When my toddler boy gets bored, look out! You never know what he will find to do! He LOVES trains, but the IKEA train tracks he has are just too flimsy for his little fingers to play with the trains on them for very long before they come apart. I don't really have the space in my house for a train table, so I decided to come up with my own plan! After a little online searching I finalized my idea.
I decided on what people call a "Train Board" which is literally a board with train tracks on it. I like this idea best because I can store it under a bed, behind the couch, or wherever and then take it out to use on the floor or just set out on the coffee table for Aaron to play with.
First I found this link that showed me how to actually put the IKEA tracks together (we could never get our designs to use all the pieces- me and Joey that is, Aaron is way too young to even know how to put tracks together). Ways to assembly IKEA train tracks found here.
I picked a design that I felt would work well for Aaron for a while, and fit on a reasonably sized piece of material, but my hubby told me that "setting up the tracks is half the fun when he gets older" so I used hot glue instead of wood glue so that we can pop the tracks off and re-design them as "needed."
This is the type of "wood" I used called "Panel-board". I originally planned to use MDF board, but the sizes that it came in were too small (24"x35" or so and I needed 35"x35") this was at Home Depot. Even with this material I had to but the whole large sheet. But the helpful Home Depot personal were happy to cut it down to size for me. for the $11.87 (before tax) price tag, I got multiple pieces! Maybe some will be gifted. This board is also a material I buy to use for white boards (or dry erase boards) so it's a fun material! It might warp over time, but I know it will last long enough for our needs. And with the temperature and moisture levels inside I think it will do just fine!
So once I had the material home I setup the tracks on it and traced the outline with a pencil. Then I glued each piece of track in the design on with hot glue and VOILA! it was done!
I also had some extra little corner bumpers from IKEA so I stuck those on the corners of the panel board for added safety. As you can see from the picture, well if you can see it (it's dark) we like to use our Little People accessories and animals to enhance our train play time. This whole project took me no time! And my son plays with it for LONG periods of time every day! Best $12 I've spent in a while! Also, note that the Thomas the train trains as well as Imaginarium accessories all fit with one another!
When I have more time (if that day ever arrives) I want to glue on some little trees, paint or draw on some grass and perhaps a lake, etc. but my son certainly doesn't care weather I do that or not, he LOVES this thing! Score one for Mommy!
Took me all of 5 min. Handed the creation to Aaron and he had at it! Making breakfast that morning was a breeze! No interruptions at all! Every once in a while I get it right! Hallelujah! I can go back and decorate it, but I probably wont! Half the awesome-ness of this project was how fast it was! And then I really wont feel bad if he's over it in a day or so! 
