Daycare123...My fiance found one online at ToysUs.com and phoned our store and it was the same price so my in-laws went to pick it up for me (the nearest store is 2 hours from me :( ) It was $70 plus tax. Sears has the same one for $80 if you don't have a toyrus near you either. It's been a good investment so far and I'm sure on the colder winter days it will be even more of a lifesaver for them to burn off some energy lol.
Cloud dough isn't that messy but it depends on your tolerance for messiness I guess. I don't particularly enjoy messy things but I do it for the kids. It's less messy I find if each child has their own container of it. It smells soooo good too!
I encourage free play a lot too but I have to admit that I don't feel like I'm doing my best if I don't do at least one guided activity a day. That is just me though. This group of kids is also a very active one and they are not content to just free play all day either so it's actually easier for me to do something structured as it helps decrease the fighting and boredom. There are definitely days where it's more free play though as I do think it's important for them to learn how to play and how to play nicely.
This group is all only children except for one but she may as well be an only child. There are definitely issues that come with that! They learn to share at dc but then go home and don't have to share so it's re-learning every day it seems lol.
