Walk into a creche in Galway on any given day and you might find a small group of children tracing letters together on a giant touchscreen, rehearsing songs for their graduation ceremony, or gathered round for movie time — all on the same 32-inch interactive board.
This is the Manico FunBoard in action, and it's quickly becoming one of the most versatile tools in the room for early years educators.
One Board, a Whole Day of Learning
What makes the FunBoard stand out isn't just its size — it's how many different moments in a creche day it can support. At this Galway setting, educators have found creative ways to bring the board into nearly every part of their programme:
* Letter formation — children take turns tracing letters on the touchscreen, building the fine motor skills and muscle memory needed for early writing, with instant visual feedback that keeps them engaged
* Maths and phonics — foundational numeracy and literacy apps turn everyday learning into a hands-on, collaborative activity rather than a worksheet
* Graduation day prep — the board has even found a role in getting children ready for one of the biggest days of their early years journey, used to rehearse and prepare for their creche graduation
* Movie time — on quieter afternoons or rainy days, the FunBoard doubles as a big screen for group movie and story time, giving children a shared, cosy experience together
Watch the Video of the many creative ways a Galway Creche is leveraging Manico for all age groups and activities
As the giant board is android, you can download any app from the Google Play Store and tap into online resources for educational programmes.
Built for Groups, Not Just One Child at a Time
At 32 inches, the FunBoard is sized to gather a small group around it — comfortably supporting four to five children playing, learning and interacting at once. Rather than one child sitting alone with a device, several children touch, tap and explore the same screen together, turning screen time into a genuinely social, collaborative experience.
That group-first design is central to why it works so well in a creche setting. Children learn to take turns, work together, and problem-solve as a team — skills that are just as important as the letters and numbers on the screen.
Fits the Space, Not the Other Way Around
One of the most practical advantages educators highlight is the FunBoard's portability. It isn't fixed to one spot in the room — it can be:
* Placed flat on a table for close-up group activities
* Set on the floor for younger children or floor-based play
* Wall mounted to free up space when not in use
This flexibility means the same board can move from a maths lesson at a table, to floor-based sensory play, to a wall-mounted movie screen — all within a single day, with no extra setup required.
Even More Flexible with the Motorised Stand
For creches that want to take that flexibility further, the FunBoard is also available with Jiro, Manico's motorised, height-adjustable stand — and it's proving especially useful in a busy early years setting.
- Accessibility — the stand can be lowered or angled to bring the board within easy reach of any child with mobility issues, so nobody is left out of group play
* Room to room in seconds — staff can wheel the board wherever it's needed, whether that's bringing it into the toddler room in the morning and out to the after-school group in the afternoon
- Tilts for the moment — the board can be angled upright for movie time, laid flatter for tabletop-style group activities, or positioned low for floor-based play, all without needing to lift or resituate the unit itself
It means one board can genuinely follow the day's activities, rather than the children and staff having to work around a fixed screen.
See the motorised tilt and elevation stand in action
A Growing Trend in Irish Early Years Education
This Galway creche is one of a growing number of early years settings across Ireland discovering what educators in Sweden have known for some time: that giant, multi-touch boards can transform group learning in ways individual tablets simply can't.
With 20+ EdUp and PlayEd apps built in — covering literacy, numeracy, colours and more — the FunBoard is ready to support ECCE programmes, toddler rooms, morning clubs and after-school groups from the day it arrives.