Homemade busy board for babies and toddlers

Arco loves the photos and the green fidget spinner with its flashing lights. And he really laughs when he looks at the hand mirrors, and puts his face up close to them
MFM crafter Amy Leech, mum to Arco, 11 months

How to make a busy board

We're going to tell you here how to make a busy board like Amy's one, above, but you can, of course, do your own thing, adding different bits and pieces to your board. DIY stores, such as B&Q, are excellent places to find bolts, bells, wheels, knobs, switches and locks.

Amy says she based her choice of things to put on Arco's busy board on the things he liked fiddling with most: "Arco is obsessed with switches and gadgets, so, on the board, we gave him his own, far safer ones, to play with.

Arco’s not yet figured out the lock and chains yet but I have no doubt that he’ll get there soon. The busy board has definitely helped entertain him for a good while each day
MFM crafter Amy Leech, mum to Arco, 11 months

You will need:

A piece of ready-cut wood
Paint (1 colour or more) and a paintbrush
2 empty baby wipe packets with liftable lids
Scissors
2 family photos
Pencil
An electric drill
Short screws
Superglue
Gadgets, including a baking tray, a door lock and chain, a small calculator, an LED light, a fidget spinner, a light switch, a buckle and strap, a door bolt, a drawer knob, a zip, a wheel on a castor, acrylic mirrors,
Magnetic letters
Stickers to decorate (optional)

How to make it:

Paint your piece of wood.
While the paint is drying, cut the lids off the wipe packets, and trim the family photos so that they'll fit into the area under the flap – so that when the flap is lifted, you can see the picture.
Once dry, take the wood and lay out all your bits and pieces on it and roughly mark, with a pencil, where they will go. If you like, you can also paint different coloured circles, squares and rectangles where each gadget will sit – as Amy has.
Once you’re happy you have placed everything where you want it, either glue your gadgets firmly onto the board or fix them firmly with a drill and screws. Make sure you add your family photos under the wet wipe flaps, before gluing them down.
Decorate the finished board with stickers, if you wish.

And there you have it! Do make sure everything is firmly attached before you hand the busy board over to your child – and, for obvious health and safety reasons, always stay with your child as they play with it.