I want to start a childminding business : what are the essential toys to have ?

[keentoknow]

Ideally, I'd like to care for 0 to 3. I think I have pretty much everything, I just to check with you !

For my 2 yo DS the essentials have been:
Wooden blocks
Train tracks + trains
Kitchen + play food
Garage + cars (metal not wood!)
Art materials
Ride on toys for outside
Little table and chairs

Good luck!

I meant metal not plastic cars!!! He's never been interested in the oversize plastic ones!

Thank you bullets !!!

Books - many, many books

Oh, and dolls. All the little ones I've looked after love babies, and arguing over the buggies to push them in!

noted thank you wherebethatblackbirdto

bouncy balls
play dough / paints
shape sorters
puzzles - peg and large piece jigsaws

Climbing frame/slide/swing

• Duplo. You can buy cheap job-lots of ebay.
• dress-ups (can be really simple with just hats, bags, shoes and scarves)
• CD stories for quiet time
• puzzles

I was going to say duplo too, and books.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help !!!

DS1 & 2 both loved their toy washing machine. 50p from a car boot, unbreakable and you can put stuff in it - so makes small boys v happy!

I'm a CM and there is definitely girl/ boy divide on the toy front at mine! Boys favourite is my Thomas train set and the girls favour the wooden kitchen.

I would recommend getting a kitchen Ikea one is on offer at £45 at present.
Ikea dolls as they are different ethnicities.
Small table and chair set (again can't beat ikea)

Here is a list of some of my toys ...
Pop up tent
Pop up tunnel
Slide
Playhouse
Tonks trucks
Lawn mower
Wheel barrow
Little tikes car.

Lego (older ones)
Duplo
Mega blocks
Stickle bricks
Wooden blocks

Small world ...
Cars, car mat and wooden garage.
Toy story/ mr potato head (great for play dough)
Animals e.g. Scleich
Imaginext stuff
Dinosaurs
Pirate ship and figures.
Castle
Happy land - I have village / dinosaur set/ rocket/ Olympic set which includes wheelchair athletes. Happy land is very good for different ethnicities.

Dressing up clothes.
Tea set
Food
Doctors set
Vet set

Electronic stuff ...
Abc sound board
Phone
Inno tab
TAG reader pens.

Arts and craft stuff.

Most of my stuff was / is my children's.

Ooh and hundreds of books!

& Lots of jigsaws/ games.

You will need some toys and books that show that your setting is inclusive, so things that represent different cultures, ethnicities, religions, abilities and lifestyles (not as a separate part of your toys but just included with everything).
I find dressing up clothes in charity shops, so sari's, waistcoats, long dresses and handbags etc.
Some libraries have childminder memberships which give you a larger allowance of books and no late fee's.
There are also toy libraries so you can have a few different things each week ( and if they go down well you could purchase your own).
It can be expensive when you start up, but remember there are lots of things you can do for free/cheap, like junk modelling, den building, baking, water play. Google recipes for gloop and play dough, loads of brilliant idea's out there.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do these lists !!! THANK YOU !!!!