Claire Wilson: Welcome to my shed

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Let me show you my shed, my ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of Childminding treasures. That’s how I would describe my Childminding Shed. It was my first purchase when I moved into our house, before I kept everything in drawers. Surrounding me in my house morning noon and night, piled up so high even I couldn’t find anything. Now after 4 years of rearranging, collecting, rooting through car boot sales and Charity shops, sourcing through friends, family, parents of mindees, various websites and social platforms. I finally have it the way I want it.

I can stand and survey my kingdom and wait for inspiration to grab me. Or, with the children to guide me through there eyes gather the objects in a basket like I was choosing pick and mix at a sweet shop. Everything is arranged in sections. Two shelves of loose parts:

Natural - Pinecones, bamboo pieces, shells, wooden pieces, glass nuggets.

Recycled – Plastic bottle tops, bottle tops, baby lids

Craft pieces – Pipe cleaners, lolly sticks, ribbon, beads, wool

Themed pieces (linked to the seasons) – Foam egg, craft wooden pieces.

All displayed in clear jars.

My portable Play dough trolley to one side with wooden boards, stampers, cutting

tools.

An Art / messy play shelf with poster paints, acrylics, chalks, markers, oil pastels,

easels.

Sand and Water play – filled with real items pipettes, syringes, funnels, basters,

tweezers, test tubes.

Small world figures – Large dinosaurs, Safari animals, rainforest animals, Arctic

animals, sea life, mini beasts, farm animals, fantasy creatures (some separated in

grab bags)

Drawers of material / objects and other wooden artefacts to enhance invitations

Outdoor play loose parts such as bats, balls, hoops and bean bags

And at the back boxes of …

Authentic resources for the mud kitchen including weighing scales, wooden bowls,

tankards, bun trays, real cutlery.

Wooden sectioned bowls, trays, tins.

Ceramic tea sets and bowls great for tea parties

Dolls, clothes such as real baby grows and a Moses basket donated by a friend

Large loose parts – Guttering, large cardboard tubes.

Baskets, baskets and more baskets.

Find out more on nature based play with our Wanderlust Child Nature Study here