THE importance of play in a child’s development continues to be at the centre of the Mount Gambier Toy Library’s daily operations.
Gearing up for National Play Day on June 1, the community group will focus its celebrations around this year’s theme – Right To Play – encouraging children to learn through play.
“This year’s theme means children have a right to play and the importance of play in their lives and development,” member Robyn Howard said.
“Through play, children learn and it is not always textbook or ABCs – it is also about encouraging the skills that allow them to learn through play.”
With a recent restructure of the library’s membership program, loaning toys is now easier for families.
“We now have a gold, silver and bronze membership program,” Ms Howard said.
“Gold allows the family to loan nine toys for two weeks, silver allows for six and bronze three.”
Costume reinstatement and new puzzles are also among the latest additions to the library, bringing the total number of toys to around 500.
“The puzzle project is thanks to Stand Like Stone which has supported us through a grant that allowed us to go and purchase new puzzles for the children,” Ms Howard said.
The library’s next project will include better shelving to make the toys more accessible for children.
“A lot of the toys we have here are larger toys that people do not tend to have at home because of space or their price,” she said.
“We keep the brands that are high quality because the toys that do come here need to withstand being constantly played with and moved around.”
With the age bracket for toys ranging from birth to six years, the library committee is also considering adding toys geared towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning for older age groups.
“This will keep up with what the Education Department is doing and how we can encourage and help families in keeping the interest within their children’s lives,” Ms Howard said.
“It also helps with the cost for families and allows the children to play with toys the family may not want permanently in their homes.”
Ms Howard said she had personally benefited from the library program, adding it had helped in her children’s skill development.
“We live in a small house and mess drives me nuts,” she said.
“I do find the less toys my children own the more focused they become and the more the toy gets played with.
“They are also aware the toys are not owned by them and know they must clean them before the toys come back so they know to treat them with respect.”
The library is now looking for volunteers to join the program.
Currently staffed by 13 volunteers, the committee hopes more helpers will increase the library’s operating capacity.
“We would put new people with experienced volunteers until they feel comfortable opening and closing,” Ms Howard said.
“We do have a great committee as well that make the toy library the best it can be.”
The library is open at the John Frew Centre on Mondays and Saturdays from 10am until 11.30am.
The National Play Day celebrations on June 1 will run from 10am until 2pm and include a free barbecue, face painting and an abundance of toys available for play.
