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Early Childhood Project Toy Library
Since the Early Childhood Project began in 1998, the resources in the toy library have been the mainstay of the Project, offering a practical approach to developing anti-bas play, care and education. Until 1996, the Project had its own office and Toy Library space, but since then, the Toy Library service has been operating as a mobile service, right across the city of Brighton and Hove.
The timetable of visits is set three months in advance. We take the Toy Library into family friendly venues so that children visiting can feel safe and welcome. Sophie Brown and Clair Barnard, the Project workers, use the shopping trolley to take the resources wherever possible. It is environmentally friendly, keeps us fit and is a good conversation starter!
On journeys from the children’s centre across the city, taxis are used. Although this involves expense, out funders prefer to pay for taxis rather than a Project van. Regulated taxis can drive across the city using the bus lanes and so save time and exhaust fumes; they have professional drivers who are helpful and know short cuts when the traffic is heavy and most of the venues we visit have no parking and so we can only drop off our Toy Library bags with their help.
We set out our wares once inside the guest venue and are often mobbed by the children who get to know how we set out the toys and books and often make their choices of what to take home whilst emptying out the bags. Many of the adults present will be parents or carers who are looking for something in particular. Perhaps a potty training book and help sheets; perhaps they are looking for some positive parenting support groups and ask for our list, or they may want to know more about Chanukah or Easter and we can help with books, pictures and local contact groups.
Some pre-school or out-of school workers may drop by to borrow some resources they have booked; they may have an issues they need some information about, perhaps asthma, divorce, waiting for a new baby etc and we can often give them resources they can then use with the child or family. The borrowing form the Toy Library tends to have its own rhythm. In September, it is all about starting school, joining a new nursery and getting to know new people. Autumn is a popular time for the theme of “people who help us” in pre-school and the posters and puzzles of police officers, posties, ambulance drivers, teachers, childminders and so on fly out!
We have many Toy library members who just want some basic information about all sorts of child related issues. We can often help! We have been collecting useful articles and references for over 20 years; some is now laughably out of date, but much is still grounded in good commonsense and still valid. We shall endeavour to scan the most popular resources onto the web site but it will take a long while. Any special requests, let us know and that will speed us up with the selection.
Access to the Toy Library
If you would like to make use of the ECP Toy Library, find out about our Toy Library Visits in the Events section.
If you would like to enquire about borrowing an item from our Toy Library, please contact us
Choices of Toy Library artefacts
We refer to best practice guides if possible. The best we know about is the, “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Selection of Toys and other Resources for Children” written and produced by WGARCR, the Working Group Against Racism in Children’s Resources. Contact them direct on www.wgarcr.org.uk
The toys, posters, books, games and other resources we buy are usually chosen because they are positive; reflecting family life in a meaningful and accepting way. The resources must be good value, robust and fun. Many of our current borrows are also play and education practitioners and they are quick to tell us of new books covering a particular topic or new games that we may be interested in. we are always pleased to have resources recommended to us!