Safe & Unsafe Toys for Childcare Centers During COVID-19

While in the reopening phase at your center, it’s important to think about what the kids can and cannot play with. Since early childhood education is based on hands-on play, you want to find ways to stay true to that philosophy but in a safe way.

Below you will find lists of must have toys for use and inappropriate toys for use according to safety and health guidelines that you should consider when making an age appropriate daycare supplies list for your center or home daycare.

Safe and Age Appropriate Daycare Toys

Individual Sensory Bins

Sensory play is vital to hands-on learning, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Since it isn’t safe to have community bins, you can still implement sensory play with individual bins. Each bin should be wide enough and deep enough to play. There are so many mediums which you can use like water, sand, rice, beans, etc as these are open ended toys. Choose a few toys and tools for each bin, and the students will have a blast with this.

Change out and clean each bin monthly or if you have it in your budget, buy multiple bins per child to have a variety. (Budget tip: once it is safe to go back to community bins, you will have all of these smaller bins to use for storage solutions! Think of it as an investment.)

Lego

Who doesn’t love Lego? Legos are great for developing fine motor skills for kids. Consider dividing the blocks into smaller/individual bins and giving each child a Lego “plate” to build upon to define his/her space. Once the child is done playing with the Legos, spread them all out on a plastic cloth or tarp to sanitize and leave to dry for the next day.

Blocks

Foam or wood blocks are great for play and can be easily wiped down and sprayed for easy sanitization. Consider dividing up the blocks for smaller groups who can play in their space (Hint: use painters tape to create construction zones for the children to build in). After each use, spray down and allow to dry completely.

Art Easel/Paint

Allowing children to create using paint and art supplies is important. Wipe down brushes or consider purchasing a set for each child to use and keep in separate containers. Be sure to switch out new water and wipe down your easel in between each use. This equipment is great for developing fine motor skills for all ages. Discover different types of art materials for crafts that your kids can use when looking for daycare supplies.

Magnatiles

Children LOVE Magnatiles or any magnetic building items that they can use for open-ended play. Allow one or two children spaced apart to play with them and then wipe/spray in between each use.

Play Kitchen

This may be surprising that this is labeled appropriate, but dramatic play is so important to children’s development. If you eliminate costumes and use hard plastic toys and utensils for the dramatic play items, then this can still be a safe way to dramatic play and learn. Consider spacing the play kitchen furniture so that children can still stay safe and play. Don’t forget to clean all of the toys used before allowing new children to play, especially play food.

Plastic Clipboards

Children love to draw, color, and write anywhere that is not a formal desk or table. Having a clipboard allows for a child to create wherever they want! Bring them outside, on the floor, etc. Plastic clipboards are easily wiped down, too! This will help develop their fine motor skills.

Contact-Free Technology

This is a very expensive option, but well worth the investment. This type of technology, such as Beam, projects games onto the floor where children can safely play in a germ-free, contact-free way!  You’ve probably seen this in a local mall in common areas where children are trying to “stomp on balloons.”  This smart technology is great for learning, moving, and staying safe! If you can’t go outside to play, this is an alternative that’s worth considering!

Playground Balls

These can be used in your indoor place space or outside and be wiped down easily. There’s so much you can do with a playground ball! Practice throwing, shooting into a basket, throwing at a target, catching, etc.  These can be easily cleaned each day. This helps with the development of gross motor skills.

“Larger Than Life” Outdoor Plastic Blocks

These are such a hit to have outside in addition to climbing and play equipment. Sometimes kids still want to build and play outside, so this is a great alternative to high-energy gross motor activities. These are also super easy to clean and air dry.

“Larger Than Life” Outdoor Games

Kids love to play giant games like Jenga or Connect Four and can do so with safe distance between them while outdoors. The blocks and pieces for connect four can be easily clean and left to air dry between uses!

Unsafe Toys – Daycare Supplies to avoid

Costumes

Kids love to dress up and dramatic play is a big part of their development, but it’s best to not have costumes out during this time and even during flu season. As an alternative, you can give each child his/own hat or apron to keep in their cubbies in the hall where they are the only ones allowed to wear those items. 

Stuffed Animals

Unless you have a washer and dryer in your facility and can wash these items daily, it’s best to not have stuffed animals or pillows or things that can’t be easily washed. INSTEAD, try using outdoor pillows or outdoor cushions as an alternative in your cozy corner since they are easier to wipe down! (I suggest using outdoor cushions even when there isn’t a pandemic!)

Community Sensory Bins

It is too risky to allow all of the little hands to play in the community bins even if they wash before and after or use hand sanitizer. Since little ones can’t always keep from touching their faces, it’s best to use individual bins. The alternative to this can be wearing gloves and masks while playing, but that may not be as fun.

Cardboard Puzzles

While these are fun, they are hard to clean since spraying or wiping them down too often will have them start to peel and disintegrate. Try finding puzzles that are plastic or foam instead.

Community iPad or Computer

There are way too many germs that stay on computers and iPads in general, so having only one or two for the classroom isn’t going to work. It’s best to have individual ones or contact-free alternatives to technology during this time.

Sand Pit/Table

Just like the issue with the community sensory bins, it would be entirely too hard to try to change out the sand throughout the day and keep it from spreading germs. Individual bins are the way to go!

Water Table

*Unless you can drain and refill between each use.

Water play is so fun, especially during the warm months. If you can’t do individual bins, then make sure you have a water source where you can drain in between each use, wipe down, and then refill again. This takes a lot of time and work, so having individual bins is the easier and safest way to go!

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There are so many ways to continue to help students grow and achieve milestones but still remain safe, and your daycare supply list is one of them to include in your daycare budget. It just takes a little more thought and creativity, which I know that you, teacher, have a lot of!

Teachers are magical, thoughtful, and resourceful, so be encouraged and be sure to collaborate with other teachers to get through this together! What ways are you helping your classrooms stay fun and safe? Add other ideas in the comments so we can share our experiences!

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The pandemic has caused a lot of changes, but that doesn’t mean the quality of your child care program has to — you’ve got this!

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