The children of Wales are about to feel the full power of play – with the launch of Mudiad Meithrin’s Toy Library network – a groundbreaking initiative supported by Menter Môn that will put quality toys (that might otherwise be in landfill) and Welsh-language toys into the hands of children across the country – either for free or at a minimal cost of £1.
On May 28, this International World Play Day (celebrating the launch of the first ever toy library), Mudiad Meithrin knows that play is essential for childhood development, but many families struggle to afford the latest educational and imaginative toys.
Mudiad Meithrin’s newest initiative – Dewin a Doti’s Toy Library (inspired by the Mudiad’s mascots) – is stepping in to bridge that gap by creating a lending system that allows families to borrow toys from their Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh-language playgroups and nurseries) just like they would borrow books from a library.
“At Mudiad Meithrin, we believe that play should be a right, not a privilege,” said Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Mudiad Meithrin Chief Executive. “Our mission is to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to toys that inspire creativity, language learning, and joy”.
With toy lending libraries popping up in communities nationwide, families can now borrow a variety of toys free or at a minimal cost. The initiative – funded in part by Menter Môn through its programme advocating on behalf of the circularl economy ‘Cylchol’ and inspired by a recent Friends of the Earth campaign – is also designed with sustainability in mind, reducing toy waste while promoting sharing and social responsibility at the same time.
Mudiad Meithrin is calling on toy manufacturers, toy donors, and toy sellers to support this initiative making play accessible to all children also drawing attention to the prohibitive cost of toys especially Welsh-language toys.
*The toy library will be launched in 17 settings across 4 counties but all childcare, early years and play settings affiliated with Mudiad Meithrin will also be able to make full use of a “Toy Library Pack” to facilitate their establishment.
**World Play Day is celebrated internationally on 28 May each year. This day commemorates the day in 1987 when the International Toy Library Association (ITLA) was first proposed.
