So, you’re getting into the
Quiet books and busy boards have
Let’s dive deeper and see how you can learn to distinguish between busy boards and quiet books that are and aren’t
Montessori Busy Boards
A busy board is a sensory activity board made to provide fun learning to babies and toddlers. Sensory play is an important part of a child’s development, and a
If you do any kind of search for “busy board”, you will find a large number of options with multiple activities on each board. In general, these are pretty overwhelming for a child and are not
Also, be aware that even if the busy board or book in question says “Montessori”, it does not mean that it is actually
That’s why it’s important to understand what Montessori means, and to know what you want from the method: so you can decide for yourself whether the busy board you’re considering will serve your purpose.
The busy boards that are the most
For example, this wooden lockbox from IFITMontessori focuses exclusively on latches.
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This wooden lacing board from MontessoriServices.com includes 2 laces and 9 wooden shapes that can be used to make patterns and designs while focusing on the skill of lacing.
This wooden
This shoe lacing board from IFITMontessori focuses on show lacing and tying skills.
This
This
Are all of these
But not being exactly
Are Sensory Boards Montessori ?
When people think of sensory boards or look up examples, they tend to come up with a board that’s really busy, with a whole lot of things going on and overloading the board. Therefore, no, sensory boards are generally not
The problem here might be the definition of sensory boards versus busy boards. Some people might say that the two terms are one and the same, but there’s a subtle, yet distinguishing difference:
- Sensory boards are “sensory,” meaning that they’re made to let the child explore the board with their senses: see it, feel it, hear it, and all these in comparison to other elements on the board. There might be velcro, a slider, and gears all on the same board, colorful and contrasting.
- Busy boards, on the other hand, are “busy” in that they’re made to give the child something to do. A single busy board might still end up containing a lot of different tasks (and thereby won’t be
Montessori ), but this subtle difference makes it easier for a busy board to lean towards theMontessori method than a sensory board might.
You might be able to find some sensory boards that are simple and focus on just one thing. In that case, you might consider it more
Another thing to consider here is that
Montessori Quiet Books
Quiet books, sometimes called busy books, are the same, in essence, as busy boards. You might make the distinction that a quiet book is a “book” and not a “board,” and maybe it’s easier to tote around, but the purpose is the same.
“Quiet” or “busy” books might be better known to parents as a way to keep children “quiet” or “busy,” but they can be even more useful if the right ones are used to apply the
Just like a busy board, quiet books that work for the
My son and daughter both enjoy this busy book that focuses on different types of buckles. We enjoy keeping this one in the car because it’s easy to lay out on their laps.
A popular
A less expensive option than dressing frames would be something like these dressing boards from Amazon. The materials are not as nice as your typical dressing frames, BUT each board does focus on one dressing skill.
Conclusion – The Simpler the Better
Most busy boards, sensory boards, and busy books that you will see are generally a little too overwhelming and are therefore not
Look for items that are simple and focus on as few tasks or skills as possible, ideally one type of skill per toy.