Every parent knows how quickly toddlers and young children get bored with their toys. The West Auckland Community Toy Library is a lifesaver for parents, offering a wide range of toys to keep children engaged and entertained. Not only does this save money on constantly buying new toys, but it also provides an endless variety of play-based learning resources for children.
Located in Green Bay, the volunteer-led toy library has enriched the lives of young children and their whānau since 1982. With over 2000 toys available to hire, including large ride-ons, climbing frames, Lego, puzzles, board games, and much more, West Auckland Community Toy Library is the largest one in the country.
According to co-chair Sophia Harré, families in the local community rely on the toy library more than ever. ‘Many of our members have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis and look to us to help provide engaging and varied play opportunities at home,’ she explains.
The toy library is funded through grants, memberships and hiring fees per toy. Sophia says fees are kept as low as possible so all local families can continue accessing the library’s rich resources. However, a recent stocktake highlighted a lack of representation within their resources, including a need for more traditional Māori and te reo games and a more culturally diverse range of family play dolls and puzzles. ‘We’re privileged to serve some of the most culturally diverse communities in Aotearoa, and we recognise how important it is to ensure everyone feels represented in our library,’ Sophia advises.
The toy library applied to the Your West Support Fund and has received $5,917. Thanks to the funding, the library has increased the cultural diversity of the toys provided. Sophia says the new dolls, puzzles and board games are popular with all tamariki. West Auckland Community Toy Library also has a long history of partnering with local organisations like the Northern Health School, Oaklynn Special School and Oaktec, which provides opportunities for people living with a disability to gain valuable work experience.
The funding from the Your West Support Fund also contributes to the costs of training and supporting three local Oaktec students in gaining work experience within the library. The students come to the toy library with incredible skill sets and diverse talents. ‘This support means we can continue to provide students with engaging work experience, building on their strengths and increasing future employability,’ Sophia declares. She adds that the Oaktec students get a lot out of the experience, and some have continued volunteering at the toy library.
If you’re a parent of a newborn, toddler or a primary or intermediate school kid, why not check out this fantastic community resource?
You’ll find the toy library at 229 Portage Road, Green Bay. And if you have some time to spare and would like to get involved as a volunteer, email volunteers@westtoylibrary.org for more information. They’d love to hear from you.
