MORNINGS are always abuzz with excited children at the Bendigo Community Toy Library.<\/p>\n
Kids can visit the Spring Gully and Long Gully campuses across four days from 9.30am and take their pick from over 1500 toys at the volunteer run organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so entertaining for kids,\u201d said secretary of the BCTL Melissa Wainwright.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can look around, they get to make all these choices and then go home and play with them for the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The toys aren\u2019t just for entertainment though, as Ms Wainwright said the library provides a safe environment for children to build independence and learn to make their own choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than just having fun,\u201d she said. \u201cChildren learn so much through play and it\u2019s a great environment for them to take the lead in what they\u2019re interested in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The toys available are different to what families might find in shops with the library often sourcing items from educational sites that allow children to develop important motor skills.<\/p>\n
Parents can also count themselves winners at the library, with the borrowing system allowing them to save money as children can bored of recently purchased toys pretty quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a low-risk option for parents,\u201d Ms Wainwright said. \u201cYou\u2019re not making a huge investment in these toys that you think they\u2019re going to love and then you take them home and it\u2019s like \u2018eh, not interested\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each toy meets Australian safety standards, and the Library has introduced a stricter cleaning policy in the wake of COVID-19.<\/p>\n