When starting a child daycare center or a childcare home facility, one of the major amenities that should be incorporated into your facility is the childcare equipment. This includes anything from children playhouses to furniture to children safety equipment. Considerable research is required to find the right quality equipment. Special focus should be laid on durability and safety. After all you are dealing with children here.

To help you with this process, given below is a list of equipment recommended for all childcare programs:

• Child-size recliner
  
• Coat/Dress-up Rack
  
• Cow Rocker (toddler) with washable cover
  
• Easy Grip Paintbrushes
  
• Flannel board with scenery
  
• Infant Bouncer Car
  
• Kitchen Microwave/Oven/Sink
  
• Baby Bouncer
  
• Large Felt Boards (30" x 40")
  
• Light box Desk & Chair
  
• Nap Mats
  
• Observation Activity Table
  
• Playpen
  
• Play structures both indoor and outdoor
  
• Play Houses that are big enough
  
• Red Boppy with Animals and Arc
  
• Round Lego Table & Chair
  
• Riding Objects such as tricycles
  
• Safety Gate
  
• Safety Mirror/Baby Mirror
  
• Sand & Water Table with lid
  
• Sandbox with Lid
  
• Small Table with 2 Chairs
  
• Swing Sets
  
• Tent (teepee)
  
• Toddler Slide
  
• Tool Box with Tool Rack
  
• Tool Workshop
  
• Transportation Activity Rug
  
• Tri-fold Beauty Shop & Stool

The quantity of each of these items depends upon the number of children that you enroll. Depending on the quantity as well as quality these items could cost you anywhere from $1500 to $5000.

Copyright 2001, 2004. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this article in whole or in part without written or verbal permission is strictly prohibited. For information about reprinting this article, contact the copyright owner: Vanessa Rasmussen, Ph.D, Starting a Day Care Center, http://www.startingadaycarecenter.com.