YOUNG ones can make a mess at Bendigo Community Toy Library\u2019s messy play day this Saturday, 2 April from 9.30am to 12pm.<\/p>\n
The zoo safari-themed event will see children engage with plenty of wild, hands-on activities, according to the organisation\u2019s president Esther Kerr.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlay\u00a0allows children to engage their senses, fosters imagination and develops their motor, language and social skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will be held at the library\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBendigo Community Toy Library currently has 130 member families, more than 1500 toys available for loan and is 100 per cent volunteer run,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnnual memberships start at just $45, and we\u2019ll have membership specials being offered on the [messy play] day.\u201d<\/p>\n