How to make an activity board and what components to use

With the youngest children, you can usually win them over with the simplest little thing. They love cables, keys and switches, so why not get them something like that? Activity boards are very popular and also safe. They are often even cheaper than many ordinary toys, and they keep toddlers and pre-schoolers busy. So why not give one a try?

What is an activity board

It is an unusual toy that not only keeps a child entertained but also supports their development in many ways. We mean mainly fine motor skills, movement coordination and logical thinking. It is a board full of various everyday objects that have been suitably adapted so that the youngest children can use them safely.  

You may also come across names such as busy board and sensory board. All these names for the toy clearly describe its purpose and function. What does that mean in practice? Simply that a board like this will hold your children’s attention for a long time and engage their senses, while you can get on with something else. The main advantage is that sight takes in the overall look, colours and movement, touch explores surfaces and shapes, and hearing tests the sounds the objects make.

Which components to choose

Anything at all. As we have already mentioned, don’t be afraid to use:

• wires

• cables

• switches

• bells

• zips

• carabiners

• a horn

• whistles

• strings

• shoelaces

• a kitchen timer

• small doors

• a lock or key

• an abacus or an unwanted calculator

Really, anything at all. To make this toy, you don’t need anything you would have to hunt for in specialist shops. Small items you have at home but no longer use are perfectly sufficient. To begin with, however, you need a suitable base to which you can fix everything securely.

And what is the ideal material?

Would you like to make a play board, for example? In that case, wood is used most often. The board should, however, be sanded smooth, without sharp edges and corners, and ideally coated with an adhesive clear wood varnish that is guaranteed safe for children’s toys. Thanks to the varnish, the board will not only last longer but there will also be no risk of a fibre coming loose from its surface and giving the child a splinter. I recommend applying one coat, lightly sanding with fine sandpaper and then applying a second coat. This creates a perfectly smooth, durable surface. Peeling varnish is not a risk here, even if the child deliberately tries to make it happen.

You can also choose a larger board, but in that case leave it lying on the floor or fix it securely to the wall. Otherwise it could tip over onto its small user while being handled. Or you can have fun making a wooden cube. The method stays the same, you will just need six smaller boards joined together neatly (using countersunk screws, dowels and glue, etc.)

Arrange the chosen pieces on the board and fix them firmly, ideally with screws or strong glue. Remember that every part will be pulled, and everything will be yanked and shaken. So secure every small item so that it doesn’t get lost and the child can’t put it where it doesn’t belong.

Activity board house

It is very similar to the board. The material is entirely up to you, but if you have some wooden planks lying around at home, a house like this looks noticeably nicer. Don’t forget to fit in all the elements, such as puzzles, mazes, drawers, gears or zips. The more creative, the more fun. And after a building spree like this, you can move on to building a bumblebee house.

An activity board is ideal for small children. You can also buy various books, boards and more. Just bear in mind that they are not cheap. Yet it takes so very little to make a present your child will love.