Thursday 20 February 2014

Crates!

One of the best things I ever discovered for our playground was milk crates - and not just any old crates oh no - ours are the deluxe version!! Originally we did have some of the traditional ones but I found that the children got their feet stuck in the spaces for the milk bottles. A few years back our milk provider changed & the new one began to leave 2-3 crates a week outside the school. They were just perfect for us! I managed to gather up a whole pile of them over the months until the milk man stopped using crates at our school, I suppose he was fed up of them not coming back!
Crate seats

A walk way of crates - running because she is so keen to get back to the start of the course!
We use them as seats mostly, they are brilliant for this purpose & can be left outside in all weathers with no fear of them being damaged. They can be lined up to provide a walk way or with planks added to lengthen the walk, they can be stacked on top of each other to provide steps. The children can carry stuff about in them or put dolls to bed in them. They have to learn to be careful when walking on them as they are very hard if they fall onto them. 

(When Peter from Cosy Direct visited our school, he loved these crates & managed to persuade the suppliers to start making them for him, to be able to sell them as an outdoor resource for schools. So if you ring for a copy of the latest Cosy catalogue 01332 370152, you'll see packs of these same crates available to buy for your setting. They are in packs of 6 or 30 and if you can't get them from a friendly milkman you should invest in them, they will last for ever, promise!)

12 comments:

  1. There are some crates at the local bus stop where we wait for the bus. They keep the kids entertained for ages!

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    1. Sounds like loads of fun, thanks for leaving a comment.

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  2. I agree - crates are just brilliant resources. By default - i.e. bread crates being left by delivery people, this is my collection - I've less milk crates but the ones you have are especially good. Very very posh. http://creativestarlearning.co.uk/early-years-outdoors/outdoor-play-with-bread-crates/

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    1. I have managed to snaffle one bread crate & must get some more - I like that they are bouncier than the milk crates.

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  3. Crates are awesome fun. I played with them as a kid.

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    1. Hi, thanks for leaving a comment. I'm glad to see they are back in popularity again.

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  4. Awesome! Great idea especially as seats under the plastic sheeting for wetter weather! #countrykids

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    1. Thanks for popping over from #countykids.

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  5. The milkman's loss is the nursery's gain! What a fun and versatile resource for the children providing many hours of imaginative and creative play to test their gross motor skills. It just goes to show that expensive toys are not always the best ones to have! Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.

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    1. So true Fiona & I bet you found that too with your kids. Thanks for your support & hosting another great #countrykids.

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  6. hey K
    will send you some more bread crates and a 'creative star 'bread crate trolley free of charge as thanks for the school showing such brilliance on those super crates. (Next to the creative counter its my favourite new product!) We're also using them up at alfreton nursery and the kids (and teachers) are really exploring the creative potential. see you soon. Pete @ Cosy

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    1. Oh cheers - had to go straight to my catalogue to look at the trolley, looks brilliant xx

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