what are some quality open-ended toys every child should have?

I don't know how old your kids are, or what gender but here are a few from mixed age groups:

-Lincoln logs

http://www.amazon.com/KNEX-00922-Commemorative-Edi...

-A Marble Run (my son loves it)

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Marble-Run-Vortex-200%...

-A Playmobile set (there are many, here's one))

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-5783-Eagle-Castle/...

-Lacing Beads

http://www.amazon.com/Primary-Lacing-Beads-Melissa...

-Mr. Potato Head bucket

-A Sand and Water Table (you can also bring it inside in the winter and put beans in it, the water wheels usually work great with the beans too.)

http://www.amazon.com/Step2-753800-WaterWheel-Play...

-A Costume area

(this one in the link is really inexpensive, I'm sure you could come up with an inexpensive area on your own)

http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Factory-COSTUME-CE...

-A Kitchen (The Play Wonder kitchen sets are so neat, actually everything Play Wonder brand I've seen, is great, quality, and very imaginative!)

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Wonder-Kitchen-Set/dp/B...

-Melissa and Doug Puzzles

http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Truck-Puzzle-Melissa-D...

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Large-Farm-Jumb...

Some great books with great homemade ideas are:

Theme-a-saurus

http://www.amazon.com/Totline-Theme-Saurus-Teachin...

Toddler Theme-a-saurus

http://www.amazon.com/Toddler-Theme-Saurus/dp/0911...

More Mudpies 101 Alternatives to Television

http://www.amazon.com/More-Mudpies-101-Alternative...

I could go on, but I've got things to do, if you'd like more Ideas let me know!

Maybe play dough or small toy animals they can pretend w/. My boys have a dinosaur set that came w/ all kinds of different dinosaurs and trees and rocks and what not. They have lots of fun playing w/ those and they learn about the dinosaurs too. You can always go to a second hand shop and buy some cheap fun clothes for the kids to play dress up. Toy dishes are always fun...or even real dishes if you have extras or want to get some from dollar store maybe. Puzzles are a great mind worker. There are tons of things out there that allow children to use their imagination and think about what they are doing. Good luck and hope this helped some.

Take pictures or make little video clips of the kids throughout the year and then give the parents a copy for Christmas you could do it as a slide show if you don't have a video camera and then just make copies on a c.d. A friend of mine had a daycare and she did something like that and it was a big hit with the kids and their parents. Good Luck and I hope you have a every Success in your day care..

Well you already ruled out legos. How about Magnetix? Crayons, paints? A ball - there are so many possibilities with a ball. Costumes - what a way to achieve imagination.

Try this site...

http://www.toysandbookscatalog.com/