ACTIVITY BOARD

it goes under different names: Montessori board, activity board, toddler board, sensory board, to name a few. I stumbled upon an image of it on Pinterest, and it grabbed my attention as something peculiar and fun to make. it is one of these toys that grown-ups still dig, you know. I showed it to my husband, and he immediately loved idea. our hand-made gift for Leonardo’s first birthday was decided.

we split the tasks: I went to the hardware store and bought all kinds of locks, keys, knobs, hooks, chains and electric switches – everything that could be of an interest to Leo from our every day experience so far. it helped to have an approximate list of things to looks for (I did research online to get ideas so I knew what other people used for their boards), but I also played it by ear based on what they had in store. what I couldn’t find in hardware store I did find in a dollar store around the corner, as well as we had some things at home of course.

my husband cut and sanded the board, we painted it grey as a neutral background color to go with the interior of the loft and make all the metal appliances stand out against it. the little door my husband made for the board was meant to be special: painted red (just like the entrance door to our loft, with the same paint in fact) and with an antique lion as a door knocker, which my husband brought from Italy and used for one of his jewelry lines. it’s a subtle nod to lion heads that decorate many buildings of St. Petersburg where I am from, as well as a tribute to Leonardo’s name which means “lion’s blood”. behind this red door there is a magnifying mirror where Leo can see himself when he opens it. of course, it was the first thing he did when he saw the board!

last touch was painting Leo’s name on the top. it was like signing a happy birthday postcard. we couldn’t wait to show it to him and see his reaction.

and… he loved it! the favorite items being: door, wheels, door spring, and calculator (probably because it reminds him the iPhone?). every morning starts with exploring this or that object, be that in passing or for an extended period of time.

needless to say, the board was a huge hit among grown-ups who attended Leo’s first birthday party. thus, I would add another name to the list: it is a perfect boys’ board! (because boys will always be boys)

list of items we used to create Leonardo’s board (from top to bottom, left to right):
– two-sided hook
– light switch
– set of interlocked keyholders
– cabinet wheels
– 6 screw-in hooks (with blue lacing)
– calculator
– bicycle buzzer
– window lock
– 180 degree mirror
– door buzzer
– sliding door lock
– chain door lock
– nail with a coin
– door handle w/ key
– antique key hole w/ key
– light switch
– zipper
– door w/ door knocker and magnifying mirror inside
– rotating door bell
– door spring