5 Things That Made Me Realize I Had to Be More Involved as a Grandma

(And How One Interactive Toy Changed Everything)

by Helen W.
(Grandma of a 3-year-old)

I’m not one to give parenting advice — I had my turn, and I know every generation does things differently.

But I do see what’s happening. My grandson, like a lot of kids his age, has trouble sitting still for more than a few minutes. There’s always something flashing, beeping, or buzzing. The tablet, the TV, the phone — they’re all fighting for his attention.

When I babysit, I try to keep things calm. I read to him, we build blocks, we take walks. But getting him off the screen without a meltdown? That was the tricky part.

Until I found something that worked better than I expected.

I’ll tell you about it in a second. First, here’s what I noticed — and what finally helped.

1. He was always flipping switches around the house.

Light switches, fan cords, drawer latches — if it clicked, turned, or slid, he was on it. I used to joke that he’d make a great electrician someday.

But it also worried me. Some things just weren’t safe for little hands. And no matter how many plastic toys he had, he always ended up messing with the thermostat or the lamp.

2. He couldn’t focus on anything for long.

I’d sit down to read with him, and a minute later he’d be halfway across the room. I’d bring out puzzles, crayons, building blocks — nothing held his attention.

The only thing that worked? The iPad. And I didn’t feel good about that. It calmed him down, sure, but it also seemed to make him more restless afterward.

2. He couldn’t focus on anything for long.

I’d sit down to read with him, and a minute later he’d be halfway across the room. I’d bring out puzzles, crayons, building blocks — nothing held his attention.

The only thing that worked? The iPad. And I didn’t feel good about that. It calmed him down, sure, but it also seemed to make him more restless afterward.

3. Most toys today are loud, flashy, or both.

Have you been down the toy aisle lately? Everything lights up, sings, and talks back to you. I understand the appeal, but it’s all so... overwhelming. For them and for us.

I wanted something quieter. Something that wouldn’t make my head spin after five minutes.

4. Then I found this simple wooden board — no sounds, just switches and little lights that do something.

It didn’t look like much at first. A few switches, dials, and buttons, all set into a sturdy wooden board. But what caught my attention? When you flip a switch — a little light turns on.

No music. No talking. No blinking chaos. Just quiet, satisfying cause and effect.

The moment I handed it to him, something shifted. He got quiet. Focused. Curious.

He started flipping each switch carefully, waiting to see what would happen. A light would blink on, and his face would light up with it. No instructions. No fuss. Just discovery.

4. Then I found this simple wooden board — no sounds, just switches and little lights that do something.

It didn’t look like much at first. A few switches, dials, and buttons, all set into a sturdy wooden board. But what caught my attention? When you flip a switch — a little light turns on.

No music. No talking. No blinking chaos. Just quiet, satisfying cause and effect.

The moment I handed it to him, something shifted. He got quiet. Focused. Curious.

He started flipping each switch carefully, waiting to see what would happen. A light would blink on, and his face would light up with it. No instructions. No fuss. Just discovery.

5. Now, it’s the first thing he reaches for.

It’s become our go-to toy when he visits. He’ll sit with it for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, sometimes longer.

We talk about how things work. He tells me stories about what each switch does. It's imaginative play without any screens involved.

And best of all? It’s quiet. It’s sturdy. It doesn’t require any setup. I just leave it on the table and let him explore.

I didn’t expect something so simple to work so well — but it did…

If you’re looking for something that keeps little hands busy and little minds engaged — without noise, screens, or breaking down after a couple of days — this board is worth a look. (I noticed it sells out quickly — especially around holidays.)