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DIY Activity Wall For Toddlers, Kids, & More (With 20 Fun Board Ideas)

Build an EASY DIY Activity Wall Board for your toddlers, little kids, or teens. And, I have 20 fun board ideas to customize it to your kids!

DIY Activity Wall Board

I recently shared the big reveal for my little boys bedroom makeover. I absolutely love their room now. And, this DIY wall activity board is one of my favorite projects in the room!

I went for an extra long DIY activity wall with 3 different sections to keep my boys busy. In fact, mine is about 8′ long. But don’t worry, you can adjust the build size to fit your space and design.

You can also mix and match your own activity board sections to make it fun for your kids. My guys are little, so a Lego Board, Magnet Board, and Peg Board work great for them now.

Image of a DIY Activity Wall for toddlers, kids, teens, and adults. For a post with 20 DIY activity wall ideas and steps to make a DIY activity boards for kids or a DIY busy board.
For toddlers, they can make little scenes with magnets or use letters to learn ABC’s and simple words.

When they’re a bit older I can change things up, give them a Basketball Hoop next to a Velcro Ball Target. Or I can add some marble run pieces to their magnet board.

In fact, you can make this activity wall for toddlers, little kids, big kids, and teens. And, easily change out the sections as they grow and their interest change.

You can even turn this into a family notice board and scheduler. Before we get to the build steps, let’s go over some possible DIY activity wall ideas.

Image of a DIY Activity Wall for toddlers, kids, teens, and adults. For a post with 20 DIY activity wall ideas and steps to make a DIY activity boards for kids or a DIY busy board.
I LOVE this DIY activity wall busy board for toddlers and kids.

20 Activity Wall Ideas For Toddlers, Kids, Teens & Adults

Here’s the 20 activity board ideas that I came up with. BUT, I’m sure you can think of some that I missed that would be awesome for any age groups.

Don’t forget, you can hang this wall activity board in any room you’d need it; bedrooms, a Kitchen, Home Office, Mudroom, or Family Room too.

  1. Lego Board
  2. Magnet Board
  3. Peg Board
  4. Cork Board
  5. Chalkboard
  6. Dry Erase Board
  7. Photo Board
  8. Marble Run
  9. Sticker Collection
  10. Light Board
  11. Velcro Ball Target
  12. Mini Basketball Hoop
  13. Nerf Target Board – Similar to my DIY Nerf Gun Target – Homemade Kids Game
  14. Collage Board
  15. Calendar or Planning Board
  16. Craft Supply Storage Board
  17. Felt People Story Board
  18. Brag Board
  19. Chore Board
  20. Nightly Meal Plan

I hope that gives you some good options. Now, let’s get this build started!

Image of a DIY Activity Wall for toddlers, kids, teens, and adults. For a post with 20 DIY activity wall ideas and steps to make a DIY activity boards for kids or a DIY busy board.
Don’t forget to save this DIY activity wall board tutorial.

How to Build a DIY Activity Board

Materials Needed

  • Wood Glue (I used this glue)
  • Brad Nailer with 1 1/4″ Brad Nails
  • Kreg Jig and screws
  • Miter Saw and Circular Saw
  • Wood Filler
  • Paint, I used Behr’s Castle Path Latex
  • Stain, I used Minwax’s Golden Oak
  • A Good Water-Based Polyurethane
  • 1×2″ & 1×4″ Select Pine or Poplar
  • 1×3″ Cedar Boards
  • Lattice Boards – Unfinished if Staining, Primed if Painting

Build Notes

Certain types of activity boards will have a DEFAULT SIZE, so it’s best to plan ahead. For example, the Lego Base Plates come in a standard size. You might want to plan the frame to fit around a certain number of base plates.

Also, you can buy pre-made chalkboard, peg board, plywood, and dry erase board in 2′ x 4′ segments at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. SO PLAN AHEAD for the best layout and sizes on your sections.

Build Steps

Step 1

Start by building the inner frame of the Activity Board. Cut your 1×3’s on a Miter Saw. I used 2 – 8′ long Cedar boards and 4 – 19 1/2″ Cedar boards for mine. Then drill 2 pocket holes on each end of the 4 – 19 1/2″ boards with a Kreg Jig.

Step 2

Then sand the boards smooth with 150-grit sandpaper. It’s easier to sand something this big before assembling it.

A Kreg Clamp in a pocket hole on a cedar 1x3 board. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
I’m using my super handy Kreg Right Angle Clamp to keep the boards tight and straight while I screw through the pocket holes to connect these boards.

Step 3

Glue and clamp your short boards in place before screwing them together. Assemble the whole inner frame.

Step 4

Wipe the boards clean and stain this frame. When using both stain and paint on a project, it’s easier to get a perfect look by staining and painting the pieces separately.

Cedar frame built. Now, I'm attaching the painted outer frame. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
I used Cedar for the inner frame on this DIY Activity Wall. And painted Pine for the outer frame. You can also use Poplar.

Step 5

Then cut, sand, and paint the outer 1×2 & 1×4 frame boards. Double-check for exact measurements on the outside of the frame you just built. I used 1 – 8′ long and 2 – 25″ long 1×2 boards. And 1 – 97 3/4″ long 1×4 for the bottom shelf.

Step 6

Once the stained and painted boards are dry, glue and nail the outside frame to the inner frame. I used 1/4″ thick plywood board as a spacer to create a gap behind the inner frame.

This gap creates enough space for you to attach the activity boards you picked.

BUT IF YOU PICK A THICKER activity board material, or if you want to use peg board storage organization attachments, you’ll need to adjust your gap to give enough room behind the inner frame.

A 1x2 painted with Behr's Castle Path, next to a cedar board stained with Minwax Golden Oak. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
I attached the outer 1×2 frame with a 1/4″ gap behind to attach the activity boards. You can increase that gap if you need more space for your DIY activity wall boards.

Step 7

Cut, sand, and paint the Lattice Board that wraps around the bottom shelf. I used 2 – 3 3/4″ boards for the sides and 1 – 98 1/4″ piece for the front.

Again, double-check for exact measurements on the outside of the frame you just built. I’m a big fan of double-checking all of my measurements.

Attaching lattice board painted Behr's Castle Path to a Cedar frame. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
Attaching the lattice around the shelf so that all of the little toys don’t fall off of the shelf on this DIY Kids Activity Wall Board.

Step 8

Once the painted lattice boards are dry, glue and nail them around the 1×4 shelf.

Step 9

You can apply your polyurethane to the whole build now. I use a couple coats when it’s something my boys will play with. They like to bang things up a bit. 😉

Step 10

Finish and attach your activity boards to the back of the inner frame with screws, so they can be easily removed later.

The french cleat over the magnet board. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
The French cleat over the magnet board.

Step 11

Hang the board with appropriate weight wall anchors or French cleats that can hold the weight of your DIY Activity Wall Board.

I actually went the extra cautious route and used 2 French cleats that could have held the wait with just one. But, I always go with caution when I build something for my kids. I didn’t want this heavy wood falling on my guys.

Pegboard notched out beneath the french cleat and attached to a Farmhouse style frame. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
I notched out the pegboard to make sure the metal French cleat would work properly here.

ALSO, I used 2 – 3M Velcro Command Strips on the bottom of the board to prevent the kids from lifting the bottom off the wall. Those command strips keep the board tightly secured to the wall. I actually use this trick a lot.

You can see it on the DIY Light Clip Display Board in their bedroom, the the 1-Day Bookshelf Build in the Office, and in my post about How to Replace or Fix Broken Valance Clips on Blinds .

The back of this big kids activity wall has 2 french cleats and 2 velcro command strips to secure it to the wall. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
The yellow arrows point to the French cleats. The pink arrows point to the 3M Velcro Command Strips.

Our Finished DIY Activity Wall For Toddlers

Now, let me show you some of the fun details on our DIY wall board for kids!

A closer look at the Lego Board my son has been loving. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
A closer look at the Lego Board my son has been loving. The shelf makes spreading out the Legos so easy!

My little guy loves playing with the magnets. I made most of the wood magnets with pre-painted wood shapes from Hobby Lobby, superglue, and round Earth magnets.

Image of a small kid playing at a DIY Wood Kids Activity Board.
My youngest is a big fan of the Magnet Board.
Wood and geometric kids magnets on a DIY Magnet Board. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
My 2-year old loves building 3D structures with those geometric magnet blocks too.
Colorful DIY pegs made from dowels in a painted pegboard. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
For the peg board, I made those colorful pegs with dowels from Lowe’s and my acrylic paints. I gave them a coat of glossy Mod Podge to make them shiny.
A pegboard with colorful pegs to make designs and bins for basketball hoops. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
I used a couple pegboard hanging brackets to turn these storage bins into ‘basketball hoops’ for little plastic balls.
The full board with the planes, balloons, and clouds I added. Build a fun DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. With 20 Ideas for board options that work for kids, teens, and adults. #ModernFarmhouse #KidsFurniture #DIYKids #AbbottsAtHome
This wall is so fun with the activity board, the vinyl airplanes and clouds, and the 3D Paper Hot Air Balloons. You can read more about the whole wall on the big reveal for this boys bedroom makeover.

More DIY Projects For You

Check out 16 Ways to Repurpose an Open Formal Living Room for some creative ways to use that space!

Image that says "16 Ways to Repurpose an Open Formal Living Room".

You might also love this beautiful DIY Kids Play Kitchen with lots of storage and interactive fun.

Front view of this DIY Play Kitchen painted red, white, and blue.

This DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer is always a popular build.

Hide those ugly machines with this DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer or DIY Folding Table. Full tutorial and free printable build plans.

If you need a great little desk for your elementary age kids. Check out this DIY Childrens Desk with Storage Drawers.

Full tutorial, build overview video, and printable plans for this beautiful DIY Childrens Desk Plans with Storage Drawers.

And, up your toy storage game with this DIY Wooden Toy Storage Crate or this DIY Toy Box Build Plan.

A fun teal large kids DIY wooden storage box. Kids playroom toy storage in a open DIY teal crate and a low dresser. Build a Modern Farmhouse DIY Wooden Toy Storage Crate or Box for all of those kids toys cluttering up your house. Makes a beautiful throw pillow and blanket box in a Living Room or catch all storage box for teens too! #AbbottsAtHome #StorageBox #ToyBox #DIYStorage

Or, this easy DIY Kids Play Tent from PVC Pipes.

Plans to Build this easy PVC Pipe Tent with drop cloth cover. PVC pipe play house tent build for kids. #PVCTent #PVC #KidsTent

Feeling inspired? Get out there and make your own DIY Activity Wall for toddlers, kids, teens, and adults. Have fun! Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.

Ivory

Monday 25th of June 2018

This is such an awesome, cool fun piece to have in a child play space. You nailed this with its beauty and its creativity. My son would have loved something like this, when he was younger. Thanks for sharing

Stephanie

Monday 25th of June 2018

Aw, thanks!!! That's such a great compliment. :)

Marissa Zheng | Squirrels of a Feather

Friday 22nd of June 2018

Wow, this looks amazing! From the picture I didn't realize there was even more than the Lego board...now I love it even more! What a great activity center for kids! And maybe it would keep them off the floor ;)

Stephanie

Friday 22nd of June 2018

It does help...a little. :) Thanks so much for the nice comment. It's made my day!

Sam

Tuesday 19th of June 2018

Oh WOW!! I wish I had seen this when my son was little! He was an absolute Lego nut and this would have been perfect for him! Such a great idea!

Stephanie

Wednesday 20th of June 2018

He loves that Lego board. He'd probably be happy with an 8' long Lego board! :)

acraftymix

Friday 15th of June 2018

That's a brilliant idea Stephanie and I loved all the tips you gave regarding sizing and hanging. It's those small details that always get me stumped when trying to build something like this and half the time I just give up.

Stephanie

Saturday 16th of June 2018

Thanks, Michelle. You're comments are always so sweet. I really appreciate them!

Audrey

Thursday 14th of June 2018

What a great idea. My grandkids would love the Lego board. I think that there are several that I will try. Thank you for sharing at the Handmade Hangout.

Stephanie

Friday 15th of June 2018

Thanks so much, Audrey! I hope your grandkids love theirs as much as my boys do. :)

Comments are closed.