What Would You Buy?

[tenderhearts]

Wow $5000 that's awesome. I have $1000 and I want to spend it wisely.
That's exactly what I'm worried about is spending money on stuff they wont play with. I've been there many many times, it's frustrating. I think in my whole 20 years of daycare the top 3 played with is the magna tiles or I have other magnets, matchbox cars and bucket of dinosaurs.
There were a few daycare providers in my class here that highly recommended the light table, they said it's played with constantly, I showed my hubby and he didn't see the hype in it but he's not a kid , well he kinda is (dont tell him I said that haha). One thing about the light table is it a durable surface or does it scratch easily?

[lovemykidstoo]

Wow $5000 that's awesome. I have $1000 and I want to spend it wisely.
That's exactly what I'm worried about is spending money on stuff they wont play with. I've been there many many times, it's frustrating. I think in my whole 20 years of daycare the top 3 played with is the magna tiles or I have other magnets, matchbox cars and bucket of dinosaurs.
There were a few daycare providers in my class here that highly recommended the light table, they said it's played with constantly, I showed my hubby and he didn't see the hype in it but he's not a kid , well he kinda is (dont tell him I said that haha). One thing about the light table is it a durable surface or does it scratch easily?

I think it's pretty durable, but honestly they haven't played with it enough to tell. I also bought a microscope with a bunch of slides that I thought my after school kids would love. Used it once.

[nanglgrl]

I have to agree on the light table. While mine is a light box on top of a child sized table the children don’t really use it and when they do it’s usually because I direct them to it. When using it they’d be just as happy using the light table supplies (and we have lots) on the floor or table surface without the light.

[tenderhearts]

That's good to know, then I just may pass since it's so expensive.

[tenderhearts]

Do you use a rocking chair or some sort of a chair for you to sit in? and if so what do you recommend?

[Plars4891]

I work in a center in a toddler room. I have a light table in my science area and we use it daily! Some favorite activities: Translucent Legos for building, discovery bottles, rainbow window blocks, coloring on white paper with markers (looks really cool while coloring!), I have had this table for at least 6 years, never had to replace the lights yet, no scratches, very easy to clean, lots of storage underneath. My kiddos love it!

There are so many cool things you can do with a light table depending on the ages of your kids.

The picture I attached is close to what the one I have looks like.

[tenderhearts]

Thank you, that sounds like fun. Thank you for sharing with me.

[Josiegirl]

I work in a center in a toddler room. I have a light table in my science area and we use it daily! Some favorite activities: Translucent Legos for building, discovery bottles, rainbow window blocks, coloring on white paper with markers (looks really cool while coloring!), I have had this table for at least 6 years, never had to replace the lights yet, no scratches, very easy to clean, lots of storage underneath. My kiddos love it!

There are so many cool things you can do with a light table depending on the ages of your kids.

The picture I attached is close to what the one I have looks like.

I just have a small light table that sits right on the floor, and a toddler set of things to go with it. But I looked on pinterest and the ideas you can find are simply amazing. It's like most everything else, you need to keep it updated with different activities, to entice their interest. My dcks love it and I keep it stored in our puzzle/game/extra crap goes in there room. If it gets forgotten for awhile, we drag it out and it stays 'new' for quite awhile again.

If I had $1000 to spend...wow, I'd love to revamp my outdoor space. Been saying that for years.

[DaveA]

I'd split it into about 4-5 sections like puzzles, manipulatives, dolls/ animals....... and buy a bunch of simple stuff rather than something big.

[DaveA]

If I had $1000 to spend...wow, I'd love to revamp my outdoor space. Been saying that for years.

One of my big complaints about grants is most won't let you submit materials lists. For what a simple wooden swing/ playhouse kit costs I can build something twice the size with a ton more features and still have $ to buy a bunch of stuff to play with outside. Same thing with furniture and things like light tables.

[Josiegirl]

One of my big complaints about grants is most won't let you submit materials lists. For what a simple wooden swing/ playhouse kit costs I can build something twice the size with a ton more features and still have $ to buy a bunch of stuff to play with outside. Same thing with furniture and things like light tables.

Oh I completely agree! And for those who shop sales(yard, garage or otherwise ). We used to get free 'fun for dc money' to spend but it had to be spent through Lakeshore. LS can be nice, but IMO way overpriced and I've had a lot of their stuff break.

[tenderhearts]

I agree, I could make the money go so much further if I could thrift it.

[storybookending]

One of my big complaints about grants is most won't let you submit materials lists. For what a simple wooden swing/ playhouse kit costs I can build something twice the size with a ton more features and still have $ to buy a bunch of stuff to play with outside. Same thing with furniture and things like light tables.

It KILLS me buying things with grant money sometimes because we are usually limited to DSS, Kaplan or Lakeshore. It takes me forever and things are in and out of the cart as the “I can get this SO much cheaper at Walmart/Target or second hand” mindset sets in.

[Blackcat31]

One of my big complaints about grants is most won't let you submit materials lists. For what a simple wooden swing/ playhouse kit costs I can build something twice the size with a ton more features and still have $ to buy a bunch of stuff to play with outside. Same thing with furniture and things like light tables.

Right?!

Every year we can apply for a service grant and last year I wanted to get a toddler play ground set for outside.

Menards, Home Depot and Lowes want a ridiculous amount of money for them....my DH literally flips every time we even discuss buying one.... so when we apply for our grants we have to know what we want to buy before we're awarded the grant so I submitted a request for one of those toddler playset from Menards and once I got approved for it, I requested that my DH be able to build it himself instead of us buying it. They actually said yes!

My DH was thrilled because you are right, the wanted almost $500 for it at Menards but my DH did it for less than $150. His time was all that he had to invest after buying materials. We now have the exact playset I wanted but for a lot less money.

[ardeur]

1. wall-mounted changing table
2. wall-mounted soap and instant hand sanitizer
3. wall-mounted paper towels & bulk paper towels
4. new infant and toddler toys. Mine are VERY well-loved.
5. arts and crafts supplies