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Original poster

Where to buy special needs / multi cultural toys etc

31 replies

JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:05

Do you know a good place that I can get these kind of items?

I have just looked on Ebay and was quite shocked at the price of some stuff - 3 figures up to £18!!!!

Do the ELC do these?

OP posts:
bambi06 · 04/11/2005 10:11

go to a special needs library, as childminders you can borrow from them.. i do through surestart as well.

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:13

Thanks!

OP posts:
HellyBelly · 04/11/2005 10:14

Hi Jenny. I got mine through ebay but yes, some things were really expensive. Also, if you have a local toy library then you should be able to borrow something. Only other thing I can think of for cheaper items to keep would be car boot sales but you need to be quick as I guess they'll stop soon!

By the way, not sure if you know that childminders get discount at ELC!

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:20

Hi Helen

I am always on the look out at boot sales but as you say, they are coming to an end now. I always look in the local charity shops too, which is where I can usually pick up some good books - picked up a couple today. I will keep looking on Ebay. I particularly want the plastic figures of the special needs people! We used to have them in the nursery I worked at but I dont know where they came from - could phone and ask I guess!

Also would you have posters and stuff up in your house with regards to multi cultural / special needs stuff? How else could you show the inspector you do have such stuff?

I didnt know about the ELC discount? How do I go about getting then then?

OP posts:
HellyBelly · 04/11/2005 10:23

Jenny, I know the figures you mean - not so easy to come by are they! You could always search in the online freeads too?

I have several multicultural toys and a couple of books but I don't have posters at the moment as I don't really have anywhere to put them. Only place really is my lounge door but this is covered in art work.

With the ELC, I think you have to have a photocopy of your certificate to register or it may even be as simple as taking the photocopy of your certificate in when you make a purchase. I can't remember what they told me?! Maybe call them?

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:26

Would you always have these toys out then?

I am off into town later so I my pop into the ELC and ask them! Could take a p/copy of my cert too incase I decide to buy anything!

OP posts:
HellyBelly · 04/11/2005 10:44

This is what I have and where I keep them - not sure it matters?

Books - in book case with others
Asian Family - smallish figures - kept with all other figures/'little people' people
Mexican and Indian soft toys - just happens to sit on my draws inside the little people bus (just coz they fit!)
Black doll - again kept on top of draws as no room in draws.

Think that's it.

Good luck in town. I'm off to take my little monkey to toddlers - spent the last hour insisting he doesn't want to go and now it's already started, he wants to go and I've just got him dressed - very lazy day

bye for now x

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:46

OK Thanks for that Helen!

Have a nice day!

OP posts:
HRHQoQ · 04/11/2005 10:49

sorry to butt in - but always makes me smile a little all of this "we must have ethnic toys for hte children to play with business"....The first time my SIL saw a black baby doll was when she came to the UK, she grew up with white dolls, and all the dolls her DD's played with are white too

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 10:51

Really? Its funny isnt it?

OP posts:
jellyjelly · 04/11/2005 12:36

You can take your ncma insurance card in and they will give you a discount card for you to keep. We get 10% but does exclude some stuff like paints, crafts that sort of thing.

karen23 · 04/11/2005 13:00

www. positive-identity.com has loads of stuff but the P&P is 20% of your order up to a maximum of £10 (Sorry can't figure out how to type it so you just click on it!)

Theres "The festival shop" as well (0121 444 0444 for a free catalogue) they have some good stuff but a bit on the expensive side (8 dolls £60.00!!!)but they're lovely they also do a book called All Kinds of Beliefs which is really good my dd reads it every night before bed! shes only 3. At my first inspection (The interview stage) the inspector was really impressed with it and she now recommends it to other childminders

Oxfam do alot as well but not all stores books you might have to ask where the local one is.

I found alot of mine at car boot sales and second hand shops most of them seem to be from schools

Hope this helps
Karen

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 15:08

Thanks guys! I will check them out!

OP posts:
ThePrisoner · 04/11/2005 22:41

Got super interactive books via Mini IQ - All Kinds of People, All Kinds of Beliefs, All Kinds of Bodies, All Kinds of Homes, All Kinds of Feelings. They cover just about everything OFSTED would want you to have! There's a beach scene in the Bodies one which includes able-bodied people together with people using wheelchairs, crutches, and with prosthetics. My minded children are fascinated with these books (with multiple flaps to open, tabs to pull, card wheels to turn) and they give a great starting point for many discussions.

They also do basic signing board books.

Got lovely story books from Amazon (Boots for a Bridesmaid, Don't Call Me Special, Rainbow Joe and Me, Mama Zooms etc.)

katymac · 04/11/2005 22:43

I have 4 of those (not the house one - is it good) The others are great

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 04/11/2005 22:44

I have seen a few of those books on Amazon actually and had put them in my basket but never got round to actually buying them!

So whats Mini IQ? Is it a website or am I being totally thick?

OP posts:
ThePrisoner · 04/11/2005 23:13

I went to local Mini IQ evening parties (party-plan). My receipts state that their website is this and phone number 0870-165-0223. They do loads of other books which my minded children love - wipe/clean learn-to-draw activity books on Things That Go and Animals (children trace over shapes, letters, numbers etc. to help practice drawing and writing in fun way). And no, I don't work for them!! I expect you can get them from Amazon?? They are written by Emma Damon or Emma Brownjohn.

Katymac - All Kinds of Homes includes everything from what homes are built of, different countries, different types of "kitchens" and bedrooms etc. If you've got the other ones, get this one too!! It's just as good.

Majorca · 06/11/2005 07:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
JenumGeranium · 06/11/2005 16:26

Thank you!

OP posts:
Flossi · 13/01/2006 21:53

Hello
Im a childminder who also runs a small business selling diversity rewources for childminders. Take a look at www.theequaloppshop.co.uk , its safe and secure to order from as we use paypal
Thanks

Tan1959 · 13/01/2006 23:59

What a lovely range of products

Isyhan · 14/01/2006 11:29

Another good source is www.letterboxlibrary.com
my early years department in Leeds to put together a whole list of multicultural and special needs toys and books.

amynnixmum · 14/01/2006 11:34

Formative Fun have lots of good stuff.

babster · 14/01/2006 11:53

Baker Ross have some puppets, dolls and pens/ paints/art materials in a full range of skin tones here

anniebear · 14/01/2006 14:28

Usborne do a lovely set of books for £4.99 each

Called Daisy The Dr, Vicky the Vet, Frank the Farmer, Tessa The Teacher and some one the firefighter!

In Daisy the Dr the receptionist is in a wheelchair, and the books also have lots of people/children with different skin colours.

They are lovely books for around ages 2-6. My 4 year olds love them