Benson Tait
Feb 24, 2024. 1 min read
Parenting
Find Your Nearest Toy Library in Sydney
Do your little ones whinge about being bored despite being surrounded by a plethora of toys? You're frustrated, and we understand! Lucky for you, we have a little (or becoming not-so-little) secret for you… a Toy Library!
These places are like Santa's workshop because they’re full of fabulous toys, games, dress-ups, puzzles, and other things made to teach and entertain your kids. Even better, the membership costs next to nothing compared to a cart full of brand-new toys.
What is a toy library?
Toy libraries work like regular libraries, except they are jam-packed wall-to-wall with quality children's toys and activities instead of books. We're talking shelves filled with everything from board games, sports gear, jigsaw puzzles, musical instruments, construction sets, outdoor play equipment, imaginative sets, cars, and everything you could dream up for kids aged 0 – 8 (ish) years old!
They operate through an affordable yearly membership that lets members borrow 3-4 toys at a time, usually for up to 3 weeks (this varies from toy library to toy library). New toys are often added as stock rotates through new purchases and donations.
Why use a toy library?
1. Save money
The Choosi Cost of Kids Report 2023 reported that the annual cost per household of toys and games in Australia is $423. When you compare that to the average cost to join most toy libraries, which is less than $100, you gain unlimited access to second-hand toys all year. It's a no-brainer! Cha-ching!
2. Beat boredom
Are rainy weekends driving you to the brink as you're stuck indoors with restless and bored kids? Have you ever resorted to turning kitchen items into makeshift musical instruments in a desperate attempt to keep them entertained for hours? Luckily, those days are over!
With a vast array of toys on constant rotation, you'll become the household undisputed MVP, delighting your kids with fresh, exciting playthings time and time again. Say goodbye to the dreaded "I'm bored" complaints and the parental guilt of parking them in front of Disney all weekend.
3. Enjoy without the clutter
We've all been there – the agony of stepping on rogue Lego bricks, the morning stumble over Barbie shoes artfully scattered in doorways. Here's the solution: let toy libraries grace your home with new games and activities, sans the overwhelming clutter!
Toy libraries offer a reprieve, allowing you to reclaim your living space and alleviate some of that parenting stress. Welcome back to the joy of walking freely around your house!
4. Promote Sharing Values
Our sweet kids aren't always the best at sharing their toys without World War III kicking off. Toy libraries help kids learn to have patience and take turns. Borrowing community playthings teaches respect and responsibility better than any lecture we dish out!
5. Eco-Friendly Sustainability
Tired of drowning in plastic waste and cardboard packaging piling up in landfills faster than Dad's beer fridge on State of Origin night? Toy libraries are the eco-friendly solution, tackling the issue of kiddie clutter waste while imparting valuable lessons on sustainability to the little ones.
By sharing quality toys designed to last for years, toy libraries significantly reduce the disposal of flimsy plastic junk every week. It's a win-win for parents and the planet – a high five to responsible parenting and environmental consciousness!
Sydney's Toy Libraries
Ultimo Toy Exchange
Address: 97 Quarry St, Ultimo, 2007
Email: ultimotoyexchange@gmail.com
Opening times: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 4pm (by appointment)
Bondi Toy Library
Address: Waverley Library, 32-48 Denison St, Bondi Junction, 2026
Email: bonditoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9am - 1pm, Saturday, 9am - 12pm
Lane Cove Toy Library
Address: 57A Tambourine Bay Rd, Riverview, 2066
Email: lanecovetoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Saturday 1pm - 4pm
Randwick City Toy and Game Library
Address: 669/673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, 2035
Email: contactus@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Opening times: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 8pm, Saturday 9.30am - 4pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm
EarlyEd Cubby House Toy Library
Address: 3 Starkey St, Forestville, Sydney, New South Wales, 2087
Email: cubbyhouse@earlyed.com.au
Opening times: Monday 12pm - 2.30pm, Thursday 10am - 2pm
SECC Toy Library
Address: 1007 Botany Rd, Mascot, 2020
Email: toylibrary@secc.sydney
Opening times: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm
Sunny Corner Toy Library
Address: 12 Station Rd, Auburn, 2144
Email: coordinator@sunnycornertoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Tuesdays 1pm - 5pm, Thursday by appointment, Saturday 11.30am to 3.30pm
Cumberland Toy Library
Address: 2 Lane St Wentworthville, 2145
Email: sofia.vouzakis@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Opening times: Monday and Thursday 9.30am - 7.30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9.30am - 3.30pm, Sunday 2pm - 4.30pm
St Ives Toy Library, St Ives
Address: St Ives Shopping Village, 166 Mona Vale Road, St Ives, 2075
Email: stives.library@krg.nsw.gov.au
Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 2pm
North Ryde Library Toy Library
Address: 201 Coxs Road, North Ryde, 2113
Email: rydelibrary@ryde.nsw.gov.au
Opening times: Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am - 8pm, Saturday 9.30am - 2pm
Middle Dural Toy Library
Address: Sunnyvale Rd, Middle Dural, 2158
Email: middleduraltoy@gmail.com
Opening times: Saturday 10am - 12pm
Wollongong Toy Library
Address: 82 Bong Bong Rd, Horsley, Wollongong, 2530
Email: wollongongtoylibrary@gmail.com
Sutherland Special Needs Toy Library
Address: 123 Flora St, Sutherland, 2232
Email: team@ssntl.onmicrosoft.com
Opening times: Thursday 10am - 1pm
Benson Tait
Design . Digital . Fathering . Husbanding . Surviving . Founder
A man who loves design, technology, food and his family of two young girls and a smart gorgeous wife, who is on a mission to make parenting easier and help kids flourish for a happier home.
Related articles
Parenting
6 Parent-Proven Strategies for Getting Your Kids to Clean
Research suggests that there are various benefits to including chores as part of your child’s daily routine. From cleaning up their toys to putting their dirty clothes in the hamper, children who learn to clean from a young age may exhibit more responsibility, higher self-esteem and improved emotional regulation. But even when you’ve set great goals at the beginning of the year, by now it may have gone a little… well….south. So when you’ve asked your youngest to tidy up their toys for the umpteenth time without much success, actually making it happen is easier said than done. And doing it yourself just seems brutally unjust doesn’t it? (But…. if you must succum to doing it mostly yourself, here’s how).
Paula Scott
Jul 13, 2024. 3 mins read
Parenting
7 Clever Ways To Get Rid of Toys Without Tantrums
Whether you already employ the art of toy rotation or are simply looking to downsize the clutter of toys in the home, getting rid of toys can free up space, reduce clutter and help your kiddos engage with other toys they already have. It's a no-brainer for everyone, right? In theory, yes. But as we all know, our kiddos can form attachments to toys despite not playing with them for weeks, months and even years in some cases. So, how can you get rid of those lonely toys without the tantrums? Here are our top 7 tricks to help you easily donate preloved toys.
Benson Tait
Jun 15, 2024. 4 mins read
Parenting
7 Dynamic Family Fitness Activities to Keep Everyone Off the Couch
Finding time for movement and exercise can feel like a Herculean task in the fast-paced whirlwind of modern family life. But, the benefits of incorporating physical activity into our daily routines are as real as the pile of laundry waiting to be folded – think stronger family bonds, boosted health, boredom busted and a lifelong passion for staying active.
Monique Tait
May 4, 2024. 4 mins read