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When you first opened your daycare what were some of the things your started with? Your children's toys? Items from garage sales? Did you buy all new?
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I had a few toys and a high chair picked up at a yard sale and nothing else. As it turned out, my first child was an infant, so the toys were useless. Her mom loaned me a pnp and I picked up a couple of baby toys. After 3 weeks, I went to a Just Between Friends sale and got a pnp, stroller, and a few more age appropriate toys. I've just gone from there. But, I just had one baby from when she was 6 months until she was 11 months. I got my 2nd and 3rd kids when they were all 11 months old. I just watch yard sales and buy stiff as I find it, and I go to the JBF sale twice a year. -
I only buy new on some things like bottles/nippes/bibs/dishwasher caddy........things that I personally wanted that were not going to cost too much. I did buy a pnp brand new because that grosses me out since you can't wash them well. I just got the plain jane cheap $30 from burlington.
Everything else I got with grant money after opening which was new or else I had books, toys, puzzles, blocks from thrift shops and I would try to go to as many daycare closing sales that I could. The daycare centers closing always had amazing stuff perfect for home daycare.
I started with WAY TO MANY toys and now I have about 1/3 of what I started with and am happy now! I did have a huge kidney shaped table with kids chairs from a daycare sale when I first opened and also a few small shelves. Everything else came in time.Comment
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I never buy anything new. Everything is things my kids had (to begin with) and then I have collected from yard sales and such over time. I havent bought anything in quite awhile though because at this point, I dont need anything else.Comment
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I'm glad someone asked this. I was wondering too....I know when I open I'm going to have wayyyy to much stuff, because of my center-based background
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I had dgs's old toys, and lots of garage sale bargains. I also did a lot of shopping at thrift shops where I picked up things like changing table, dc cots, white board, etc.
Garage sales are GGRREEAATT for some things like books! I have a hard time coming away from a garage sale without a book.
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I was a preschool teacher for years before opening my home based program, so I had a lot of stuff from that. Plus I used my own kids baby stuff( Pnp, saucer, swing etc) for the infants in care. Since then I have bought new things and lots of great stuff from garage sales and preschools/ childcare garage sales. You can find them around here every so often. I got a full set of unit blocks for $10, a folding play/gym mat that normally run for over $100 for only $2 in great shape, a toy shelf for $10. You can find some great stuff out there for cheap.Comment
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Same here. I worked for Head Start and one of our centers was closing so I got a ton of things from there and also had stuff from my own two children as well as some things from my MIL who had a daycare for 30 years and had recently closed.
I then purchased things I needed and didn't already have from garage sales. Now I buy a few things here and there and also have daycare parents who donate their children's gently used items after they are through with them.Comment
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Started off with nada. I had donated all my infant stuff about 6 months ago and my daughters toys aren't mainstream toys most kids like.Comment
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what was required to get started, sleep mats, toys outside, pretty much just my normal stuff"God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'"
Acts 13:22Comment
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I purchased everything I needed.
Tables, chairs, child's computer table, puzzle/supply school shelf, changing table, two school toy shelves, bookshelf, carpets, cots, plates, silverware, cups, bowls, 3 bulletin boards, cubbies, toys, educational games, manipulatives, bus, books, art supplies, bounce house, the centers, etc. I spent around $5,000. Possibly more. We paid cash and did not take on debt.
I like things that flow and appeal to the eye, so all of my furniture is natural wood and the majority of the toys are wood as well. Plan Toys is a wonderful brand that really holds up (which many other wood toy companies fail to do).
The past few months I have added more that I wanted. A listening center table from Lakeshore, listening center stories from Lakeshore, 130 gallon fish tank, 3 outdoor houses, 1 outdoor Preschool climber, water table, sand table, sand box, more books, light table, etc. I started with what I needed and have since added and will continue to add.
I had 5 children when I started, and 3 months later I had 12. We only accept ages 2-5.Comment
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I bought a few things at garage sales/Craigslist before I started. Mostly, outdoor toys, dolls, kitchen. I had just had dd, so I used all her baby stuff. I did buy nap mats and blankets new. I've since added by buying some new toys, using dd's toys, and doing more Craigslist/garage sales. I was fortunate enough to get a grant to purchase my playset/swingset (though we still had to use some of our own money too).Comment
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