With all sorts of toys on the market, and many of them claiming to help with children’s development, it can be difficult assessing which are actually valuable to your child’s growth. But parents don’t need to spend a fortune on educational toys and activities for their children.
In fact, the best toy may be one you can make at home with supplies you already own – a busy board. A busy board, also known as a sensory board or activity board, is a developmental toy comprised of everyday objects. It provides young children, particularly babies, to experiment with things that interest them in a safe but fun way. It’s a way to expose them to new textures through household items that they will often try to grab when they see them. They can include anything from zippers, magnets, switches, gears, tubing, and nuts and bolts – just make sure they’re child-friendly and secured to the board! The best thing is that few busy boards are the same. Since parents can easily recreate a busy board at home, it means they can tailor it to their child’s interests and skill level.
Busy boards are incredible resources that can help promote early childhood development, which refers to the healthy development of children ages 0-3. Sensory boards are important for enhancing both cognitive development, in terms of brain growth, language development, and social interactions, amongst other things, as well as physical development, such as strengthening the muscles used to interact with objects. Below, we discuss some of the specific benefits of busy boards and why you should try recreating one at home if your child already doesn’t have one.
It Can Promote Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills refer to the coordination of small muscles in movement, usually referring to the fingers and hands. It takes time for babies and even toddlers to learn how to properly use their hands, but given the plethora of opportunities a busy boards grants children to touch new objects and feel different textures, it can greatly aid in developing these skills, improving hand and eye coordination, and of course, building up finger and hand strength.
"Among the basic skills busy board can teach are hand-to-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving, cause-and-effect understanding, gross motor skills such as standing and pulling," Vera Karimova, the creative mind behind Easy Busy Boards, recently told BabyGaga. "As babies grow, they start to build up imaginative play using switches, tumblers, and buttons. Other elements can be helpful in encouraging speech development, social skills, and lengthening the attention span."
It Encourages Imagination & Open-Ended Play
It may be a wonder to adults how children can stay so focused on a busy board, but just remember young children haven’t seen or felt many of the items that can be included on a busy board, whether it be a piece of string, a door knob, or a hinge that they can open and close. This provides them the perfect opportunity to get creative and imaginative while playing, thereby encouraging your child’s creativity and open mindedness.
It Refines Problem-Solving Skills & Improves Memory
Another important skill that busy boards can develop are those of problem solving. Busy boards should include interactive elements that children have to “solve” – whether it be how to turn a doorknob, ring a bell, or open a latch. All of this will teach your child to think outside the box and improve their brain development. Encourage them to keep trying to solve something rather than simply showing them the way to do it.
"Sensory experiences are important because they aid the cognitive development by introducing baby to de-coding what their senses bring," Karimova further explained. "Exploring various textures and motions helps brain to grow new connections between cells. The complexity of these connections is actually what stands behind the level of creative thinking and intelligence in humans."
"From the practical side, activity board sets up a safe exploration hub for baby. Busy boards encourage curiosity and turn it into self-sufficiency," Karimova continued. "Imagine your toddler locks themselves in the bathroom. You will probably freak out less if you know they’ve had this little training before."
It Teaches Kids About Sensory Attributes
Learning about new textures and characteristics, even just of everyday items, greatly helps expose your child to things in their environment. They’ll learn about different sensory attributes, like different types of textures. As they get older, ask them to describe what they feel to further aid in their learning process.
It’s A Stress-Free Toy For Parents, Too
The fact that it can aid in your child’s development should be reason enough to create a busy board. However, there are other advantages that extend beyond what it can do for your child. Busy boards are a great resource for parents for several reasons.
For one, it’s a no mess toy that can be easily stored; since everything is on the board, simply tuck it away in a closet or even under a bed. There won’t be a million pieces to pick up. It’s also budget-friendly. Parents may want to pick up a couple things, especially a board to construct the frame out of. But for the most part, parents can utilize objects they have laying around the home, making it one of the least expensive toys your child is likely to own.
Finally, it gives parents peace of mind. Not only can it provide children with entertainment for hours on end – this is especially important for parents working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic – but since all of the pieces are securely attached to the board, there’s no risk of choking or other injuries. While parents should always monitor their child as they play, parents can rest assured that a busy board is a much safer option for children than toys with little pieces. Just make sure the busy board is either laid flat on the ground or securely mounted to the wall to avoid it tipping over.
Sources: Primo Supplies, Easy Busy Boards, Harvard University – Center on the Developing Child, Bizzebee, Illumination Foundation of North Carolina,