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  1. #1
    Euphoric ! Dreamalittledream's Avatar
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    What's the best/worst large toy investment you've made?

    Best: My train table. I've went a step further on the basic train table and have cut more 'themed' wooden platforms to just place on top to switch it up. 1 layer has the train tracks screwed into place (my 1 year-olds kept taking off with the tracks), 1 layer has race car tracks screwed in place, one has a layer of Lego to build onto. I also use the table to put discovery bins on and also cover it with big sheets of paper for colouring, sheets of plastic for painting etc..
    Worst: A battery operated ride-on car. What was I thinking? Really bad purchase an indoor playroom...1 day of toes being run over and shins bruised (mostly mine!) was enough.
    Children are great imitators.
    So give them something great to imitate.

    ~Anonymous~

  2. #2
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    Mine was the indoor play house. Kids love it, takes up a lot of room, but keeps them occupied for hours. I hated having the train table. Kids ripped the tracks off all the time and hid them to the point where we could never find all the pieces. I too have tried the ride of toys but find the kids use them more as weapons to run over the smaller children so those have now been moved outside

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by michellesmunchkins View Post
    Mine was the indoor play house. Kids love it, takes up a lot of room, but keeps them occupied for hours. I hated having the train table. Kids ripped the tracks off all the time and hid them to the point where we could never find all the pieces. I too have tried the ride of toys but find the kids use them more as weapons to run over the smaller children so those have now been moved outside
    I love love love my playhouse too! Best investment to any daycare. Also a good playkitchen gives endless hours of fun too!

  4. #4
    Euphoric ! Inspired by Reggio's Avatar
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    My crew loves "role play" so the corner kitchen and tables and all the open ended dress up props.

    Other favorites are the block area which has a wooden house up top with storage for dolls,action figures, animals and beside storage for blocks, ramps planks, gullies and various vehicles and a trainset, various size balls, and instruction equipment and hard hats and laptops and joysticks for creating with.

    My light table is a favorite but I wish I had a full size one cause mine is more for solitary exploration or two kids who work well together in a small space

    I do not have any battery operated anything anymore to be honest - they make enough noise on their own without help and I prefer they use their imaginations oppose to bells and whistle toys that entertain them ... So other than flashlights for exploring light and shadow no batteries here ... I aim for open ended materials that can be used in many different ways - my storage is limited and I prefer not to have to rotate out too much - I have the staples that are always in the program and rotate puzzles, books and then add and remove things to the blocks and role play options .
    Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
    Loris Malaguzzi

  5. #5
    Euphoric ! Dreamalittledream's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Inspired by Reggio View Post
    I do not have any battery operated anything.
    Ideally, I would love to get there eventually. Less batteries would be better for them, and better for us financially! Definitely going to check out what a light table is. I've never heard of it.
    Children are great imitators.
    So give them something great to imitate.

    ~Anonymous~

  6. #6
    Euphoric ! Inspired by Reggio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dreamalittledream View Post
    I.... Definitely going to check out what a light table is. I've never heard of it.
    Here is a great blog with some awesome examples of different light tables and what to use them for ...

    http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/s...20with%20Light

    However my space is small and at this point I do not have for a large options so we use one from Michaels Craft Store like this - it only has a 12x12 exploration surface so more for just one friend at a time.

    http://www.michaels.com/Artograph-Li...efault,pd.html
    Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
    Loris Malaguzzi

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  8. #7
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    Best: Getting the entire little peoples town, including the track with the train (only two pieces that aren't ripped apart easily and can't be run off with. The farm, the castle, everything. I best part is that there is about three of every character or animal so there's no arguments that so and so has the toy so and so wants.

    Worst: My assortment of puzzles. The kids don't play with them, they just throw the pieces everywhere. Now I'm missing pieces to some very expensive musical puzzles (you know: where you put the last piece in and it sings to you) I need to re-think how I've set them up maybe. Put them out of reach and bring just a few down during motor skills time.

  9. #8
    Euphoric ! Dreamalittledream's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FlexFunCare View Post
    . Now I'm missing pieces to some very expensive musical puzzles (you know: where you put the last piece in and it sings to you) I need to re-think how I've set them up maybe. Put them out of reach and bring just a few down during motor skills time.
    I so agree on the puzzles...now, I've resorted to puzzles being a one-on-one activity.
    Children are great imitators.
    So give them something great to imitate.

    ~Anonymous~

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by FlexFunCare View Post
    Best: Getting the entire little peoples town, including the track with the train (only two pieces that aren't ripped apart easily and can't be run off with. The farm, the castle, everything. I best part is that there is about three of every character or animal so there's no arguments that so and so has the toy so and so wants.

    Worst: My assortment of puzzles. The kids don't play with them, they just throw the pieces everywhere. Now I'm missing pieces to some very expensive musical puzzles (you know: where you put the last piece in and it sings to you) I need to re-think how I've set them up maybe. Put them out of reach and bring just a few down during motor skills time.
    Sooooo true about the puzzles! Can't stand it!

  11. #10
    Euphoric !
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    Anything that has small pieces like puzzles, games, sorting type toys are used at the table under supervision. I put these things out while I am busy in the kitchen making snack, lunch etc and they can come and play. Pieces do not leave the table.

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