CM what toys should I supply for boys?

[apotomak]

I'm in the process of registration and I should get my certificate within the next couple of months. I think it would be a good idea to get some more boy toys as so far nearly everything I've got for 18m+ is pink and girly. I'm going to visit car boot sales etc ... what are the MUST HAVES for boys? I'm afraid if potential parents come to visit my new setting they'll be overwhelmed with pinkness and if they have boys they may decide to go somewhere else which I would understand.
I would appreciate any ideas on resources for boys ... I thought some small cars and a train set. I have some building blocks ... what else should I think of?

my house is very pink, i just bought a few cars and a car mat? i got given aplastic castle, ill collect things as and when i can, ooo and i remeber he liked dinsaurs so we made a volcano out of paper mache, i would wait and see who you get come along, and when you find out thier like explain you will collect some resourses together for their likes :D

my 20mth DS loves pushing the pink pushchair at toddler group! i understand that doesn't help you much though!

fav toys at home...his teddies, some large cars, a pushalong train, an empty pot of hot chocolate, jack in a box (don't remember it being as expensive as that though) and some stacking cups. oh and he absolutely loves balls. big balls, little balls in fact anything that rolls so tomatoes qualify as well!

if i were looking for a CM and saw you had alot of pink, it wouldn't put me off

hth

There are no must haves and its all about equal opps.

That said, having 3 boys of my own and having only minded mainly boys (in 6 years I have minded the grand total of 2 girls - don't know why, its just the way its worked out) you can imagine most of my toys are considered 'boy toys'.

you will find boys and girls will enjoy playing with cross-gender toys and most toys apart from the colour is non-gender specific.

I currently care for a 2yr old boy who adores playing with the teasets, girlsworld, toy hoover, buggy and dollies etc.

Its always good to have some:
construction
small world
dinosaurs and cars
footballs/cones/basketball hoops
remote controlled/programmable toys

each child is different though - boy or girl!

Stickle bricks
Lego
cars
Garage
Aeroplanes
Trains / Track
Building Blocks
Toy Tools (or real if you are feeling brave)
Balls, Balls and more balls
Empty Boxes (big ones for dens)
Sand Pit / Water Tray
All kinds of plastic animals
Computer Games Wii PS3 XBox etc
Anything that makes a noise
Pop up tents / tunnels

Most of my boy mindees enjoy "girly" type toys, think its mainly because at home they get boy stuff, so the tea sets, prams, buggies, dolls are a bit of a novelty.

In general all children like painting, playdoh, gluing stuff so if I were you I would stock up on craft, modelling clay, invest in a sand pit (about £12 with a lid from Argos) thats plenty to be going on with to get out when prospective mindees come to visit, then when you get some customers add what you need. You will soon be drowning in all sorts of necessary evil toy fings.

cars
building blocks
super hero figures
"boy" type dressing up clothes
balls of all sizes
ride on toys like cars
mega blocks, lego etc

for most boys and girls there will come a time when they prefer to play with "boy" or "girl" toys so it is a good idea to provide for both. some will enjoy playing with any and all toys and others will not.

just remembered: diggers or bob the builder type toys for younger ones.
wooden train set and train track

I would say that all my children play with the same toys, boys love the pushchairs etc as much as girls. I would say that cars are very important but then the girls will play with them too. Trains, playdough, balls outside, puzzles, I have a wooden tool kit which they love banging around with. My son and the boys I mind love Happyland and my kitchen as well.

Definately construction toys depending on age- wooden blocks, mega blocks, duplo, lego. I mind 2 sisters who I would guess don't have a lot of 'boys toys' at home as they go straight to the construction toys and absolutely love building things when they are with me!