skills learning. It is safe for little hands, and the sturdy binding ensures it’s durable and not easy to fall off. It’s also lightweight and portable, with a handle, so it’s perfect for travel, and it keeps kids entertained without screens.
Name Puzzle Busy Board Personalized
This wooden, personalized Montessori toy and a learning board makes a great gift! This busy board is perfect for kids 36 months and up and includes various activities like practicing with zippers, buckles, wood beads, and a spinning wheel. It’s also portable and great for keeping toddlers busy during long journeys. Plus, it’s handmade with high-quality plywood, so you don’t have to worry about any sharp edges.
LEARNING ADVANTAGE Crocodile Activity Wall Panels
This is a multi-sensory busy board for toddlers aged 18 months and up. The 5 panels of the busy board feature 11 different activities, including percussive instruments, mazes, rotational pieces, interlocking cogs, and more. It’s perfect for multiple children to play together and socialize. Also, it is easy to assemble and mount on your child’s playroom wall. The busy board will last for years without breaking.
POLKRANE Busy Board with LED Light, Toggle Switch
This Montessori sensory toy is perfect for toddlers aged 1-3. The busy board has LED lights, toggle switches, and other buttons that will keep your little ones entertained for hours. The best part is that it helps to train fine motor skills while being a lot of fun. The busy board is portable and great for car travel, and it only requires 2 AAA batteries. It’s easy to carry and has buttons that are the perfect size for toddlers to press easily.
Toddler Backpack with Buckles and Learning Activity Toys
This backpack is not only cute and colorful, but it also has sensory toys that help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities. It’s a great alternative to a traditional busy board while also easy to take with you. As an addition to being a toy, you can also fit all your child’s daily necessities, such as snacks, books, toys, and more, in it.
If you prefer to make your own busy board, you can easily create a custom toddler activity board using materials you already have at home or get them at a store. Here are a few tips to help you get started on your diy busy board:
- Choose your materials: You can use a variety of materials to make your busy board, including wood, cardboard, or even an old cookie sheet. You’ll also need a variety of items to attach to the sensory board, such as locks, latches, knobs, and switches.
- Plan your activities: Think about the skills you want your child to develop and choose activities that will help them achieve those goals. Some ideas include a combination lock, a light switch, a zipper, and a puzzle.
- Lay out your busy board: Once you’ve chosen your materials and activities, lay everything out on the board to get a sense of how it will look and function. You can use glue, screws, or velcro to attach the items to the board.
- Test it out: Before you give the busy board to your child, test it out yourself to make sure everything is working correctly and that there are no sharp edges or loose pieces.
Benefits of using Montessori busy boards
Develops fine motor skills: The various activities on the sensory board, such as locks, latches, and knobs, help your young child develop their fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks like writing, drawing, and buttoning clothes.
Encourages problem-solving: Montessori busy boards are designed to be challenging but not frustrating, which helps your child develop problem-solving skills as they figure out how to complete each activity.
Boosts creativity: Busy boards encourage children to use their imaginations and come up with new ways to interact with the activity board toy, which can help boost their creativity and innovation skills.
Improves hand-eye coordination: As your child manipulates the various items on the board, they are also improving their hand-eye coordination, which is essential for tasks like catching a ball or tying their shoes.
Enhances cognitive development: Sensory busy boards engage your child’s brain and can help enhance their cognitive development, including memory, attention, and concentration.
So if you’re looking for a way to keep your kids entertained and help them develop important skills at the same time, I can highly recommend trying out a Montessori busy board. Your kids will have a blast, and you’ll love watching them learn and grow!
We also like other sensory toys for toddlers you can have a look at.
