In the world of educational technology, many platforms promise engagement, learning, and fun. But not all deliver. Busy Things is one platform that has earned strong reputation in schools, especially primary (ages 3 to 11). It offers hundreds of curriculum-linked games and activities, aiming to make learning through play rather than mere drills.
When I first heard about Busy Things, I liked the idea: children can learn while they feel like they are playing games. That mindset helps them stay engaged. Over time, I saw it used in classrooms, in homes, and even in remote learning conditions. It impressed me how adaptable it could be.
In this article, we’ll look deeply at what Busy Things is, how it works, its strengths and shortcomings, and how best to use it (for students, teachers, and parents).
What Is Busy Things?
Busy Things is an online educational resource designed primarily for children aged 3 to 11. It offers games, activities, and printable resources across many subjects—math, literacy, science, art, coding, geography, history, music, foreign languages and more. The platform is curriculum-linked, meaning many of the games are tied to what school systems expect children to learn.
In the UK, schools often adopt Busy Things so that children can practice skills in class or at home in a fun way. The platform also supports home learning and remote teaching, which became critical in times like the pandemic.
Busy Things is designed to work on devices like tablets, laptops, desktops, and it adapts for smaller screens. It gives teachers tools to assign tasks, track progress, and manage student accounts.
Features & Educational Content
One of the strengths of Busy Things is the breadth of features and content. Let’s break them down:
-
Curriculum-Mapped Games & Activities
The platform includes hundreds, even over a thousand games, each tied to learning objectives. This ensures that children are practicing relevant skills. -
Subjects Covered
It covers literacy, phonics, mathematics, science, history, geography, music, foreign languages, art and coding. So a child can explore many subject areas in one place. -
Teacher Tools & Administrative Features
Teachers have their own dashboard: assign games, set levels, track students’ progress, generate reports, and control access to content. -
User Accounts & Saving Work
Each child has a login. Their work, files, and progress are saved, so they can return later. -
Customizable & Differentiated Content
Teachers can adjust difficulty levels, choose which games students can see, or assign differentiated content to match student ability. -
Printable Resources & Offline Tasks
While the platform is mainly digital, it also supports printables and offline worksheets tied to the digital content. -
Support for Remote & Home Learning
Busy Things allows children to use their accounts at home. Teachers can send assignments for home use, monitor via the platform, and give feedback remotely.
How Children Use Busy Things
For children, Busy Things is a playground of learning. Here’s how they typically use it:
-
Exploration & Game Time
A child logs in and picks from subject areas. They explore games that interest them, such as puzzles, math challenges, story sequencing, or coding mini-games. -
Skill Practice
After learning new material at school, children can practice with games that reinforce those skills—like multiplication, reading comprehension, or phonics. -
Assignments from Teachers
Sometimes teachers assign specific games or tasks. The student completes them, and the teacher can see their results. -
Progress Tracking & Motivation
Many games show scores, stars, or levels. Children can see how far they’ve come, which encourages them to improve. -
Mixing Play and Learning
Because the games are fun, children often don’t feel like they’re doing “homework.” This helps reduce resistance to learning after school.
How Teachers & Schools Use It
Busy Things is not just for students; teachers and schools use it in strategic ways:
-
Assigning and Scheduling
Teachers assign tasks to individual students or entire classes, schedule when activities should be done, and restrict or open levels. -
Monitoring & Reporting
Teachers can view students’ progress: which games they’ve played, scores, areas of strength or weakness. -
Differentiation
The ability to give easier or harder versions of games to different students helps meet varied learning needs in a class. -
Classroom Use & Group Work
In class, teachers might project a game for the group or have students use it in small stations. -
Integration into Lesson Planning
Teachers can align Busy Things content with lesson plans and curriculum goals, making the digital work complement classroom teaching. -
Remote & Hybrid Teaching
When children are learning at home, teachers can send assignments that students use outside school, and review their work later.
Subscription, Pricing & Trials
Busy Things is typically a paid subscription service for schools or families. However, many schools get a license that covers their pupils. Often, the subscription allows home access too.
There is usually a free trial period so schools or parents can test the platform before committing. The annual cost varies by number of students, region, and features enabled.
For example, in procurement records, Busy Things is listed as an eLearning platform for primary schools. That listing mentions features like “1200+ educational games,” remote learning support, tools for teachers, class tracking, and more. It also notes that the platform comes with teacher support and training. The price cited in one record is £220 per license per year (for the service described) though that is in a specific market context.
Because pricing depends on scale and region, schools often negotiate based on number of pupils and features needed.
Benefits & Strengths
Why do many schools adopt Busy Things? Here are key strengths:
-
Curriculum alignment
Because its content maps to national curricula, teachers can trust that children are practicing relevant topics. -
Engagement & motivation
Kids enjoy the games—bright visuals, animations, fun challenges. This makes learning less of a chore. -
Comprehensive coverage
Rather than just focusing on one subject (like math), it offers many subjects in one place. -
Teacher support & tools
The platform is not student-only; teachers get robust tools to manage learning and track progress. -
Remote learning readiness
Busy Things is built to work in a remote or hybrid environment — a major plus in modern schooling. -
Differentiation for varied learners
Teachers can assign material that suits a child’s level, helping both advanced and struggling students. -
Data & insights
The reporting and monitoring features help teachers see which areas students struggle in, guiding further instruction.
Challenges & Limitations
No platform is perfect. Some challenges of Busy Things include:
-
Subscription cost
For smaller schools or lower budgets, the license cost may be a barrier. -
Regional content limitations
While strong in the UK, for learners in other countries, some curriculum alignment might not match local standards. -
Dependence on internet / devices
To use Busy Things fully, students need reliable internet access and devices (tablets, laptops, etc.). In under-resourced settings, this can be a limitation. -
Learning fatigue
If overused, children might get tired of games. Balanced variety is needed. -
Teacher training required
To get the full benefit, teachers must learn how to use the platform well — otherwise features may go unused. -
Screen time concerns
As with any digital tool, balancing screen time with offline and physical learning is important.
Comparisons with Alternatives
There are other educational platforms and tools. How does Busy Things compare?
-
Some platforms focus only on one subject (e.g. math). Busy Things is broader.
-
Others may only deliver drills or worksheets; Busy Things offers interactive, playful content.
-
Some tools lack strong teacher dashboards; Busy Things gives robust management features.
-
Other platforms might be free but limited; Busy Things’s subscription gives richer content and support.
In essence, Busy Things sits in a strong position: broad, interactive, and teacher-oriented.
Real Classroom Examples
Example 1: A primary teacher used Busy Things during a lesson on fractions. After the class explanation, students played a related game. The teacher could instantly see which students struggled and follow up.
Example 2: During lockdown or remote school, a class used Busy Things from home. Teachers set assignments, students completed them, and teachers gave feedback digitally. This helped maintain continuity in learning.
Example 3: In mixed-ability classes, a teacher assigned higher-level games to advanced students and scaled-down tasks to those needing reinforcement — all through the same platform.
These examples highlight how Busy Things is flexible and supports real classroom needs.
Tips & Best Practices
To get the most out of Busy Things:
-
Use it as one tool among many — mix with hands-on, offline activities
-
Start early — introduce children before workload pressure hits
-
Monitor and review reports — don’t let assignments go unchecked
-
Train teachers well — invest time so staff can use full features
-
Rotate subject types — avoid monotony in games
-
Encourage children to reflect on their progress, not just scores
-
Use it for formative assessment — identify weak areas and revisit topics
By using Busy Things thoughtfully, you can enhance learning rather than replace traditional teaching.
My Perspective: What Makes Busy Things Stand Out
Having seen many educational platforms, what strikes me about Busy Things is its thoughtful balance. It is playful enough for children to want to use, yet structured enough for teachers to trust. Many platforms lean too heavily toward fun (losing educational rigor) or rigidity (losing engagement). Busy Things seems to walk the middle line well.
I also appreciate its teacher tools — it’s rare for student platforms to put equal effort into easing the teacher’s workload. And in times when remote or hybrid schooling is more common, having built-in support for home access is a major advantage.
In short: Busy Things doesn’t just aim to be fun — it wants to be useful, manageable, and sustainable.
5. Conclusion
Busy Things is a strong educational platform with many features that benefit students, teachers, and schools. It combines curriculum-aligned content, interactive learning games, teacher tools, and remote access support. While it has challenges — like cost, device dependency, and need for training — its advantages make it a standout choice for primary education.
If you are a teacher looking for a platform that engages students and gives you control, or a parent seeking quality learning tools for your child, Busy Things is worthy of serious consideration.6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What age range is Busy Things for?
It is mostly for children aged 3 to 11 years (Early Years up to Key Stage 2).
Q2: Can Busy Things be used at home?
Yes — many schools subscribe so students can access it at home.
Q3: Does it cover all subjects?
It covers many: literacy, math, science, history, geography, art, music, coding, and languages.
Q4: Is Busy Things expensive?
It requires a paid subscription (school license or family option), though costs depend on scale and region.
Q5: What devices work with Busy Things?
It works on tablets, laptops, desktops, and is responsive to different screen sizes.
