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Daycare supplies and equipment generally include toys, books, and other items, but these are only part of what you need to really create an organized learning environment for your students. Below is a list of seven must haves you need for your classroom.

1. Art storage for kids Part of the daycare supplies and equipment you need to get ready for your students are art supplies because children love to be creative and to make art. However, keeping track of all those supplies and the children youre watching can be a nightmare. You need to have some type of storage unit that will keep all of these supplies organized and accessible to your students.

2. Art easels Setting up art stations where everything students need to start creating is available is a nice way of letting the students have a little more independence and self-expression. Plus, if you use art easels with underneath storage youll also have art storage for kids.

3. Appropriately sized tables and chairs Your daycare supplies and equipment may not normally include classroom furniture, but its worth considering. While it may be easier to use desks and other items designed for older students, you should always try to provide your students with tables and chairs they can work at comfortably.

4. Safe steps or stools One problem in many daycares and elementary classrooms is that existing items may not be easily accessible by your students. For example, drinking fountains are sometimes too high off the ground to be useful to students. Lowering the fountains is not a cost effective option, but you could buy special child-friendly stools or steps to make the fountains or other taller parts of your classroom easy and safe to reach for your students.

5. Media storage A few decades ago, the only media storage you would need in your classroom is a place for books and maybe a place to listen to records or cassettes. Today, you might have a sizable arsenal of media at your disposal, including CDs and DVDs. That means you need a place to store all of those items. Remember if you want your students to be able to select the items or to return them when they are finished, youll want to choose media storage furniture that is closer to the ground and is visually appealing.

6. Cubbie storage Part of the daycare supplies and equipment you need should include a way of your students to safely store their own items. Cubbie storage is a good way to do this because each child can have their own pre-assigned spot and because the cubbies make it easy to keep their items organized. Having the items stored far away from the actual classroom learning environment is a good idea so students wont be easily distracted.

7. Toy storage Toys, especially building blocks and similar loose toys, can be hard to keep organized. However, there are options available to make it easier. Consider using clear tote boxes to keep together certain types of toys, such as blocks, doll clothes, plastic food, etc. Your students will be able to easily see whats inside each box and can pick the one he or she wants to play with. When finished, they can put everything neatly back in the box for the next students to enjoy. When youre trying to get together all of the daycare supplies and equipment you need, dont forget the importance of organization in your classroom environment.

Patricia Giadone is the owner of http://www.childrensorganizers.com an online provider of discount classroom and home furniture for parents, daycares, preschools, and churches. Her writing focuses on early childhood and the benefits of organization in the classroom and at home.