How to Start A Toy Library

Set Up a Game Swap in Your Neighbourhood

Aug 3, 2009 Naomi Szeben

Save your wallet, and reduce the amount of waste created from manufactured plastic: Organize friends to trade used, unloved toys and save them from the landfill.

Statistics Canada reports from its last census, that $402.9 million dollars were spent by Canadians buying toys, games and video games for Christmas. That’s a lot of money on toys that are forgotten or grown out of in a matter of months.

Finding a newer home for a toy to be appreciated and stimulating a child with a rotation toys can be an exercise in community building and waste reduction. Kill two birds with one stone by organizing a Toy Library, if one doesn’t already exist within the community.

Advantages of Creating a Toy Library

By getting rid of old toys that were not played with in the last year, not only is more household space available, but a change is often appreciated by children: A traded toy may be ‘old’ to its former owner, but is seen as new to a child who hasn’t played with it yet. An annual or bi-annual inventory with your child can reveal if any toy can be given away.

Applying the Three ‘R’s (Reduce, Re-use and Recycle) demonstrates environmentalism in action. Fewer greenhouse gasses are created in the manufacture of plastic toys, and fewer resources like electricity and water are wasted creating something that will find itself in a landfill, eventually.

As long as working parts are in order, and the items are washed, labels and contents are visible and age appropriate (no small parts for toddlers, or chocking hazards for infants) Toy Libraries or Toy Swaps can be a safe and hygienic options to toys found in consignment shops. They are also a great way to get to know parents in a baby group or other families on the block.

How to Create a Toy Lending Library

Parents don’t have to be database geniuses to set up a sort of inventory list. A simple notebook ledger, where borrowers sign in their names, phone numbers and the item borrowed, or an electronic Excel spreadsheet can be used. As long as the borrower understands that the toy is on loan, and should be brought back intact, the rules are much the same as if it were material from a traditional library.

If setting up a toy swap for more permanent use, paperwork isn’t really needed. Setting up a meeting can be as easy as calling or emailing a few friends together, and meeting in a living room. It can also be as large as emailing an entire congregation, school, office or even reach a wider network of community centers to join in.

Tips for a Successful Toy Swap Meet

• Suggest that those attending have a three toy minimum, so there should be something for everyone.
• Establish a value system to ensure everyone gets something out of it: A toy for a toy, or a “second choice” if two children want the same toy.
• If there is high demand for a particular toy, establishing a price for it might separate the ‘maybes’ from the ‘must-haves.’ Donate the cost of that toy to renting out the next venue, or refreshments for the next swap meet.
• Before heading out, ensure toys are good to go with the kids. A last minute decision change could be heartbreaking if given away.
• Decide before the event date, if it’s a party where children can attend, or only for a parent. Advantages to having kids attend: They know what they want better than parents do. Disadvantages might include a tantrum at finding a forgotten toy of theirs given away.

For extra "green cred", post invitations electronically: Sending out invites by email, e-Vite or using Craigslist or other online community boards saves paper, and reaches individuals more personally.

The copyright of the article How to Start A Toy Library in Green/Simple Living is owned by Naomi Szeben. Permission to republish How to Start A Toy Library in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Make Sure Toys are Clean Before Swapping