Thanks to toy libraries in Thane, children have put their gadgets on flight mode

When a child is given a toy, it plays with it for a while and forgets all about it. With video games and gadgets’ ability to captivate children’s attention for a longer span of time, fewer children these days enjoy playing, learning and socialising with other children through toys. However, it seems like toy libraries are here to change the trend. These libraries have flourished across the city and are becoming a new medium for children to have fun and learn.

Five years ago, when Priti Bhanushali started the Toy Hub at Teen Haath naka, her focus was on making toys an important tool for a child’s emotional development and growth. At Toy Hub, toys are rented to children every week.

“Play and recreation are a great source of learning for young minds, and over the years, I understood the need to have a toy library for the city. We introduced toys with special motor skills and concepts that can help special children develop. We now have a great demand from families and even from organisations which cater to the needs of specially-abled children,” said Bhanushali.

This unique concept is very helpful for parents and children alike. Children get a new toy to play each week and at the same time, it doesn’t burn a hole in the pockets of parents.

“As we have to return the toys every week, my son has learnt to maintain them. This inculcates a sense of discipline among children. They make new friends also at the library. As these libraries offer pick-ups and drop, there is no worry about toys getting damaged,” Nalini Warrier, a mother of a five-year-old said. Warrier is a member of a toy library in Kalyan.

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“Few children who go out to play these days. Gadgets have taken over their attention and holidays are spent in malls. Such libraries for children will gradually gain attention as toys are a medium to enhance motor skills at a young age,” said Nitin Bowalekar, special educator at Kolshet.

With a yearly membership of ₹800 to ₹1,000, and a deposit of ₹3,000 approximately, parents find these toy libraries affordable than buying a new toy every month.

“My daughter doesn’t throw a tantrum at toy stores anymore. She is contented with new toys she gets every week,” said Arani Ghosh, resident of Hiranandani Meadows.

The Children Toy Foundation accepts donations of used and new toys and games, but they ought to be in good condition. Benefactors can also contribute monetarily.

Zynto library caters to children between five and 10 years. Pooja Aggarwal, the owner of the library said, “We have picture books for toddlers and toys which include basic logical concepts. Parents are getting more aware about such unique concepts and we have a membership of around 120 parents. During vacations, the numbers rise further.”