So, you want to occupy your cute toddler but at the same time you want it to be an educational activity… Then, busy boards might be the perfect solution!
Busy boards, also called activity boards, are tactile learning tools designed to help toddlers develop their fine motor skills. Not only are busy boards fun and interactive, but they can help to teach problem-solving, cause and effect, and other important skills.
Are busy boards Montessori educational toys?
Unfortunately, the word “Montessori” has become a marketing gimmick and not every product out there with Montessori in its name follows the original teaching method philosophy.
Dr. Maria Montessori original Montessori education method involves self-directed hands-on activities based on the children interests, a prepared environment, parents and “teachers” as guides, and mixed-age classrooms.
Therefore, when choosing a busy boards with Montessori learning in mind, they need to have
- hands-on activities that will develop their fine-motor and sensory skills
- activities that your toddler can perform independently
- few activities per board or leaf
- activities appropriate for your toddler’s age range, not exact age
Take these guidelines in mind when choosing a busy board or boards.
Recall that part of following the Montessori teaching method, you need to be your toddler’s guide instead of teacher. Hence, please don’t tell them what to do or take it from them to teach them how to do it. Just guide them step by step!
Best Busy Boards for Toddlers
Busy boards are ideal for kids from 1 to 4 years old. These boards help them learn focused work and practical life skills.
Busy boards can be a great stocking stuffer for a toddler. If you want more ideas, check the rest of my 25 Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Toddlers (and Babies) list.
For each busy board, I mention the range of age and pros & cons.
Guolely Busy Board
I like this type of boards because of its material, weight, and size. In addition, it has many skill activities for different ages. All in one board.
This Guolely busy board develops practical life skills with its shoelaces, buckles, shoelaces, zippers, days of the week, letters, and clock.
Its soft felted wool material makes it hard for your child to get hurt, so you don’t have to oversee him/her all the time. Nevertheless, it is very important to guide your toddler on how to use it at the beginning.
Sensory-wise it has a few other materials, which is great for your toddler because you don’t want to overstimulate him/her with many at the same time.
Pros
- The material and weight make it great for travel
- Activities for wide range of ages
- Available in 3 colors
Cons
- A strong toddler could break some parts of the board
- Puzzle pieces may get lost
Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board
Melissa & Doug busy board is a popular one that you must consider. It comes with 6 doors with different latches each.
Each lovely door teaches your toddler a color, a number, and an animal. It is simpler than the previous one and it is appropriate for toddlers 18 months to 4 years old.
Pros
- More robust board
- Fewer activities mean more focused learning for your toddler
Cons
- A large and a little bit heavy board is less suitable for travel
- Using the metal latches may need supervision
- Not many tactile activities
Freebear Busy Board
This Freebear busy board is similar to the first one but with additional internal boards.
The additional internal boards are suited for older toddlers, from 3 to 4 years old. Numbers, colors, right and left, shapes and letters are among the additional activities.
Pros
- The material and weight make it great for travel
- Many activities for wide range of ages
Cons
- Internal board Velcro pieces (numbers, color, shapes, etc.) can get lost
- Not many tactile activities
Gojmzo Busy Board
The Gojmzo busy board is like the first one and third one but with activities for older toddlers such as a clock, Velcro hands for learning to count with hands, and a colorful counting frame.
The additional internal boards are suited for older toddlers, from 2.5 to 4 years old.
Pros
- The material and weight make it great for travel
- It has an abacus and an alphabet with animals for each letter.
- Available in 4 colors
Cons
- Pieces such as laces can come out so toddlers may put them in their mouth
- Suited for older toddlers
Bestbase Wooden Busy Board
The Bestbase wooden busy board is the only electrical one in this list. It is shaped as a bus, so it certainly something that toddlers will like!
To be honest, this busy board may be great for your toddler to keep them entertained, but I believe it doesn’t have that many practical things to learn from it. And, when electronic products break down, they are more difficult to repair so take that into consideration.
Suitable for ages 2 to 4.
Pros
- Shaped as a bus
- Electronic busy board may entertain them longer
- Button and switches help with sensory skills and hand-eye coordination
Cons
- It doesn’t have a switch off to turn off all the lights
- The horn is very high-pitched beep
- Batteries not included
I like that you added the pros and cons here! Thank you!