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Childcare Director Essentials
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items As a childcare director with years in early childhood education, these are the exact tools and products I rely on to keep my center running smoothly. From admin organization to classroom support — director-tested and teacher-approved
Sections
6
OFFICE / ADMIN MUST-HAVES
CLASSROOM SUPPORT TOOLS
HEALTH,SAFETY, & COMPLIANCE
DIRECTOR SANITY SAVERS
CLASSROOM LIBRARY PICKS
Director Resources & Printables
OFFICE / ADMIN MUST-HAVES
I use this to move supplies between classrooms without making 10 trips. A director's best friend.
Rolling Cart - Amazon.com
When your desk is organized, your brain feels organized. This one holds up and looks great too.
Acrylic Desk Organizer - Amazon.com
Licensing paperwork, parent files, staff documents — this keeps it all sorted and grab-ready
Desk File Organizer - Amazon.com
I buy these for every teacher on my staff. They keep daily sheets, incident reports, and sign-in logs all in one place
Clipboard With Storage - Amazon.com
You will label EVERYTHING in a childcare center. Cubbies, bins, shelves, files — this one is fast and easy.
Label Maker - Amazon.com
Must-have for classrooms. We laminate schedules, visual aids, and activity cards so they last all year.
Laminators in Laminators & Laminating Supplies - Walmart.com
Never worry about missing a compliance piece again. This has helped my childcare life so much.
Childcare Compliance Tracker | Staff Certification & Training Log | CPR SIDS Licensing Tracker | Excel AND Google Sheets
CLASSROOM SUPPORT TOOLS
We go through these constantly. Buying in bulk saves so much money — keep extras in every classroom.
colpart Dry Erase Markers Fine Tip - 90 Pack
Perfect for schedules, sight words, behavior charts. Every early childhood classroom needs at least one.
Teacher Created Resources OS Pocket Charts & Cards
We use these for everything from art supplies to sensory materials. Stack them, label them, done.
Anywish Small Storage Bins with Lids 3.2QT 8-Pack
Game changer for transitions. Kids respond so much better to a visual timer than being told 'five more minutes.
Visual Timer - Amazon.com
Buy these in bulk to go with your laminator. You'll burn through them faster than you think.
Laminating Sheets - Prime Eligible - Amazon.com
HEALTH,SAFETY, & COMPLIANCE
Required by licensing in most states. Keep one in the office and one accessible in each classroom.
First Aid Kit - Amazon.com
Non-negotiable in childcare. We keep boxes in every room for diapering, first aid, and messy activities.
Disposable Gloves Bulk - Amazon.co.uk
Fast, accurate, and the kids don't fight it. Essential for daily health checks and sick kid situations.
Non Contact Infrared Thermometer - Amazon.com
Having a dedicated printed stack keeps documentation consistent across your staff
Childcare Incident Report Bundle | Daycare Behavior Report | Parent Communication Forms | Editable Templates
DIRECTOR SANITY SAVERS
Your coffee will get cold 100 times before you get to drink it. This keeps it hot through the chaos.
Insulated Thermal Coffee Mugs | CORKCICLE.
I prefer paper for daily planning. Helps me see the week at a glance between all the interruptions.
Desk Pads & Card Planners - Levenger
I am not exaggerating when I say I use these every single day. Get the big pack.
Sticky Notes - Amazon.com
Keep a small whiteboard or quote board at your desk. On hard days, you'll need the reminder of why you do this.
Board Quotes - Amazon.com
CLASSROOM LIBRARY PICKS
A great classroom library is one of the most powerful tools in early childhood education. These are books I personally recommend for preschool and daycare settings — chosen by an early childhood professional who knows what actually engages little lea...
I actually published this book! As a mom myself, I created this coloring book to help little ones learn calm choices in a fun, engaging way. My son loved it and it's been a great conversation starter at home.
My Book of Calm Choices: Coloring for Kids
I actually wrote this book! As a mom myself, I created this coloring book to help little ones learn safe choices in a fun, engaging way. My son loves it and it's been a great conversation starter at home.
My Book of Safe Choices: Coloring Book for Kids 2-5
Director Resources & Printables
Running a childcare center comes with a mountain of paperwork. These are digital resources I created specifically for early childhood directors and teachers to make compliance, documentation, and staff appreciation a little easier.
Keeping up with licensing requirements is one of the most stressful parts of directing. I created this tracker to keep everything organized and audit-ready. A must for any director.
Childcare Compliance Tracker | Staff Certification & Training Log | CPR SIDS Licensing Tracker | Excel AND Google Sheets
Managing staff PTO manually is a headache. This tracker keeps everything in one place and saves so much back and forth.
Childcare PTO Tracker Spreadsheet | Daycare Staff Time Off Tracker | Employee Leave Log | Google Sheets + Excel
This is the bundle I wish I'd had years ago. Incident reports, behavior documentation, and parent communication forms all in one place and ready to use.
Childcare Incident Report Bundle | Daycare Behavior Report | Parent Communication Forms | Editable Templates
Teacher appreciation shouldn't be an afterthought. These certificates are ready to print and personalize — your staff will love them.
Teacher Appreciation Certificate Bundle | Editable Preschool Staff Awards | Daycare Employee Recognition Canva