The tray is essential in this house. We started with a cake pan and filled it with sushi rice to play with. Then we got the big brown fake leather one above for the same thing. We would put them on the floor with a big old table cloth underneath. The big size was great because Lou could sit in them.

However neither were just right. I wanted one that could fit on her table and one that could handle water. I also didn’t like how high the cake pan was and our cookie sheets are kinda warped. So I kept my eyes out and found this one at Target:

It was perfect, and I think it’s such a typical tray you could find one like it at any store that would sell trays. Since we use them for grains and water I taped the handles with packing tape.

If you get one tray this type would be the one. There are other trays that are useful too. Like these two trays:

We use the big one for little servings of food (with little plates) and for small pouring activities. The super little one we use for very small pouring and Lou’s maple syrup pitcher!

The big round tray and the plastic one are from Target. There are also nice green trays made out of bamboo out there. The two little trays are from Montessori Services. I recommend getting boring trays, because it’s the stuff that’s on them that’s interesting.