My toddler figured out my phone faster than I did. That's how we ended up with Busyboard.
I'm not proud of it. I handed over my phone during a grocery store meltdown, and within seconds my three-year-old had swiped through three apps and opened the camera. That's when I started looking for something that actually held her attention without letting her delete my photos. Busyboard is what stuck.
It's a collection of mini-games, but calling it that undersells it. There's a piano where each key plays a real note — not some cheap digital beep. My kid figured out that pressing keys in order makes a melody, and now she "composes" songs that sound exactly like a cat walking on a keyboard. There's also a number game where you pop balloons to count. It's simple, but the voice that says "three!" after she pops three balloons actually made her start counting along. She's two. I didn't expect that.
The drawing section is where she spends most of her time. It's just a blank canvas with a handful of colors and brush sizes. No ads, no timers, no "buy more crayons" nonsense. She draws scribbles that she insists are dinosaurs. I nod and say "that's a great T-Rex." The transport game lets her drag cars and trains across a track. It's oddly satisfying to watch — she lines them up, then sends them flying. There's no wrong way to play.
What surprised me most is the sound section. It's not just random noise. There are animal sounds, instrument sounds, and everyday noises like a doorbell or a phone ringing. My kid now knows what a cow says. She also thinks a ringing phone means I should answer it, which is cute until I'm in a meeting.
Who'd actually like this? Parents of kids under five, mostly. If your child is already glued to YouTube, this is a better option — it's interactive, not passive. One tip: turn off the sound effects in the settings if you're losing your mind. The piano is fun, but after the fiftieth time, it's less charming.