Toy Libraries Australia | Games/toys

Toy Libraries Australia

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25.01.2022 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 delight 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 See more

25.01.2022 Some of these sound easier than others, but it's all great advice and so important! Thanks for the graphic, Tutor Doctor

24.01.2022 It's been a tough year. Be kind to yourself, you are doing better than you think Credit: Big Life Journal

24.01.2022 It’s #nationalchildprotectionweek2020, and we all have a role to play in keeping children safe. For more resources, check out https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-get-involved/ Your children, my children, all children deserve to be safe

23.01.2022 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 be 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.

23.01.2022 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

22.01.2022 We're finally seeing the country reunite with the news that Melbourne Metro toy libraries are permitted to open! Woohoo! Welcome back Melbourne But please be patient Victorian members and potential members as every toy library is different. Some toy libraries have been closed since March and are just starting to re-emerge. Others are running a click and collect style service and some are excitedly flinging the doors opening this week, with COVID rules in place! Always best to check with your local toy library if you are wanting to join, but we are so happy that this step is here. Well done Victoria, and particularly Melbournians

20.01.2022 There's been a lot of talk about puzzles this year (especially when the Prime Minister himself recommends them for lockdown!). But why are puzzles so good for kids, and even adults? Good quality puzzles are "self correcting" - your child will see if they're getting it wrong and work to figure out how to get the correct answer. When they complete the puzzle, it is also self-rewarding - they can easily see what they have achieve. These two qualities help develop confidence, and... resilience - two very essential things for any human being! Puzzles are useful for developing and extending fine motor skills. Knob and chunky puzzles are great for babies and toddlers to practice grasping, with often the pieces themselves being interesting enough to capture the child's interest before they are even aware of the puzzle concept itself. As pieces get smaller, this further develops dexterity and hand eye coordination. Themed puzzles are great for imparting knowledge and developing language. Borrowing an alphabet puzzle allows children to become familiar with letter shapes. A puzzle with farm animals gives an opportunity to name animals and talk about their characteristics. Many toy libraries have fantastic puzzles aimed at older children with themes such anatomy, space and solar systems, geography, and much more. Puzzles are also a handy way to build social skills. Children completing a puzzle together will need to communicate and negotiate about pieces and where they might go. Working towards a common goal can be useful for children who are shy - the focus is on the puzzle, rather than having a new person put all their attention on them. Doing puzzles over and over again is a normal part of children developing mastery and confidence, but eventually they will become bored. Borrowing from the toy library is a great way to keep the novelty factor of puzzles without ending up with a cupboard full or missing pieces all over the house. If you have spare complete puzzles from lockdown, you can contact your local toy library about donating - they will be able to let you know if what you have is appropriate.

20.01.2022 Why do we throw babies in the air? Weird question, we know. But watch any parent playing with a baby or toddler (or even preschooler if you've got the upper body strength), and you'll eventually see this movement. We do it instinctively, but why?... Vestibular development. Its a fancy term for developing balance, coordination, body awareness. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and feeds information into the brain about where they are in space - up, down, left side, right side, etc. Children who have lots of safe vestibular input early in life have better coordination and balance, so what can you do to grow that inner ear? As babies, gentle activities that bounce, rock, roll, tumble or spin your baby provides vestibular input (this is why new parents are constantly swaying!). Bouncing on your knee, dancing in your arms, or laying them over an exercise ball and gently rocking back and forth are excellent ways to provide vestibular stimulation. Many toy libraries will have foam wedges, inflatable balls, and other options for you to borrow. As toddlers, you can encourage them to use their own bodies for somersaults, rolling down hills or foam wedges, balancing along low walls, or doing songs and rhymes that involve whole body movement (Ring A Ring A Rosies is a classic). At this age, you can borrow larger items from the toy library like wobble boards, slides, bilibos (trust us, google it), anything that helps your toddler move their body. As always, keep it fun and follow your child's lead - if they are not enjoying a particular activity, move on and come back to it at another time. After all, they are learning through play, and play should be fun!

20.01.2022 Avast! It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day, me hearties! Want to act like a Scallywag? Share our treasure of cheesy jokes with your wee scurvy lads and lassies in your best pirate voice.

19.01.2022 We asked members of our toy library community across Australia why they initially joined their local toy library. Thanks to Stacey from Warrnambool Toy Library in Victoria for sharing her reasons - I remember feeling something similar. It was so nice to go in to a relaxed environment to browse or get some advice if needed, or just borrow what looked right and see if they were winners with my son. If they weren't right it didn't matter. You just pop back next time and swap for... something else! No pressure, no money spent. Stacey is clearly a savvy member, confidently borrowing for her now two daughters and enjoying the time, money and space she's saved through membership! Are you ready to find out more and start benefiting this weekend? Find your local toy library here: https://www.toylibraries.org.au/find-a-toy-library Small disclaimer: toy libraries are now permitted under covid regulations to run, either through browsing or click and collect. But some (mostly in Victoria) may still be preparing to reopen, so best check with them to avoid disappointment!

18.01.2022 Looks like a kid playing with a car, right? Actually, at this moment they are developing the skills that will help them one day tie their shoes, write a letter, and even play tennis! It's called "crossing the midline".... Crossing the midline is when a child crosses the imaginary line in the middle of their body, using a hand to reach across to the opposite side (left to right, or right to left). It may sound simple, but it is actually a complex movement that requires both sides of the brain. Building this skill is key for tasks that require both hands working together, such as catching a ball, threading, using a knife and fork, or getting dressed. It is also critical for helping the child learn to learn movement patterns that cross the body, such as reading or writing. Crossing the midline begins as early as 4 months when babies begin tracking an item from side to side. Simple things like playing with their feet and reaching across their body for a toy also help develop this skill (by placing toys to the side of a baby lying on their back you can also help promote rolling... if that's what you want ;) ). To help build this skill in other ways (because while cars are great they can't do everything!), you can incorporate things like: - Threading: start big, with chunky beads available from many toy libraries, and get smaller as the child develops their skill - Craft: activities like painting or drawing (if your child already has a dominant hand, try placing the pencils on their non-dominant side for extra effectiveness) - Dress ups: putting on clothes of any kind requires crossing the midline (as well as developing gross motor skills like balance and spatial awareness). Finger puppets and bangles/bracelets are also fantastic as they require putting on and taking off with the opposite hand. - Musical instruments: xylophones are fantastic for this, children instinctively know you've gotta run that stick up and down the keys! As always, keep the activities fun and child-led - these skills develop over time with incidental practice, so don't put pressure on yourself or your child if they struggle or become frustrated with more structured activities. We all learn best through play!

18.01.2022 Tummy Time Two words that can fill many new parents with dread. Tummy time is essential for development, the child health nurse says. Or at least, you think that's what she said - you've slept 6 hours in 3 weeks, you could just be hallucinating the whole thing at this point....Continue reading

17.01.2022 Puzzle Pandemonium? Play It Forward! Grabbed a puzzle in the lock down panic but don't know what to do with it now? Why not Play It Forward to your local toy library so hundreds of other families in your area can enjoy it too? Toy libraries around Australia are looking for good quality pre-loved puzzles for their Puzzle Pandemonium toy drive.... For more information, visit https://www.toylibraries.org.au/puzzles

17.01.2022 Wise words and explanatory graphic from South Bay Mommy and Me "The less a toy does, the more your child does. If a toy engages your child with lights and sounds, the toy is doing all the work, not your child. Since play is where your child learns reasoning, ingenuity, social skills, emotion regulation, gross motor coordination, and pretty much every single essential life skill they will ever need, I'd say that it's critical that our children are given the optimal opportunities in play to exercise all of these skills to their full abilities."

16.01.2022 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 practical 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/

14.01.2022 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 have 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!

13.01.2022 Did you know that the longest running toy library opened in 1935? A dime-store operator noticed that kids were stealing toys and decided, rather than reporting the youth to the police, he would fill his garage with surplus toys and lend them out. Toy libraries have come a long way since then, and it’s a goal of Toy Libraries Australia to have a toy library in every local government area in Australia.... Does your town have a toy library? Go on and tag them below! If you don’t, maybe it’s time to tag your local member and let them know you want one https://www.theatlantic.com//every-city-should-hav/575272/

13.01.2022 I think we should share this for National Child Protection Week every year. This poster on body safety rules is a nice fit to display in toy libraries and other children's services, and everyone seemed to like it last time, so we thought it worth sharing again for our new followers. It's a great conversation starter for a difficult subject with some fantastic messages. You can get a downloadable copy from Educate2Empower Publishing - and it also comes in several languages! ht...tps://e2epublishing.info/posters/#teachableposters There are other posters with body safety messages too have a look around while you are there. Thanks Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept for these excellent resources! #ChildProtectionWeek

13.01.2022 An interesting observation of the 'lost lasts' of parenting in today's Sunday Life magazine in both The Age and the Herald Sun. It's a lovely balance of nostalgia and reality... I promise! Susan Carland says:... "This isn’t a treasure every moment plea to the parents behind me in the parenting expedition. Such statements are annoying from well-meaning elders when you haven’t slept well in two years and you’re covered in someone else’s bodily fluids." See more

13.01.2022 Well it's R U OK Day day and we're guessing that thanks to the pandemic there are many parents out there feeling more fragile than ever. Especially, but not exclusively, Victorians. Good enough, or even slightly crap and that’s okay, should be the new pandemic parenting mantra." We felt this might be a good read to encourage you to be gentler on yourself and remind you that how you feel right now is not uncommon. It's actually very normal. You might say, Covid normal... ... However, if it feels too much please remember you can contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

13.01.2022 Play is central to your child's development and believe it or not play starts when they are newborn! You are their best 'toy' and simply listening to you and looking at your face is where it all begins. Things get more complex as they develop but not too fast - so parents can usually keep up! Your toy library can help guide you with advice if you need it, too But have a look at this article in the meantime - it offers a great explainer about play and lists all sorts of play... ideas right across age groups from infants through to primary school. I loved the first video - it talks about play building connections in the brain, which helps children develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. It describes children’s play as like ‘fireworks’ going off in the brain. Check out raisingchildren.net.au's website. It is a treasure trove

12.01.2022 Our friends at the Maribyrnong Toy Library are coordinating Aboriginal cultural workshops with Yarn Strong Sista, an Aboriginal organisation specialising in early childhood education. The first workshop is this coming Tuesday: Acknowledgement of Country Story Time! Please feel free to share with your toy library families. Here are the details:... Tuesday, 29 September 2020 12:00 PM 1:00 PM Cost: FREE Location: online via Zoom link. About: Join Annette Sax, a Taungurung woman and Education and Creative Arts Director of Yarn Strong Sista, for an Aboriginal story time. Create your own artwork using Aboriginal Literacies while watching live storytelling, learning the differences between Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country. Follow the EventBrite link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/acknowledgement-of-country- See more

11.01.2022 Pandemic Play How has coronavirus impacted how your children play? We’re all familiar with the rainbows, teddy bears and even spoons that have cropped up in the neighbourhood, but what about at home? Are you seeing socially distanced Barbies? Face masks in drawings? This fantastic article by Kate Cowan discusses all the different ways parents and educators across the globe have seen children adapting to this strange new world we are living in, and how children have always used play to process their experiences.

11.01.2022 Let them be little "Because children grow up, we think a child's purpose is to grow up. But a child's purpose is to be a child." - Tom Stoppard... 1000 Hours Outside

09.01.2022 We do so many of these things at toy libraries, including build community Toy librarians and committees tend to be quite a resourceful bunch - whether it be stopping to inspect hard rubbish when they spy hidden toy treasures, scouring those 'buy nothing' pages to pick up vital toy or game part (to get incomplete items back in circulation), sewing new dolls' clothes and bed linens from their home fabric stash, or maybe liaising with men's shed teams who repair toys - we tick... off much of this list! Toy libraries try to keep toy sets in great condition for as long as possible and recycle or repurpose where they can. Being part of these sorts of endeavours while providing our kids with the joy of new and 'new to them' toys regularly is a wonderfully fulfilling experience not found in a shopping trip or waiting for an online purchase. A caring community with a family friendly, sustainability focus. You can't buy it.

09.01.2022 To all those filling the important "Dad" role #HappyFathersDay2020

09.01.2022 Our national awards ceremony earlier this year was not as it should have been in a pre-Covid world. But the very deserving winners were all announced at our low key AGM and none were more so than Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library who took both Toy Library of the Year and Toy Librarian of the Year award for their coordinator, Jenny! Today they open their doors again after a very long Melbourne winter of lockdown and we couldn't be more excited! ... If you live in Wyndham or know a young family who do, head to their website or Facebook page to find out more about them and share their details with those who you know would benefit from a toy library membership with Wyndham Little Buddies! Read on for info about their service and see President Kirsten holding the much coveted and prestigious TLA award for Toy Library of the Year! Wyndham Star Weekly article below: https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/news/toy-library-is-tops/

07.01.2022 Okay, okay... we're all about play here. But we also know about parent exhaustion and the things we have to do to get through the day with toddlers, babies and preschoolers in our care. But this is new and we love it, especially because toys feature heavily in this game! (Plus every child will adore the butt reference and want to play again and again!) Do you have any 'exhaustion games' you'd like to share? ... Sustainable Cooks you are a true hero!

06.01.2022 You know the toy. It has 8 different buttons, sings in 3 languages, 2 educational modes. But yet.... your kid is pressing the same button. Over. And over.... Again. Congrats! Your child is learning cause and effect! Toys that do something when a child interacts with them are called "instant reward toys", and help teach children that if they do something, there is a predictable reaction. But why the same song over and over? Allowing children to have control over their play (even if it means you have to listen to the same 6 notes ad nauseum) gives them a chance to develop a specific skill (such as fine motor strength and hand eye coordination required to press a button), to develop confidence, and identify their own likes and dislikes. It also provides a sense of familiarity and reassurance, which is soothing - like how many adults listen to the same album over and over, or watch reruns of their favourite shows (we see you, Friends). One of the greatest benefits of a toy library is you can take the toy back! Sick of that particular song? Back to the toy library it goes. Which toy is your child currently driving you mad with?

06.01.2022 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.

05.01.2022 We can only try : Behind the Mom Bun

05.01.2022 As the days get busier and busier, don’t forget to include time to rest and just be, for you and the little people in your life

04.01.2022 My child is starting school next year, they need to be ready! A lot of people join toy libraries when their child is 3-4 years old, asking for items to help with "school readiness". So what does "school readiness" mean?...Continue reading

04.01.2022 Always Was, Always Will Be. NAIDOC Week 2020 runs November 8 to 15, but its lessons and message are for all time. This years theme, Always Was, Always Will Be, recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.... Events will take place all over Australia, including through virtual platforms such as Zoom. Hear Stories of Country, learn how to give an authentic Acknowledgement of Country, and much much more. To find an event accessible to you, visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/naidoc-week-events

03.01.2022 It's so true! Happy Friday to all the exhausted parents and caregivers counting down the afternoon to bedtime! Fruits of Motherhood via Pregnant Chicken

02.01.2022 As we begin rushing around to all the festive social interactions with loved ones and distant family members (some of whom we may not have seen in a loooong time), this serves as a good reminder to give our children autonomy over their own bodies. Thanks Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept for sharing L.R.Knost - Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources post with Curious Parenting's graphic. (Phew! I think that's everyone linked to this post!) From the original post:... It is a basic human right to have control over what happens to our own bodies. Often, adults who strongly agree with this statement somehow miss the mark when it comes to young children. We want to raise adults who: Feel comfortable communicating about what does and doesn’t work for them Know that consent is given, and can be taken back at any point Understand that people get to be in charge of their own bodies Listen right away when someone says stop or don’t You can't respect other people's boundaries if yours have not been respected. You can't set boundaries if you haven't seen them modeled. See more

01.01.2022 Toy libraries are the ultimate parenting secret for saving money and clutter! Toy library members swap toys instead of buying them which saves so much money. They also save lots of space, borrowing larger activity toys and returning them in a few weeks when children feel like playing with something different! Children love choosing whatever they want to borrow and parents can say YES we can take that home!