Newcastle and Hunter Toy Library in New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia | Library

Newcastle and Hunter Toy Library

Locality: New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 2 4904 3340

Address: Regent Street 2305 New Lambton, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.newcastletoylibrary.com.au

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25.01.2022 We wish you all a wonderful Easter break! The Toy Library will be closed over the Easter weekend (toys that are due on that day will be extended for one week until the 10th of April).

22.01.2022 Black Friday is almost here. Every year, the environmental impact from Black Friday grows and grows, as people are encouraged to consume and spend and spend and... consume. So this year we invite you to pause. To ask if you really need that item. To ask if perhaps you could borrow it (through toy libraries, tool libraries, or just your community), or get it second hand or even free through concepts like the Buy Nothing Project. To ask yourselves what that item truly costs, in environmental costs, in labour costs - because someone, somewhere always pays.

19.01.2022 We’re open today 9:30-11:45. Come past and pick up some new fun

17.01.2022 The Toy Library is open this morning. Come by and pick up some toys to stay entertained in the heat We will be closed over the Holiday Period.

17.01.2022 Rotating Toys! So many benefits... The ultimate way to rotate toys is to use a toy library as your toy rotation cupboard. Everything goes back to the toy librar...y and you only put out a small quantity of toys that are beneficial to your child right now. Watch the magic as they play for longer and in more creative ways... If you aren't a member yet you can still rotate the toys you have at home to maximise play opportunities for your child. It's hugely beneficial. Trust us Thanks mamapsychologists for sharing this sweet graphic!

16.01.2022 Good morning lovely members, please don't forget to bring any outdoor toys in undercover from the wind and rain, and please, please, PLEASE make sure they are clean and dry when you return them! The Toy Library will be closed for the Easter weekend (but if you have toys that are due to be returned they will automatically be extended by one week).

15.01.2022 We’re open Saturday 9:30-11:45 . Or maybe a rock would be fine

15.01.2022 Toy libraries across Australia run mostly on the enthusiasm of volunteers, sometimes on the financial support of hard won community grants and ALWAYS on the del...ight and giggles of children playing! Join your local toy library as a member or a volunteer to discover friends you haven't met yet! Like Aye, who started volunteering to meet locals and give back to the community, they are passionate about creating an ongoing resource for families. So if you have a few spare hours a month, care about the environment, about the importance of play, or about family and connection, why not contact your local toy library and see how you can help? https://www.toylibraries.org.au/find-a-toy-library

13.01.2022 Some of these sound easier than others, but it's all great advice and so important! Thanks for the graphic, Tutor Doctor

13.01.2022 We are still in need of Volunteers to help out on Thursdays with cleaning and counting the quarantined toys, Saturday opening (9.30-12) and 2 committee roles: Donations officer and Social media / Newsletters. You choose what dates suit for your shift, and we request one shift a term as a minimum. Please get in touch if you can help us out!

13.01.2022 Have your say on public spaces in the City of Newcastle (eg the New Lambton Library!) before 30th Nov. https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au//social-infrastructure-st

11.01.2022 Calling all friends of the toy library! We need donations of batteries. We want to send toys out with batteries but it’s costing a fortune for us with the large volume of toys we have requiring them. If you want to help out but can’t donate your precious time to help then a pack of batteries may be an easier way for you to help out. They’ll need to be unopened and any size/type is welcome from the little tiny CR2032 to DD. Anything will be welcomed! Drop them in to New Lambton Library whenever you can. Thanks in advance! If you know of any business that may want to help out please share our post!

11.01.2022 Cruising. Not the kind that involves boats. Your baby has figured out how to pull up to stand, using every possible surface they can find. Now they appear to b...e channeling their inner crab, shuffling sideways along furniture to explore further and further. This is called cruising, and it's one of the best things to help your child learn to walk. When a child first starts pulling themselves up to stand, many people want to help move to the next stage by holding baby's hands and encouraging them to take steps forward. However, the key to learning to walk, isn't a step forwards. It's a step sideways. Moving from object to object, side to side, helps the child learn balance, familiarity with their body, and confidence. Keeping feet bare helps with sensory input and muscle development (there are so, so many benefits to barefoot learning for all ages, but that's a topic for another post). Resist the urge to help. It can be scary, but letting children take small risks in a safe environment is an important part of development. You wouldn't encourage your toddler to practise cruising unsupervised on concrete stairs, but working their way around the coffee table, clear of objects to fall on, gives them an opportunity to risk and even fail, and failure is an important part of learning. The greatest thing we learn from falling down, after all, is how to get back up. Cruising can be promoted by providing a path of safe objects for your baby to grab on to and transfer their weight between. These can be every day items like couch, coffee table, chair, or you can also utilize larger items with wide solid bases from your toy library (the Fisher Price Activity Gardens are great for cruising). Now is also the time to double check you have secured any furniture that could topple if bub pulls up on it. Objects with wheels, such as toy prams, trolleys, even activity cubes can be helpful once baby is cruising with confidence, to start practising the forward step, but make sure they are heavy and have a bit of resistence. Wheels that move easily mean quite often the toy can move too fast for the child to keep up, but they don't have the reflexes to let go of the handle, resulting in a nasty fall they can't protect themselves from. Weigh down lighter wheeled toys like trolleys or wagons with books. A trip to your local pool, and using a ledge at an appropriate height for your child can also help promote cruising and standing skills - the water takes some of baby's weight off so the movements are easier to practise and muscles can develop better. Plus it's a good excuse to cool off! If your child is taking a little longer to take those first steps, don't try to force it. Most children get there in their own time, but if your child is nearing 18 months and not yet walking, it may be worth speaking with your health professional.

07.01.2022 Play time is not just for the kids - it is good for you too! Getting together to play can bring families together, create connection and memories, teach practi...cal and emotional skills and might just help everyone relax and have fun! Not sure how to start? There are plenty of ideas in this article, whether you are a planner, more into impromptu silliness, you like the structure of a games night or are more a dragon slayer during a walk in the bush. If you'd like to share your family's favourite way to play - we'd love to here from you. You might just inspire someone else's family connection this weekend! https://www.thisgirlisonfire.com//why-play-time-can-be-gr/

05.01.2022 Do you want to do more to assist your local toy library? There are so many ways you can give support and many are things you can do while scrolling your phone! ... If you have more time or money you might like to volunteer your time and skills or purchase a gift voucher for a friend who should join! The present that truly lasts all year Why not share this post with your friends and tag your local your library in the post so your friends can find them? See more

05.01.2022 In case you missed last week's post.... ** GIVE AWAY ** GIVE AWAY ** GIVE AWAY ** Ever wished you could have access to thousands of toys, without the clutter or cost? Open your child to types of learning through play you never knew existed? Or do you need the tools to be able to navigate through the terrible twos/threes/fours...and beyond! Toy Libraries Australia is giving you the opportunity to win a years membership at your local* toy library PLUS the full collection of 26 Audiobooks by the amazing Maggie Dent - which include topics such as relaxation and sleep, creating successful learning outcomes, calming anxiety and much more. Simply click the link below and enter you details, and you're in with a chance to win!! https://gleam.io//win-a-toy-library-membership-and-complet

02.01.2022 Why does your kid pick up every rock on a walk? Or decide to put a million different things in the beautiful new pram you just got them, even though they also h...ave a great doll to go with it? It's called a transportation schema, and it's all about movement. The transporting schema (or learning phase) shows up as children moving or transporting objects around repeatedly. They can use their own hands, stuff things in their pockets, or use tools like baskets, bags, prams, wheelbarrows. It is less about the things themselves (although these items may also be of interest), but more about the process of taking the items from one place to another. Some children may also naturally sort their items at the destination, but many will create big piles of unrelated items (or at least, unrelated to us jaded adults). This schema will help your child learn gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, problem solving, and so much more. Your child is learning about the world around them, where things belong and where they can go. It's also a great time to help use this sudden focus to involve your child around the house - teach them to help put laundry in the basket, plates in the cupboard, rubbish in the bin (although keep an eye on this one because a toddler's definition of rubbish can be very broad!!). Borrowing items like wheelbarrows, shopping carts, wagons, anything with a basket or bag can help build upon this schema. This may be a time where your child will be more interested in the box that the toy came in than the toy itself! Also remember during this phase that things will end up all over the place, so you may need to be a bit more aware of toys with many pieces, or opt for toys with only 1 main component. It's a very normal, natural part of development, and if something does go missing, just have a chat with your toy librarian or volunteer - odds are, they too have had a transporting toddler in the past and will know what you're going through!

02.01.2022 Play helps a child so many ways... we're sure you can think of more! Infographic Behavioral Perspective