I love setting up baby games for my one-year old. So, here at Happily Ever Mom, we share baby activities A LOT.
I think my favorite part about baby activities is that I get to flex my creative, teacher muscles. On rare occasions, my baby is so occupied by the activity that I even get to make dinner with BOTH of my hands free.
*gasp*
It’s a total win/win.
This simple upcycled diy sensory board for baby all started because we tried another activity that failed. I’m glad that it failed though. Because this version?
This was a lot more fun!
It was an activity FAIL.
I had cut out “doors” from a cardboard box for my son to open, to close and to climb through. Well, the doors ripped down, it collapsed on my kids, and the whole thing was over after five minutes. Lovely. So, I salvaged one side of the box to make this DIY touch and feel board which was a hit with both kids!
Baby Games Materials
- Cardboard
- Box Cutter
- Packing Tape
- Textured materials: Carpet square (free at the hardware store), mirror (or aluminum foil), pipe cleaners, beads, conditioner (or lotion), sandpaper, etc.
Note: We received some free materials (the gorgeous pipe cleaners and clear pony beads) for FREE from Craft Project Ideas. We work with them, they rock, check them out!
Make this a learning game for older kids by saying, touch the star, what does the circle feel like, what shape can you see yourself in, etc.
Making This Baby Games Board
- Start out with a piece of cardboard and cut out the shapes.
- Turn the board over
- Tape your textured materials with packing tape
- Be sure to OVER tape everything (Babies are great at ripping things down…and, cats too…)
- The carpet square, mirror, and sand paper are easily attached to the back
- If you want to do the “squishy” beads, put conditioner and some beads in a zip lock bag. Get all the air out and attach to the board with tape.
- If you want to do the pipe cleaners, put something clear in the front of the pipe cleaners like saran wrap, then place pipe cleaners in a pattern, tape on the back.
Let the baby games begin!!
My favorite was poking the squishy beads, but my son’s favorite was kissing himself in the mirror.
Now that’s priceless!
If you love baby games like we do, hop on over to our facebook page and share your favorite activities on our wall.
More Baby Activities from Happily Ever Mom
Such a wonderful idea.
Awesome idea, Katie! It looks like he loved it!
Amazing idea Katie!! I love this!
This is FABULOUS! I definitely want to make one! We have busy cats and kids here too! (That part made me smile!)
Thanks so much, Devany! We LOVED playing with this!!
What a creative and cool idea!
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This is such a gorgeous idea!
Thank you, Janice!!
Great idea! One question..
What is a Saran wrap?
Hi Bridget,
Saran wrap is a clear, plastic film that I personally use to put over leftovers that I’m trying to store in the fridge. You should be able to find it in most grocery stores (at least in the US)!
Where can I get squishy beads? What are those 🙂
Anna, I’m so glad that you asked because I just made that term up!! 😂 All it is are some colorful pony beads which you can get at any craft store. I put them in a ziplock bag and squirt in some conditioner. Sealed the bag and taped it behind the cardboard. Because of the conditioner, when you push on the pony beads it *squishes.* <— non technical term. 🤣 does that help??