Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQs.
As a mum of three and a former deputy headteacher, I know how overwhelming it can feel trying to support your child’s learning while juggling everyday life. Busy Brains Activity Packs were created to make play simple, purposeful and easy to fit into real family life.
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our packs, subscriptions, delivery and how everything works. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just pop me a message (contact@busybrainsactivitypacks.co.uk). I’m always happy to help.
Choosing the Right Pack
Which pack is right for my child’s age?
We’ve carefully designed each Busy Brains Activity Pack to match your child’s age and developmental stage. Each pack contains activities that are simple, research-backed, and aimed at supporting the skills your child is ready to learn next.
If your child is on the younger or older side for a pack, that’s okay too! Many activities can be adapted to suit different abilities, and we include guidance on how to adjust them so your child gets the most out of every activity.
To make it easy, we’ve included the age range on each pack, so you can quickly see which one fits your child. You can explore all the packs here: take me to the shop.
Can I use a pack if my child is slightly older or younger?
Absolutely! Each Busy Brains Activity Pack is designed with flexibility in mind. While the packs are tailored to a specific age range, many of the activities can be adapted to suit children who are a little younger or older.
Where necessary, we include guidance on how to make the activities easier or more challenging, so your child can still enjoy them and benefit from purposeful, developmental play, no matter their exact age.
Are the activities suitable for siblings?
Yes! Many of the activities in Busy Brains Activity Packs can be enjoyed by siblings together. Some are designed for one-on-one play, but you’ll also find games and activities that encourage teamwork, turn-taking, and shared learning.
If your children are different ages, you can easily adapt the activities to suit each child’s stage, so everyone can join in and benefit from the play.
How do the packs support my child’s development?
Each Busy Brains Activity Pack is carefully designed to support a wide range of developmental skills, from communication and problem-solving to fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and early numeracy or literacy.
Every activity card clearly shows which area of learning it is targeting, so you can see exactly what skills your child is developing as you play. The activities are based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, giving you confidence that they are purposeful, age-appropriate, and research-backed.
The packs are simple, fun, and designed to make everyday play meaningful, helping your child build a strong foundation for future learning.
What’s Inside the Packs
What’s included in each Busy Brains Activity Pack?
Each pack contains 31 double-sided activity cards filled with simple, research-backed play ideas tailored to your child’s age and stage. Many cards include multiple activity ideas, so there are far more activities than cards, giving you lots of options for purposeful, engaging play.
Every card clearly shows which area of learning it supports, so you can see exactly how each activity helps your child develop key skills. The packs also include a list of developmental milestones, so you know what most children at this stage can do by the end of the stage and how the activities help support these milestones.
Many of the cards now feature QR codes, giving you access to extra information or downloadable resources, helping you get even more from every activity.
In short, each pack is designed to make play easy, meaningful, and flexible, so you can confidently support your child’s development without having to plan everything yourself.
Do I need extra resources to complete the activities?
We've deliberately kept the activities as simple as possible, where shop-bought toys are mentioned we have tried to offer a home-made alternative although some cards do refer to common toys like stacking blocks, cuddly toys or toy cars. Some of the cards require household materials to be reused, like cardboard tubes or clothes pegs. If we've used something that you don't have, and we haven't offered an alternative suggestion, send us a message and we'll see if we can think of an alternative you could use instead.
How much parent involvement is needed?
The level of involvement depends on your child’s age and stage, but all Busy Brains Activity Packs are designed to be flexible. For babies and younger toddlers, most activities work best with an adult guiding, modelling, or playing alongside them, as this is when interaction supports learning and connection the most.
For older toddlers and preschoolers, many activities can be done more independently, though your encouragement, attention, and conversation still make them more meaningful and help reinforce learning.
All activities should be supervised by an adult for safety and to make play as supportive and engaging as possible. Many of the activities can be done together at first, and then left out for your child to repeat independently later, helping them build confidence, practice new skills, and enjoy purposeful play on their own.
Are the activities messy?
Each Busy Brains Activity Pack includes a wide range of activities to help exercise your child’s whole brain. A few of these are messy (or sensory) activities, which are an important part of children’s development. Research shows that messy play can foster curiosity, encourage imaginative play, stimulate the senses, support communication, and strengthen motor skills, so it is really beneficial for your child.
We know messy play is not every parent’s idea of fun, so we have included tips to help limit the mess or make tidying up easier wherever possible. Most activities are low-prep, simple to set up, and use everyday items you likely already have at home.
Can I do the activities on the cards more than once?
Absolutely! In fact, studies have shown that repetition strengthens the connections in the brain. Many of the cards can also be adapted to suit older or younger children too, so the pack of activities can last much longer than the age phase on the box! Some of the cards have details of how you can adapt the activity for different stages but it wasn't possible to fit this information on every card. Feel free to send us a message if you want ideas of how to extend or simplify anything that isn't already explained.
How long do the activities take?
Each activity card includes guidance on how long the activity might take to set up, with some requiring little to no preparation and others taking a few extra minutes. Once set up, most activities are designed to hold a child’s attention for anywhere from a few minutes up to around 15–30 minutes, or even longer, depending on your child’s age, interests, and temperament.
Many of the activities are designed to be repeated again and again, giving children opportunities to practise skills, build confidence, and enjoy familiar play at their own pace. Some activities can also be broken into shorter bursts or extended over several sessions, making it easy to fit purposeful play into your day.
Subscriptions
Can I subscribe and be sent the new packs as my baby grows?
Yes, you can. We now have a number of different subscription packages to suit the age of your child. Each pack is filled with simple, research-backed activities that support their next developmental milestones, so you always have the right ideas at the right time without having to plan or search for them yourself.
You can view all of the subscription options here: subscription page
Can I pause or cancel my subscription?
Yes, you can. Busy Brains Activity Pack subscriptions are designed to be flexible to fit your family’s needs. You can pause your subscription if you need a break or cancel at any time.
Pausing or cancelling is simple to do, just send an email to contact@busybrainsactivitypacks.co.uk.
When will payments be taken?
The first payment for a Busy Brains Activity Pack subscription is taken automatically when you purchase the subscription. Subsequent payments will be taken at regular intervals as specified in your particular subscription package. For example, if you’ve signed up for the Newborn subscription, a payment will be taken every two months on the same day your subscription began.
You’ll receive an order confirmation each time a payment is taken and a pack is sent, so you can keep track easily. If you ever need to pause or cancel your subscription, you can do so at any time by contacting us via email.
If a payment is missed for any reason, your subscription will be temporarily paused and your next pack will not be sent until payment is successfully processed. We will notify you if a payment fails so you can update your payment details and continue your subscription without missing any packs.
Orders and Delivery
How long does delivery take?
Once your order has been processed, Busy Brains Activity Packs are usually dispatched within 1–2 working days using Royal Mail 2nd Class Post. For UK addresses, most packs arrive within 2–5 working days. If you need your pack sooner, first-class post is available at checkout for an additional fee.
For international orders, delivery may take longer depending on your location. You’ll receive a dispatch confirmation email with tracking information where possible, so you can see exactly when your pack is on its way. If there are any delays, we’ll let you know straight away.
My country isn't listed in your delivery options, Can you ship to me?
Yes, it can be arranged however, additional postage will be charged according to the Royal Mail's charging policy. If you would like to order from outside the United Kingdom but would like to know the shipping costs before ordering then please get in touch.
How much is postage?
For UK orders, postage is free on all Busy Brains Activity Packs that contain only activity cards. If you order toys, postage costs may vary depending on the weight and size of the items.
For international orders, postage costs vary depending on the destination. Please note that additional fees or taxes may be payable at border controls, which are the responsibility of the customer.
I didn’t receive an order confirmation, what should I do?
If you haven’t received an order confirmation, it usually means the order didn’t complete successfully. This can sometimes happen if there was an issue with payment, or if the final confirmation step at checkout (especially with Apple Pay or other quick payment methods) wasn’t completed.
First, please check your spam or junk folder, as confirmation emails can occasionally end up there.
If you still don’t see a confirmation, don’t worry — just contact us via email with your name, email address, and any payment details you have. We’ll check the order for you and make sure everything is sorted so you can receive your Busy Brains Activity Pack without delay.
Can I send them as a gift?
Yes, absolutely! Busy Brains Activity Packs make an ideal gift for a new baby, christening, birthday, or Christmas.
When placing your order, let us know if you’d like the price hidden or if you’d like a special message included inside the package — we’re happy to do this free of charge.
Gift wrapping is also available for £3.00 per package. If you’d like packs sent to multiple locations, please make sure to add the correct number of gift wrapping services to your shopping cart and specify which pack should be sent to each address.
Returns and Help
Can I return or exchange a pack?
Yes! We want you to be completely happy with your Busy Brains Activity Pack. Full details of our returns and exchanges policy can be found here — please follow the instructions to request a refund or exchange.
If you have any questions or need help, you can also contact us directly at contact@busybrainsactivitypacks.co.uk.
What if something is missing or damaged?
If any item in your Busy Brains Activity Pack is missing or arrives damaged, don’t worry, just contact us straight away with your order details. We’ll make sure the missing or damaged items are replaced quickly so your child can start enjoying their activities without delay.
How can I contact you?
We’re always happy to help! You can get in touch with us via email at contact@busybrainsactivitypacks.co.uk, or through the contact form on our website. We aim to respond as quickly as possible and will do our best to answer any questions or resolve any issues you have.
Are you on social media?
Yes, we are on Facebook, Instagram and X. Do pop over and see us, we love to share new ideas and advice across these platforms. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with our latest news and offers.
We'd love to hear from you too, so please tag us (@busybrainsactivitypacks) with your photos and videos on Facebook or Instagram or send them directly to our email contact@busybrainsactivitypacks.co.uk We'll always ask permission before resharing.