I feel your frustration, not just for daycare but with my kids' things over the years. I give up on water guns and butterfly nets. Or else buy them cheap so they don't cost a lot to replace.

I have quite a few little tikes things. I also have cruised garage sales and bought toys that we use outside. I figure if they stood up to a child's play and are ready to pass on, they are probably ok for daycare.

I had my dh build an outdoor mud kitchen out of wood and just added pots and pans, utensils, etc from Value Village.

I got some really nice magnifying glasses and tweezers from scholars choice. Pricey but good quality. They might have butterfly nets and other things.