Get messy at play day

YOUNG ones can make a mess at Bendigo Community Toy Library’s messy play day this Saturday, 2 April from 9.30am to 12pm.

The zoo safari-themed event will see children engage with plenty of wild, hands-on activities, according to the organisation’s president Esther Kerr.

“There will be a large range of sensory activities to explore, including mud, dirt, playdough, coloured spaghetti, jelly, water, ice and paint, all with a zoo themed twist of course,” she said.

“Play allows children to engage their senses, fosters imagination and develops their motor, language and social skills.”

The event will be held at the library’s Spring Gully campus at 156 Spring Gully Road, with a gold coin donation for entry going to libraries affected by floods in New South Wales and Queensland.

As well as the messy play day, Ms Kerr said the toy library had plenty of offerings for children and families to choose from for their play time.

“Bendigo Community Toy Library currently has 130 member families, more than 1500 toys available for loan and is 100 per cent volunteer run,” she said.

“The toy library operates in much the same way as a book library, in that families come in and explore the toys on the shelves and can borrow several toys for three weeks before returning and repeating the process over again.

“Annual memberships start at just $45, and we’ll have membership specials being offered on the [messy play] day.”

For more information, visit bendigotoylibrary.org.au or search them on Facebook and Instagram.