Vilac Wooden Car Busy Board Activity Toy

Vilac Wooden Car Busy Board — a dashboard for toddlers who want to drive like you

A wooden car dashboard with a steering wheel that turns, a gear lever to change gear, a fuel gauge that clicks as it turns, a GPS to operate and an ignition key. No lights, no beeps and no batteries: the noise is all theirs. 35 x 7 x 26cm, suitable from 18 months, from the French toymaker Vilac.

🚗 Doing what the grown-ups do

By 18 months, most toddlers have spent a lot of time watching someone drive, and they want a go. This board gives them the real controls in miniature, so the game is copying you: key in, wheel round, change gear, check the fuel. That kind of pretend play is where a lot of early language comes from too, as the "brrm" turns into "going to Granny's".

✋ Every control is a different movement

Turning a wheel, pushing a lever, twisting a dial and turning a key all ask something different of small hands. Vilac built the fuel gauge to click as it turns, so there is a small reward for getting the movement right. It is cause and effect a toddler can feel as well as hear.

⚠️ Worth knowing before you buy

• It is quiet on purpose. There is no horn, no engine sound and nothing that lights up. If your toddler loves a button that beeps, this is a different kind of toy; if you would rather not hear one, it is a relief.
• It is a pretend-play board more than a fiddle board. It has five controls rather than a dozen gadgets. For more things to fiddle with in one place, see the busy boards below.
• It is for 18 months and up. That is the age it was tested for, and it is when the steering-and-gears game makes sense.

What we like about it

• A steering wheel that turns and a gear lever that moves
• A fuel gauge that clicks as it turns
• A GPS to operate and an ignition key
• Pretend play built around something toddlers watch every day
• No batteries, no lights, no electronic noise
• Wood with child-safe paint, from Vilac

Specification

• Suitable from: 18 months
• Controls: steering wheel, gear lever, clicking fuel gauge, GPS and ignition key
• Size: 35 x 7 x 26cm
• Weight: 1016g boxed
• Material: wood with child-safe paint
• Batteries: none needed
• Safety: UKCA and CE marked, laboratory tested to EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC for use from 18 months
• Brand: Vilac, France. Made in China
• Care: wipe with a damp cloth; do not soak

❓ Frequently asked questions

Does it make any sounds?
Only the click of the fuel gauge and whatever engine noises your toddler supplies. There are no batteries and nothing electronic.

What age is it for?
From 18 months. It is laboratory tested for that age, and that is when a toddler starts copying what they see adults do.

How big is it?
35cm wide, 26cm tall and 7cm deep, so it is a floor or table toy rather than one for the changing bag.

How do I clean it?
Vilac do not give care instructions, so we treat it like any painted wooden toy: wipe it with a damp cloth and never soak it.

Is it a good gift?
Yes, for an 18-month-old or a second birthday, especially for a child who is always trying to get into the driver's seat.

🔍 Which busy board?

This one first, then the others we stock:

• Vilac Wooden Car Busy Board — this one. From 18 months. A car dashboard for pretend driving, with five controls and no batteries.
• Jumini Busy Board — from 18 months. The one for fiddling: gears, beads and sliders on a 38 x 21cm pastel board.
• Fire Engine Busy Board — from 12 months. The one to buy younger, with a maze, doors, gears and a bell.

More from Vilac: the Wooden Pull-Along Coach with Shape Sorter from 12 months, and the Wooden Cutting Fruit and Vegetables Set for more pretend play from 2 years.

Our guides to busy boards and the best toys for an 18 month old go into more detail.

Safety information

Adult supervision recommended. Check the toy regularly and stop using it if any part becomes loose or damaged.

❤️ From our family to yours

Carefully chosen products for babies, toddlers and parents. Browse more busy boards and our toys suitable from 18 months — free UK delivery on orders over £25.