Here for every stage from bump to baby and beyond

5 Ways to Boost Child Development

5 Ways to Boost Child Development 5 Ways to Boost Child Development

5 Ways to Boost Child Development

A Collaboration Between Ace Parenting Club + Jess Founder Of Busy Little Brains

As parents of two very active little ones, we know just how tricky it can be to keep them engaged without resorting to screens or spending a fortune. That’s why we were so excited to try out the Busy Little Brains monthly activity packs – and they didn’t disappoint.

Created by Jess, a creative mum of two, these digital packs are filled with low-prep, low-mess and low-cost activities that are genuinely fun (and educational too). Inspired by her own experience of trying to find exciting and engaging activities for her own children as they began school or nursery. Jess has designed each pack to support children’s development through playful learning – all linked to the EYFS and KS1 curriculum.

Here are five of our favourite activities from the pack, all of which were a hit in our house:

1. Berry Sorting

This was a big hit, especially after we picked some fresh blackcurrants and strawberries from the garden. Sorting the berries gave us a brilliant chance to explore language development – we talked about appearance, texture, taste and differences between the fruit. It is also a great way to introduce new fruits to the children in a fun, no-pressure way. It’s a lovely sensory activity with a naturally maths- and language-rich focus.

Berry Sorting

Berry Sorting to help child development

2. Bee Finger Painting

Our garden has been buzzing with bees lately, so this activity felt really timely. Using finger painting and pens to create bee designs worked wonders for our children’s fine motor skills. Painting a finger carefully and using pens for the bee stripes both supported hand-eye coordination and concentration – without too much mess!

Bee Finger Painting

Bee Finger Painting

3. Leaf Rubbing

We often collect interesting leaves when we’re out walking, and this gave us the perfect excuse to use them creatively. The children loved experimenting with wax crayons to explore different textures and patterns, we also had a great chat about leaf shapes and identifying trees by their leaves. It sparked their curiosity about the seasons and colour changes which led to a lovely conversation about how leaves make food for trees. A brilliant, open-ended art and nature activity!

Leaf Rubbing

Leaf Rubbing for child development

4. Ladybird Rock Painting

If you’ve also got a rock collection building up by the front door (guilty!), this one’s for you. We used acrylic paint pens to turn our stones into colourful ladybirds – it was fun, creative, and surprisingly therapeutic. As well as playing around with colour, we added a bit of maths by making the dots symmetrical. It’s a great little craft to enjoy with children of different ages and a lovely way to extend their number knowledge through hands-on learning

Ladybird Rock Painting

Ladybird Rock Painting

5. Garden Sound Hunt

An excuse to lie on a picnic rug and be (mostly) quiet in the sunshine? Yes please. The garden sound hunt encouraged our children to focus on their listening skills, tuning into birdsong, rustling trees and even the ice cream van in the distance. It was a gentle, mindful activity that really made us slow down and notice the world around us.

child development

Our Final Thoughts

We’ve only shared a handful of the brilliant activities from the Busy Little Brains pack, but each one is thoughtfully designed with clear instructions and adaptation tips depending on your child’s age. This was especially useful for us with a 3 and 6 year old – we could use the same activity but tweak it slightly for each child.

Whether it’s the weekend, school holidays, or just a rainy afternoon, these activity packs are a lifesaver. Minimal prep, maximum fun – and no glitter in sight (unless you want it!).

We love collaborating with like-minded parent-led businesses, using our platform to connect, share, and grow together through joint blog features and meaningful partnerships.

By working together, we amplify each other’s voices, reach new audiences, and build a stronger, more supportive community of parent entrepreneurs who lift one another up.

Welcome to Our Parent Business Hub. This space is dedicated to showcasing parent-owned businesses, offering them a platform to highlight their wonderful products and services.

As you explore, you’ll discover a range of unique offerings from talented parent entrepreneurs. Supporting these businesses strengthens our community and encourages the growth of parent-led ventures.