By Raquel Mustillo
AFTER a COVID-19 enforced hiatus, the award-winning Mount Gambier Toy Library will welcome children and their families back to the facility with a stay and play event.
Toy cars, swings and mini rock climbing walls will dot Mount Gambier’s Frew Park on October 26, with children able to try toys and use equipment at the first stay and play event since the facility reopened its doors in August.
Mount Gambier Toy Library publicity officer Robyn Howard hopes the event will encourage families to consider joining the program, which allows clients to borrow up to nine toys each fortnight for a small annual fee.
Ms Howard said families had access to a range of toys for newborns to eight year olds, which are designed to support skill development and imagination.
“When children have a bad day they don’t want to sit down and talk about it, they just want to play,” she said.
“The toy library has a wide range of toys which provide children with a chance to look after their own mental health through play.
“The toys also provide opportunities for children to practice other skills, like motor skills.”
Ms Howard said the library was significantly more cost effective compared to buying toys and reduced waste and environmental impact.
“I joined when my son was six months old and he is now five years old and we have saved around $12,000 by borrowing toys,” she said.
“My children love the carousel, which costs $250.
“If I was to buy that as well as the other toys, I just could not afford it.
“Some families have saved more than $15,000 by borrowing toys instead of buying them.
“We are also trying to get away from plastic where we can and purchase wooden toys, which is far more sustainable.”
Ms Howard said the library, which is funded through membership, grants, and contributions by Mount Gambier City and Grant District councils, had purchased multiple quantities of popular items to ensure an equitable distribution of toys.
“When you go to shops with your kids you say you can’t pick up what they want, but at the toy library the kids can choose whatever they want, provided it is there and provided you can get it in your car,” she said.
“We have two of the Pikler Triangle and two of the climbing boards to go with it, because it is such a popular toy.
“There are four kinderboards and even though it is supposed to be used as a balance beam, my son uses it as a place to read books, or he flips it over and uses it as a racetrack.
“Children can do much more with toys than what we can and it is amazing to see what they do with some of the toys.
“Toys promote imagination and creative play and if we didn’t have access to these toys at the library, we probably wouldn’t have it at our home.”
In addition to toys, board games and costumes are also available to borrow.
“We are trying to bring back family nights and we have recently purchased a lot of board games which can be used by the entire family,” Ms Howard said.
“We also bought a lot of sport equipment to be used by families.”
The toy library has been providing Limestone Coast families with access to high-quality toys for more than 40 years and is operated entirely by volunteers.
Located at the John Frew Centre, the facility beat around 200 entries earlier this year to be crowned Toy Libraries Australia’s 2020 small toy library of the year.
The stay and play event will run from 10am to 11.30am at Frew Park on October 26.
