This DIY Hardware Busy Board for toddlers tutorial is a sponsored post on behalf of SocialStars and Playskool. #PlayskoolCrew

With an inquisitive and free spirited toddler boy running around my house all day, I am always looking for toys to keep him busy.  Not only do I want to keep him preoccupied, but I also want him learning.  One of the best learning tools for kids is toys that show them cause and effect, how things work, you push that-this happens type of thing.  The Playskool Roll ‘n Gears Car has been such a hit in my house lately, it inspired me to create a DIY Busy Board with more how-things-work play!

The Playskool Roll ‘n Gears Car is a portable toy car that contains 5 colorful gears.  When your baby/toddler spins one, it causes all of them to spin.  They can also pull the gears off and rearrange them or stack them high.  Close it up, and it becomes a car to drive!

Like the other Playskool toys I have been sharing, this is a stow and go style toy.  Every part has a home within the toy and closed, the parts stay in place.  Compact as it is, you can throw this toy in your diaperbag, stroller or car for any destination.  Having a few of these portable toys around can be quite important with busy, easily distracted toddlers.

For today’s DIY busy board, I decided to go with hardware: locks, bolts, knobs and the like.  Gabriel really loves these items in our home, so I knew this style of busy board would be a success.  I simply headed to a local home improvement store and searched down the hardware aisles for easily attached items.  I ended up purchasing these:

• door knob without locking mechanism
• door stopper
• carabiner
• handle
• zipper
• barrel bolt
• chain lock
• caster
• door hinge (not used because I ran out of space)
• burlap + button

Since my son loves cars, I also decided to make a little road at the bottom where he could move cars and signs around from place to place.  This was an easy addition (and a huge hit) and all you need for this part is:

• wooden cars and signs (these came in a package as a threading game)
• peel & stick Velcro ovals
• black felt
• rick rack or other ribbon
• hot glue gun

This isn’t the lightest busy board, so it is definitely an at-home thing.  I’m thinking about screwing it to the wall, but it works sitting on a child’s lap or propped up against a wall just as well.  For sure, when you are on the go, you’re going to want to reach for your Playskool Roll ‘n Gears Car instead!