Your dayhome kids love activities like crafting, am I right? They enjoy the process of creation and imagination. That sense of inspiration drawn from one great idea after another. It creates connections through quality time spent together. They increase their skill level, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem. Along with teaching them focus, patience, and perseverance.
We love to see how you and your dayhome encourage the kids to grow and develop! But activity supplies can get expensive. Embolden PDC has compiled a list of places that you can source inexpensive activity supplies to keep the fun times going.
Don’t forget to join our community network to gain access to our resource center. In there you’ll find our ‘Activities & Play’ which has printables such as playdoh mats, dramatic play, alphabet cards, busy books, scavenger hunts, look & finds, adapted books, and missions ready for you to download.
1
Marketplace and Buy Nothing Groups || If you do not have a buy nothing group for your area consider starting one! Learn more about them here.
2
GARAGE SALES
Try to find a community wide garage sale event that way there will be lots of garage sales close together to check out. You can find listings on Facebook or Kijiji!
3
SECOND-HAND SHOPS
Great place to find dress up clothes, fabrics, bowls, baskets, trays, spoons, tongs, puzzles.
4
DOLLAR STORES
Scotch tape, poster paper, felt pieces, paint brushes, paint, seasonal items, and more.
5
HABITAT RESTORE
Construction items like tiles, wood flooring, cabinet handles, cabinet doors, plumbing, peg boards, white boards, and more. Check out their website here.
6
MICHAELS
There is almost always a coupon available for 30% one item. Use one each time you visit on items that don’t usually go on sale. i.e. toobs, schleich, etc
Seasonal items generally go for 80% off a few weeks after that season is over. There will not be as much selection but the prices will be much more affordable!
7
RESUSE CENTRE
Only $5 for 25kg of stuff! The Edmonton Resuse Centre is an incredible resource for those in the Edmonton area. Your can load up your cart with lots of recycled materials to use in your dayhome. Metals tins, cardboard, fabric scraps, film canisters, National Geographic, calendars, cards, board games, books, binders, trophies – just to name a few!!
Click here for a link to a video tour of the reuse centre.
8
FRIENDS & FAMILY
Some of your friends and family may have items around their workplaces or homes that they are able to give you.
9
YOUR HOME
Cereal boxes, lids from milk jugs & pop bottles, egg cartons, elastics from produce, Kleenex boxes, paper towel, Kleenex, save used wrapping paper, paper shopping bags, bubble wrap, etc.
10
NATURE
Grab a basket and head out for a nature walk to collect some items. Things like sticks, rocks, flowers, leaves, logs, etc.
