Seller Spotlight: Introducing Busy Brains Activity Packs: Making Learning easy and Fun🌟

Let us introduce you to our newest Cress seller, Lauren, the innovative mind behind Busy Brains Activity Packs.

Busy Brains Activity Packs specialise in creating engaging activity card packs with educational games designed for kids to enjoy right in the comfort of their homes… or even on a plane (that’s my personal fave!).

Created by Lauren, a former Deputy Headteacher turned passionate parent, these packs are meticulously curated to foster playful learning experiences that stimulate young minds.

Why have you decided to join Cress?

“Cress appealed to me because of your sustainability culture. I’ve got three children, 2 boys of very different ages and a girl, so it’s easy for my house to quickly fill with different toys and clothes. When my eldest two children were younger, I noticed that the more toys we had, the less the children actually played! Instead, simplifying and reducing the choice meant they played longer and more independently. My business is all about helping parents use what they have already to play and engage with their children in meaningful, educational ways, so I hope this will appeal to Cress’ customer base too.”

What Inspired Your Business?

“Before having my first child I was working in a primary school as a Deputy Headteacher. I loved it and honestly never expected to do anything else! I had my first child in 2014 and whilst on maternity leave, I kept meeting other mums and we’d inevitably chat about how little sleep we’d had, how much milk they were having and whether they’d started meeting any milestones. It got me thinking how, as mums, we’re given the opportunity to attend antenatal classes but after birth, we’re more or less on our own until they start school! As a teacher I naturally wanted to understand my daughter’s development so I started learning about early childhood development in the evenings and at weekends.

Fast forward another couple of years and I had my second child. He was unexpectedly born with a condition that meant he was born severely deaf and we were told it was unlikely that he would learn spoken language. Devastated, I decided to resign from my job so that I could be at home, learn sign language and support him (and my daughter) as much as possible. I quickly threw myself into life as a stay-at-home mum and started planning trips and activities to fill each day for the kids (and me!).

It soon became apparent that both children were not only meeting, but exceeding the typical age-related expectations. My son’s doctors and audiologists couldn’t believe how clearly he was speaking and how well he was able to communicate despite the hearing challenges he faced. Caught up in day-to-day life, it was only when they started to ask me what we had been doing at home to support him that I started to realise how much knowledge I had acquired about early childhood development and how I had naturally been using my teaching experience to support them. 

Thinking back to how I had felt as a first-time mum, unsure if my baby was on track, lacking in confidence and generally sleep deprived and exhausted, I decided to create the product I wished was available back then. I started creating an evidence-based resource filled with scientifically backed research and simple play ideas that parents could do at home, just as I had done. Busy Brains Activity Packs were launched two years later and here we are today!”

What Is Your Favourite Product?

“Hard to pick just one of my nine packs as each one has been used again and again as my youngest (now 2) has grown, but I think my latest favourite is one of the two new products. On the Road Games and On the Plane Games, are smaller travel packs that I created to help parents entertain their little ones while in a confined space on holiday. My eldest children are now 7 and 9 and so I wrote these packs with them in mind. Each game idea in the pack has three variations so you can adapt them for different aged players making them ideal if family groups are travelling together. We’ve had lots of happy holidays playing and laughing with the games so I’m really excited to see that other families are now enjoying them just as much!”

Do You Have Any Great Feedback or Memories of Children Using Your Products?

“I’ve been lucky enough to have lots of customers send me photos and reviews of their children using my products. One customer in particular comes to mind as, over the years, she’s supported my business again and again. She was first given a pack when her daughter was 4 months old and has since bought every pack as her daughter grows (she’s now 4 years old and about to start school!) She regularly sends photos so, although we’ve never met in person, I feel as if I know both her and her daughter like friends. Perhaps the loveliest compliment was when the mum told me she had recently changed her career to become a nursery teacher and, in the interview, credited her interest and love of early childhood education to the knowledge she learnt from my cards. When she told me this I cried! Thinking back to the day in 2016, when I was told that my 3-day-old son would likely never speak, and the subsequent decision I made to leave the career I loved, I never could have imagined that I would be able to continue teaching without being in the classroom! Knowing the difference my product made to just that one family really motivates me to keep going and I hope one day, every family will be able to have the knowledge and confidence to feel empowered to play and engage with their children during those crucial first five years.”

A bit more about Busy Brains:

Each Busy Brains Activity Pack is a treasure trove of simple play ideas aimed at empowering parents and caregivers to facilitate meaningful interactions with their children. From creative endeavours to physical challenges, musical adventures to literacy explorations, each pack encompasses a diverse array of activities that cater to various developmental aspects.

Lauren’s dedication to promoting early childhood development shines through in every Busy Brains Activity Pack, making them invaluable resources for parents, grandparents, childminders, babysitters, and teachers alike. 

Explore their range today and embark on a journey of playful learning with your little ones! 🌈✨

#BusyBrains #PlayfulLearning #EducationalFun #WeAreCress #CressCommunity