I’m always have an ever-changing (and ever growing) wish list compiled of interesting and inexpensive goodies that I can add to ny daycare.
The list is made up of Everyday Stuff like craft materials and art supplies, and then there’s The Good Stuff - the harder to find, unique items that hide out in attics, storage rooms and grandma’s cupboards. When I run across The Good Stuff, I feel like I’ve hit the jack-pot. 
Here’s a list of things that I’m keeping my eyes peeled for right now. Please take a peek and keep us in mind if you’re ever tossing or donating any of the following items. We’d love to intercept and give your “stuff” a second life here!
I’ve split the list into categories: The Good Stuff, Treasures, Craft Supplies, Art supplies, Containers, and Instruments (non-musical and musical).
The Good Stuff
- balance scale (the old-fashioned kind for measuring dry items)
- pulleys
- sewing basket
- mortar & pestle
- large magnet (doesn’t have to be horse-shoe shaped, just nice and strong)
- wooden clothes pegs (the old-fashioned kind, not the ones with a spring)
- eye-droppers (or medicine bottles with a dropper i.e. infant Tylenol)
- plastic syringes
- aquarium stones
- rotary phone
- manual type-writer
- jewellery box
- magnifying glass
- jumbo calculator
- silk scarves
- wooden crates
- milk crates
- watering can
- tiny glass bottles and jars
- chalk board brush
- felt-board & pieces
- flat sheets
- plastic table cloths
- rain barrel (with or without spigot)
- large water jug with spigot
- steering wheel
- mail-box
- set of taps/spout for outdoor kitchen
- couple of old tires
- car mat (area rug type with roads or activities on it)
- small wheelbarrow
- Children’s song-book for the piano
- buttons
- beads
- glass beads & baubles
- sea shells
- sea glass
- costume jewellery
- glass or plastic “gem stones”
- marbles
- acorns/chestnuts
- magnets
- teeny collectibles & miniature sets of anything (animals, dinosaurs, sea-life, houses…)
- scrabble tiles
- board-game pieces
Craft Supplies
- artificial flowers and leaves
- tissue paper
- bubble wrap
- ribbon/fabric scraps
- stamps/ink pad
- spray bottles & squirt bottles
- wine corks
- feathers
- “easter grass” (that colourful plastic grassy stuff)
- pipe cleaners, felt, foam shapes/letters, pom-poms, jingle bells, sparkly stuff etc
- stickers
- paper plates, coffee filters,
- crêpe paper streamers
- card-stock
- spools (wood or plastic)
- paint brushes (any size)
- white glue, glitter glue, modge-podge
- tape!! (painter’s, masking, scotch, coloured etc.)
- tempera paints, finger-paint
- food colouring
- Easel
- sorting trays (wood or plastic)
- muffin tins
- ice-cube trays
- jewellery box
- sewing box
- wood baskets/bowls
- plastic storage bins and containers
- large cardboard boxes (if you get a new fridge or stove)
- mason jars
- tweezers (metal or plastic)
- tongs
- stethoscope
- chopsticks
- golf tees
- castanets
- finger cymbals
- maracas
- tambourine
- wind-chimes
- jingle bells
- triangle
- harmonica
oh jackie, i LOVE your list! it’s like my permanent list, lol. i am constantly looking for miniature toys and itty bitties like that and haven’t been too successful finding what i want yet. my morgan loves rotary telephones, i can’t wait to find just the right one to bring home. i have several manual typewriters (thrift store finds, between $1-4 each), the kids are amazed by that.
I can’t believe you have SEVERAL manual typewriters! Jealous! I haven’t been looking all that long, but I haven’t come across any yet! Lucky YOU!
This is an AMAZING list!! I’m going to use it to create my own Wish List. Thanks so much for sharing!!
You’re welcome, Barbara! Have fun collecting your treasures!
Jackie – I’ve just had time to look around your blog. I’ve done licensed childcare at home for 26 years….your blog feels like…”Home.” When we do our “Spring Cleaning”, we will look for items on your wish list to send. I know we have many here! Darla
You are so sweet, Darla! Thank you!! So nice to know that my blog feels homey and cozy to you! That just makes my day!
Hi Jackie, thank u for responding me at facebook. We are now in Music and Movement and I need some more unique ideas for home made musical instrument aside from those panpipe, guitar, drums, shakers, maracas, tambourines. I want to use some of the house supplies that are appropriate for children to use.
I’m sorry I’m not able to help you with this, but I haven’t any homemade instruments on my blog. Have you tried Pinterest? You’ll likley find lots of recycled instruments posted by crafty moms and teachers there. Good luck and have fun!