CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Note: The Best Practice column assumes that everything in the Guideline column is already in place.
Guideline Best Practice
Furnishings
General:
Child-sized tables and chairs (enough for maximum Adult-sized chairs (one for each staff) in each group
attendance) situated in activity centres as appropriate room
Cots/sleeping mats (plus sheets, blankets, pillows) Loft
Waste containers Kneeling/floor-sitting table (25-30 cm high)
Child-accessible storage shelves (appropriate for each Standing (child) table (50-60 cm high)
activity centre) Ceiling mirrors
Adult storage shelving Computer
Mirrors at crawling & standing height Comfortable adult furniture in adult areas
Cubbies/lockers/childs personal storage space
Sturdy step stool (for sinks, counters, etc.)
Infants:
Cribs/playpens - one per child enrolled Activity saucer (stationary entertainment centre)
Diaper change table
Infant monitor
High chairs
Stroller or high-sided wagon
Car seats (if transporting)
Toddlers:
Potty chair
Car seats (if transporting)
Toys & Materials
Art Centre
Furniture:
Easel (wall-mounted or freestanding) Drying Rack
Paper storage rack
Paper cutter
Painting supplies:
Brushes with short thick handles Brushes (assorted sizes and types)
Sheet of heavy plastic to protect table/floor Additional tempera colours
Powdered tempera paints (red, yellow, blue, green, Tempera blocks
orange, purple, black, white, brown) Water colours
Paint shirts Prepared finger-paint
Paint containers Shaving cream
Finger-paint materials (soap flakes, cornstarch, liquid Sponges
soap) Bingo daubers
Modeling supplies:
Tightly covered containers Pipe cleaners
Clay flour Plasticene
Play dough ingredients Assorted additional play dough carving and molding
Rolling pins tools
Cookie cutters
Drawing materials:
Large diameter crayons Erasers Water soluble chalk Chalkboards
Regular crayons Pencil crayons Pastels Coloured chalk
Primary pencils Felt tip markers Oil pastels Chalkboard brushes
Rulers (short and long) Stencils HB pencils
Pencil sharpener Fabric crayons
Cutting & Gluing Materials:
Blunt scissors (right & left handed) Paper punches

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

Easy grip scissors Library paste
Adult scissors Rubber cement
Wallpaper paste Paste/glue brushes
White glue (water soluble)
Paste/glue spreaders
Glue sticks
Old magazines & catalogues
Box of paper scraps
Paper:
Newsprint Heavy shelf paper Tissue paper
Construction paper - assorted colours & sizes Manilla tag Cellophane
Poster paper - assorted colours & sizes Bristol board Gummed paper - sheets
White drawing paper - assorted sizes Finger-paint paper and precut shapes
Recycled paper (used on one side) Crepe paper Tracing paper
Corrugated rolls Onionskin
Wallpaper samples Gift wrap
School-age materials:
Jewelry making supplies Acrylic paints
Craft glue gun Photography supplies
More extensive arts & crafts materials
Miscellaneous:
Aluminum foil Fabric scraps Stamps & stamp pads Felt
Wax paper Wool/yarn scraps Wooden stir sticks Burlap
Paper plates Buttons Powdered alum Raffia
Paper cups Cotton batting Glycerin Cotton puffs
Scotch tape String Plastic & paper drinking Q-tips
Masking tape Rubber bands straws Toothpicks
Duct tape Egg cartons Twist ties Clear mac tac
Paper fasteners Food colouring Tongue depressors Glitter
Stapler & staples Large boxes of found/ Pipe cleaners Stickers
Thumb tacks recycled materials Clothespins Feathers
Paper clips Shellac Plastic lacing
Paper towels Spray bottles Cardboard boxes
Block Centre
Blocks:
Hollow block set Waffle blocks
Unit block set Cardboard blocks
Tinker toys
Interlocking plastic blocks - large & small
Accessories:
Wooden train set Transportation signs
Cars, trucks, airplanes - large & small Car mat/rug
Animal sets - farm, zoo, wild Toy village, farm, airport, castle, garage, etc..
Family miniatures (people) Pictures of buildings
Roads with built-up sides
Dramatic Play Centre
Furniture: Refrigerator, dish cupboard
Kitchen set - stove, sink, table & chairs Child-sized bed
Cradle Rocking chair
Rack for dress-up clothing Dresser
House play:
Baking/cooking utensils - dish set, pots & pans Dish rack
Cleaning equipment - child-sized broom, dust pan, Multiethnic cooking utensils

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

ironing board, toy iron Real dishes & cooking utensils
Vacuum
Play food
Food cartons/containers
Dress-up play:
Adult clothing - mens & womens Wigs
Mirrors Make-up
Occupational clothing & props - helmets, hats, shoes, Old Halloween costumes
jackets, lunch bucket, briefcase, masks, etc. Prop kits1 - large boxes containing assorted themed
Multiethnic clothing & props prop materials such as postal, store, hair dresser/
barber, restaurant, hospital, office, garage,
farmer, fire fighter, space, cultural, leisure/sports,
historical, mythical/fantasy
Stage/platform
Doll play:
Assorted dolls - male, female, multiethnic, baby dolls, Doll stroller
dolls of varying abilities Doll bathtub
Doll accessories - bedding, bottles, clothes Doll high chair
Doll bed Dollhouse with furniture and accessories
Miscellaneous:
Toy telephone Real telephone (non-working)
Cuddly stuffed toys Assorted real non-working household items
Pictures of household items, emotions, feelings, Tent
multiethnic people and places
Puppet play:
Hand puppets Puppet theatre
People puppets Body puppets
Finger puppets
Puppet making supplies
Gross Motor Area
Climbing equipment:
Climbing apparatus (appropriate for the age of the Climber add-ons (gangplank, rings, climbing rope,
children) steering wheel, etc.)
Balance beam Teeter board
Trapeze
Games equipment:
Balls - assorted sized & types (rubber, soccer, coloured Bats - large, lightweight Hoops
plastic) Punching bag Giant ball
Bean bags Bowling set Parachute
Skipping ropes Ring toss Large ropes
Gymnastics equipment:
Rocking boats Tunnels Rocking horse
Tumbling mats Large inflated mattress Spring board
Foam shapes - wedges, Box horse
bolsters
Wheeled equipment:
Tricycles Occupational riding vehicles - tractors, trucks
Riding toys Wheelbarrow
Wagons Two-wheeled bikes
Push & pull toys Roller skates
Scooter boards
Outdoor Equipment:
(in addition to items in other categories that can be used Garden tools, wheel barrow

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

indoors and outdoors) Novelties: boat, tree trunk
Large climbing frame Climbing frame accessories/add-ons
Sandbox Planks, crates, tires
Pails & shovels - many Play house
Brooms Kites
Picnic tables Frisbee
Wading pools
Hoses, sprinkler
Sleds
Snow shovels
Large Tonka-type vehicles
Library/Language/Reading/Quiet Centre
Furniture:
Display rack book shelf Adult rocking or arm chair
Carpet Foam chip chairs
Large cushions Child-sized sofa, arm chair, rocker
Pillows/cushions in many shapes & sizes
Looking materials:
Picture books for various ages and with a variety of Photo album
subject material (cloth, cardboard, washable, pictures Slide projector & slide sets
only, fiction, nonfiction, alphabet) View finder and slides
Child-made booklets TV/VCR and childrens videos
Pictures
Listening materials:
Tape and/or CD player - child-accessible Headphones
Tapes and/or CDs Listening centre (to allow 3-4 children to listen at
Tape and storybook sets once with headphones)
Listening games
Talking materials:
Prints/posters about feelings, emotions, self, family, Additional prints/posters about concepts (shapes,
community, etc. letters, words), occupations, etc.
Chart stand
Chart stand paper
Concept materials:
Flannel board Easel for flannel board
Flannel board sets - people, animals, etc. Additional sets - shapes, fruits, body parts, storybook
Small manipulatives characters, etc.
Magnetic board
Magnet sets
Manipulatives/Fine Motor Area
Furniture:
Table & chairs Puzzle rack
Carpeted floor area Shelf with rack for bins
Puzzles:
Wooden puzzles - 5-20 pieces with knobs Additional wooden puzzles with & without knobs
Cardboard puzzles - 5-100 pieces Floor puzzles - 15-50 pieces
Mutli-texture puzzles
Foam rubber puzzles
Plastic puzzles
Sequence puzzles
Pegboards:
Wooden pegboards with assorted size holes and pieces Giant pegboards
Crepe foam pegboard

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

Light Bright
Math/numbers:
Number games such as number lotto Abacus
Assorted counting toys (such as teddy bear counters) Additional counting toys to rotate choice
Parquetry blocks & patterns Measuring tapes & rulers
Dominoes Scales - bathroom, balance
Magnetic numbers
Manipulatives:
Large wooden beads with large holes Large wooden beads with small holes
Laces/stiff string Small beads
Pounding boards with mallets Bead patterns
Nesting containers Additional assorted nesting boxes, baskets, barrels
Stacking pole with cylinders Apparatus with bolts, screws & tools
Miniature dramatic play toys Clothing set - snapping, zippering, buttoning, lacing
Form box
Elastic board
Lock & key board/box
Things with lids - boxes, jars
Games:
Picture lotto Letter lotto
Card games Assorted concept lottos
Board games such as Candyland
Constructive:
Small wooden cubes Cube patterns
Small unit blocks Duplo
Regular lego Assorted interlocking plastic & wooden toy sets
Tinkertoys Small soft blocks
Small cars & trucks Mechano
Sewing:
Blunt needles Sharp needles with large eyes
Blank sewing cards Embroidery hoop
Sharp scissors Burlap
Assorted wool Embroidery cotton
Music/Movement Centre
Tape/CD player - child-accessible Blank tapes
Tapes/CDs - folk songs, childrens songs, singing Microphone for tape recording
games, classical, pop, rhythm, jazz, cultural, Piano
movement Hand drum
Song books Chime bars
Rhythm instruments, including some with large knobs Extra rhythm instruments
Xylophone Cultural rhythm instruments - bongo drums, rain
Scarves, banners, props to wave sticks, etc.
Autoharp
Sand Centre
Furniture:
Sand table
Accessories:
Sand Miniature people
Assorted plastic beakers, measuring cups, margarine Animal sets
containers, etc. Small plastic trees, buildings, etc.
Pails Rakes, hoes
Shovels, scoops, spoons Molds, cookie cutters
Sifters Muffin tins

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

Funnels Sprinkler can
Small vehicles Screen
Sand substitutes (rice, lentils, bird seed, cornmeal)
Water Play Centre
Furniture:
Water table
Accessories:
Water Assorted plastic Siphon Water of differing
Aprons containers & bowls Plastic tubing temperatures
Mops Funnels Food colouring (including ice)
Towels Sieve Liquid soap Water pump
Sponges Egg beater Bubble pipes Water wheel
Dolls Straws for blowing Squirt bottles
Measuring cups bubbles Floating toys
Science/Nature Centre
Furniture:
Extra light source Audiovisual equipment
Concept materials:
Magnets - assorted shapes & sizes Iron filings Skeleton
Items made & not made of iron (for magnets) Microscope Stethoscope
Balance scales Flashlight Hand mirror
Items for weighing Batteries & bulbs Globe
Magnifying glass Discovery boxes Prism
Items to view Games using science
Thermometer concepts
Books - relating to themes Kaleidoscopes
Pictures - relating to themes Colour wheel
Nature materials:
Plants Terrarium Nature games -
Watering can Potting/planting materials matching cards,
Pets - guinea pigs Assorted pets sequencing cards
Pet food Bug catchers & keepers Ant farm
Pet cages Aquarium Nests
Pictures - relating to nature Fish & fish food
Books - relating to nature Shells, rocks, etc.
Cooking:
Cooking utensils Pictures of food and Hot plate
Ingredients cooking Toaster oven
Aprons Books about food and Games involving food, smell, taste, etc.
Oven mitts cooking
Recipe charts
Woodworking/Carpentry Centre
Furniture:
Woodworking bench Tree stump for hammering nails into
Tool rack
Box for wood scraps
Tools: (good real tools)
Hammer Assorted soft wood scraps Screwdriver Spools
Saws Nails with large heads Screws Pliers
Vise Assorted other nails Brace & bit Shellac
Clamps Safety goggles/glasses Styrofoam
Sandpaper Work gloves Paint & brushes
Wood glue

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

Guideline Best Practice

Infants
*Note: All toys for, and accessible to, infants must be of a size and construction appropriate for infants
Birth to 3 months:
Rattles Mobile located within babys vision
Large rings
Squeeze & sucking toys
Cardboard or vinyl books with high-contrast
illustrations
4 to 6 months: All of the above plus:
Soft doll
Texture balls
Toys that make noise when batted, squeezed or
mouthed
7 to 12 months: All of the above plus:
Rag & baby dolls
Stuffed animals
Puppets
Large soft blocks
Rubber or large plastic balls
Nesting toys
Cloth or soft vinyl books with bright pictures
Soft plastic or wooden vehicles with wheels
12 to 18 months: All of the above plus:
Surprise or music box Wide watercolour markers
Board books with simple stories and pictures Old magazines to tear
Recordings with songs and rhymes
Fat non-toxic crayons
Large blank paper
Assorted blocks
People, animals and vehicles made of wood or rubber
Sand and water toys
Large cardboard boxes to crawl in

1. Prop kits - examples:

Supermarket - cash register (can be homemade cardboard box), plastic fruit & vegetables,
play money (can be homemade), paper or plastic grocery bags, scale, shopping baskets,
empty food boxes & containers (cereal, margarine, etc.)

Hospital - white or green shirts, stethoscope, band-aids, gauze, clipboard with paper &
pencil, hospital gowns, old sheet (solid colour), play thermometer, play doctors kit

References:
y Dunster, Lee. Home Child Care: A Caregivers Guide. Ottawa: Child Care Providers
Association, 1994.
y Health and Welfare Canada. Facilities and Equipment for Day Care Centres. Minister of
National Health and Welfare Social Service Programs Branch, 1984.
y Olds, Anita Rui. Child Care Design Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

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 CHILD CARE EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS LIST

y Toys: Tools for Learning. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of
Young Children, 1999.

EQ8