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Parents of young children are being reminded that they don’t have to buy new toys all the time – they can borrow them from a local toy library instead.
Nicola King runs the Wellsford Toy Library at 1 Worker Road, a spacious room packed full of every type of toy, game and puzzle imaginable for children aged from zero to eight. Members can borrow three toys and a game or a puzzle every time they visit, and keep them for two weeks.
Nicola is keen to raise awareness of the facility and boost membership, as she feels there are many families in the area unaware of what is on offer.
“We have got big outdoor toys, lots of ride-ons, activity sets, cars, role play toys, workbenches, dolls, musical things, blocks, games, puzzles, Imaginext – everything is high quality and has a learning aspect,” she says.
Borrowing toys instead of buying them means children don’t become bored, and it’s a good way for parents to find out what their offspring think of a big ticket item before they commit to buying it, she says.
Emily and Sasha King try out some of the many ride-on toys at Wellsford Toy Library.
“Some parents use it as a try-before-you-buy. And it’s more sustainable – if you join the toy library, you don’t have to keep buying toys and then throwing them out.”
There are three membership options – three months for $30, six months for $55 and one year for $100 – and payment terms can be flexible. The toy library was established 20 years ago and currently opens on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, between 9am and 10.30am. Donated toys are accepted, provided they are in very good condition and durable.
There are also toy libraries at Snells Beach and Mangawhai. The Snells Beach branch opens from 10.15am to 11am on Wednesdays and 3.30 to 4.30pm on Thursdays in term time, at 410 Mahurangi East Road. Membership costs $25 per term.
At Mangawhai, the toy library runs as a playgroup as well, which is open to all, including non-members.
It is open every Wednesday at Rose Madsen Cottage in Mangawhai Domain, from 10am to noon during term time, and membership costs $25, or $5 for volunteers who commit to help run a session at least once a term. There is also a grandparent membership of $20 that allows for eight weeks of hire over a 12 month period.
Info: Wellsford – Nicola on 021 112 0291 or wfdtoylibrary@gmail.com; Snells Beach – Anne on 021 167 1990; Mangawhai – Heather at mangawhaitoylibrary@outlook.com or Mangawhai Toy Library on Facebook.
