Sidney Sheldon, an American writer, and successful producer once acknowledged that “Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.” While reading it the majority of you would be thinking of the public book library, but here we are updating you on the Toy Library. Sounds something new, isn’t it?
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hough its establishment can be traced back in 1935, in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the fact that its emergence is from America but these days it is more common in a European state. Why purchase or keep piles of broken toys when you can have access to Toy Library. It is more economical for parents and gives social benefits to a child too. Toy library can be described as a typical book library with a collection of toys for a certain age of children and a place for recreation just like studying room for reading books.
Benefits of Toy Library are unending, from economic to social. It helps in the development of parents, children, communities, and the whole society at large. It is a good option for parents/guardians to save money without comprising the fun and enjoyment of their wards. It not only reduces household expenditure but saves earth too.
Why purchase when we can borrow?
It is effective in controlling and curbing consumerism. The greatest beneficiary of this set-up is low-income families. No child should be deprived of playing due to financial incapacity. Let’s make everyone’s childhood more beautiful. It not only allows them to play together and hire some toys but also provides an opportunity to return old toys and get the new one. It is an opportunity to try new things without actually purchasing them.
Unfortunately, in Serbia, many Roma children don’t have the opportunity to enjoy all the wonderful things as their peers from other communities. Thus in 2015, Novak Djokovic Foundation has recognized the efforts of cultural and educational Roma organizations “Romanipen”, and has decided to support the “Toy library” project, by donating a van full of toys, games, and books for the children in Kragujevac suburbs.
Toy libraries help children in inculcating various qualities that they will cherish in their coming years. It helps in guiding children on the nature of citizenship. The act of borrowing teaches children many things like sharing of collective goods, being considerate of the next user, to take their turn, and to be a responsible Samaritan by taking care of toys. It helps them to understand how distribution hub and pubic goods function in society. Toy libraries provide a safer place for a child to meet and get socialized with other children. It increases their awareness and eliminates social discrimination or differences. It provides an opportunity for the child to socialize more in an era where mobile phones have taken away the childhood of children.
Hurrah! Socialization gets easier now.
Toy libraries act as a platform where children get the opportunity for civic and social engagement by volunteering in the libraries. It also increases the social circle of parents. Toy library act as the building of the social fabric of local people by making ongoing social connections, exchanges, and healthy interactions. It helps to inculcate moral values too such as honesty, taking return, and sharing. One long term benefit which they provide is to the environment. Children, while sharing toys rather than buying one for each, helps the environment as less plastic or other synthetic material will be used. Let’s move towards a greener and eco-friendly lifestyle. Let’s advocate for recycling and re-using things.
When a family utilizes the facility, it gives Romanipen a chance to earn their trust and hopefully, gives workers a chance to build relationships with this very vulnerable demographic.To help them with their cause, the NDF donated 12,000 EUR to Romanipen for both new toys and for the purchase of a van that will enable the Toy Library to have a mobile counterpart. Now, underserved children in rural areas will also have access to the benefits of the program.
Learning can be easy and interesting by playing. Toys make learning more practical besides developing a child physically as well as mentally. They help in building skills such as language, cognitive skills, scientific thinking, reading, and mathematics. At the same time, parents can find out which toy interests their child so to identify their area of interest. Many Toy libraries have special toys for children with special abilities too. There exist many toy libraries which have employed child development specialist who helps children with special needs in adjusting and dealing with the outer world.
Every child has the right to enjoy childhood. Toys must be free for all. There are many benefits associated with toy libraries such as financial, environmental, social, educational, etc. It is beneficial for society to make this set up as a part of their lifestyle. Though the concept of the library is much old-school, the application caters to modern society needs. As rightly said by former US president John F. Kennedy,
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for future’’.
