Can you entertain and educate a child at the same time?
The Toy Library offers children a good choice of toys, books, and videos that are fun and educational. It keeps pace with children as they grow and their interests and abilities change. The Toy Library is also a parental support program: parents know their children are reading and playing with good quality, educational materials and they can keep the family budget balanced by not overspending on toys.
The Toy Library allows pre-school and school-age children to borrow new toys, books, and videos every three weeks. It's so popular that some members take two and even three buses to get there.
- Children can try out a variety of high quality books, toys, and videos.
- Parents know that these have been selected by a qualified professional.
- Caregivers can provide children a variety of stimulating play materials.
- Parents learn about the kinds of toys and activities their children enjoy and can test them before buying any.
- Parents can borrow books on parenting.
- Families don't need storage space for out-of-season toys - especially helpful for those living in apartments.
- It's a chance to show youngsters how to re-use and recycle toys.
Carlington Community Health Services supports a toy librarian six hours a week and an early children education advisor. But toys wear out, need repair or replacing. And since some parents cannot afford the bus fare to bring their children to the library, we want to add a mobile service to visit other sites:. Can you help?
- infant/toddler toys... $10-25
- hardcover books and videos... $15
- “I Can Read” and other resources recommended by teachers... $10
- big, ride-on toys... $35
- van driver... $16/hour (one site)
- donations of complete, sturdy, good quality toys and books
Remember how much fun your toys were? Want to give other children the same pleasure?
Call Anne Joyce (722-4000) about adoption.
Carlington Community and Health Services is a non-profit community-based health centre, providing health and social services, committed to the well-being of our community, promoting social, economic, physical, mental and environmental health, responsible to the community through an elected Board of Directors. Our staff and volunteers work together to achieve these goals. For information on becoming a volunteer or a member, please call us at 722-4000.