By Melissa Meehan
In a consumer driven world, the ability to teach our kids that they don’t need to own everything is a privilege we don’t often have.
We can spend a small fortune on the latest toy for our little ones, only for them to grow out of them within a matter of months.
That’s where Toy Libraries can come in.
Jane O’Connell, manager of the Stonnington Toy Library, has been involved with the community organisation since she had her first child in 1996.
“I did some voluntary work back then and I really liked the children learning though play and I like the concept of toy library,” she said.
“It’s a sharing culture that you’re teaching your child.”
Also a committee member of Toy Libraries Australia, Ms O’Connell said toy libraries allowed all children to have an equal start to life.
“Like a library book you can read it a few times and then take it back,” she said.
“Toy libraries are exactly the same concept with toys, puzzles and games.”
Catering for newborns to eight-year-old’s, toy libraries help children learn through play.
As children grow they develop interests in different types of things from animals, to cars and balls – and toy libraries are able to cater for that without parents having to go out and buy everything.
“They grow through stages of development so quickly, the toy you buy today they would have grown out of within a couple of months,” she said.
Ms O’Connell says they are also a wonderful “yes” space where children can ask for something without being told no.
“Parents are able to say ‘yes’ you can have that without having to say no every time, like you do in the shops,” she said.
Toy libraries in Melbourne are non-for-profit and the Stonnington Toy Library is a registered charity – so they rely on donations from members and grants to purchase toys.
An annual membership fee allows you to borrow toys for a three week period – with the option of extending the hire.
Members are also asked to volunteer four hours a year.
REASONS TO JOIN YOUR LOCAL TOY LIBRARY:
Toys that match your child’s developmental stage
Save money
Less toys cluttering your home
There are four toy libraries in the Stonnington and Boroondara region, for more information go to:
http://www.stonningtontoylibrary.org.au
http://www.pptl.org.au/
http://www.canterburytoylibrary.com.au/
http://www.kewtoylibrary.org.au/
