“Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities.”
A Child’s Right to Play, United Nations, Article 31
The Importance of Play
Play is one of the most important ways children learn and develop. In fact, you’ve probably heard of the saying by Jean Piaget - '“Play is the work of childhood.” So critical to development, for example, that we now believe that play changes the connections of the neurons at the front of a child’s brain, playing an important role in regulating emotions, making plans and solving problems ¹.
A major report by the LEGO Foundation, which looked at 26 studies of play from 18 countries, found that learning through play can close achievement gaps between children from both more and less advantaged groups, helping all children develop the breadth of skills they will need throughout their lives.²
Toy Libraries Support Play
The Brisbane South Toy library provides quality toys and materials which support play-based learning, such as:
Physical development, health and well-being (e.g. toys and equipment to encourage climbing, jumping, threading, grasping, throwing, balancing, dancing)
Social and emotional development (e.g. dramatic/pretend play toys, open-ended toys, dress-ups and games)
Cognitive development including problem-solving and concentration (e.g. STEM toys, puzzles, blocks, magnetic tiles, puzzles, games, shape sorting)
Literacy and numeracy development (e.g. pretend play such as ‘shops’, counting and matching toys, materials to support pre-reading)
We strive to make ‘a world of playful possibilities’ more accessible for all families. Through the efforts of our volunteers, and successful application of grants, we have been able to keep our membership fees as low as we can.
However, if you find yourself facing financial hardship, please get in touch as you may be able to apply for assistance under our financial hardship policy.
Interested in learning more about play? We’ve found some great resources to get you started.
The Raising Children Parenting Website has the following articles on play and learning for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.
Games to play with children from birth all the way to 17 years (Harvard Centre for the Developing Child)
Australian Government approach to play based learning in early years education
Brisbane South Toy Library DIY resources and templates
Resources
Keep up with their growing minds and skills
References
¹ NPR, August 2014, Scientists Say Child's Play Helps Build A Better Brain
² The Lego Foundation, 2021, Learning Through Play: Increasing impact, Reducing inequality (Whitepaper)