{"id":2130,"date":"2017-10-06T08:02:26","date_gmt":"2017-10-06T08:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/?p=2130"},"modified":"2023-11-02T06:18:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T06:18:07","slug":"setup-apartment-toy-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Set Up A Toy Library In Apartment Complexes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve got children, we\u2019re sure you are all too familiar with the amount of money parents waste on buying new toys. Kids are curious little things with very little attention span. Very often, a new toy is interesting only for a few days and pretty soon, it will either get stashed away or thrown away. And then the request for new toys come up. And thus, the expensive cycle carries on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As parents, we always want our kids to have the best of everything. But, let us think about this for a moment. Is it really necessary to keep buying new toys just to keep the little ones happy? Are we teaching the right values to the children by offering them shiny new toys each time they get bored? Clearly, there should be a better way to entertain them without wasting money and without throwing away so many toys.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s where the idea of toy libraries or \u201ctoybraries\u201d, as they fondly called, steps in. Simply put, toy libraries are spots that store donated or old toys from kids who no longer want them. Other kids get to borrow these toys and return them as and when they\u2019ve stopped liking them. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you live in an apartment complex, and if you have time to spare, starting a toy library would not only be an engaging activity, you would help fellow parents save up on a lot of cash.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the idea interests you, here\u2019s how you can start a toy library.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69db11b6cdd97\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69db11b6cdd97\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#1_Find_the_space\" >1. Find the space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#2_Collect_toys\" >2. Collect toys<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#3_Formulate_structure_policies_for_the_library\" >3. Formulate structure &amp; policies for the library<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#4_Host_a_launch_party\" >4. Host a launch party!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#5_Encourage_SAHM_in_your_apartment_to_join\" >5. Encourage SAHM in your apartment to join<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/2017\/10\/setup-apartment-toy-library\/#Get_Started\" >Get Started!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Find_the_space\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Find the space<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A reasonably large room in your own apartment, or even a section in common apartment facilities or even the clubhouse can be used. You can even pay rent to the association to use that space. Don\u2019t worry, you can charge a modest subscription fee from parents to be part of the toy library. That way paying rent won\u2019t be too much of a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may need to invest in storage arrangements. Shelves, baskets, even a computer to keep track of members, activities and toys.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Collect_toys\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Collect toys<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have enough on your own, you can start with that. Circulate email, WhatsApp and social media posts announcing the launch of your toy store. Invite parents to donate their kids\u2019 old toys. Offer a discount on subscription fee that is in proportion with the number of toys they donate. You\u2019ll have people lining up to donate in no time!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may need to do a round of cleaning of all the toys once everyone has donated stuff. Can\u2019t really trust stashed away toys to be clean enough for kids to play with, can we?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Formulate_structure_policies_for_the_library\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Formulate structure &amp; policies for the library<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is very important. You may even want to look into the legalities of it if you plan to make a franchise out of it. Or you can make a simple, non-registered one only for your apartment complex and the kids inside it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will still need policies on how damages to toys, delayed returns, subscription fee and late fee structures will be. This is a one-time effort. Don\u2019t let this step discourage you from starting a library.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Host_a_launch_party\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Host a launch party!<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Officially kickstart the library with a small event. Preferably on a day that everyone will be free to attend. Click pictures, circulate on the Internet and in your internal communication platform for your apartment. If you have an <a href=\"https:\/\/adda.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ADDA<\/a>, half the promotion can be done on it! Simply post pictures and also make an announcement in the discussion boards.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Encourage_SAHM_in_your_apartment_to_join\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Encourage SAHM in your apartment to join<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every bit of help counts. And this could be an opportunity to network and bond with others in your <a href=\"https:\/\/apartmentadda.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">apartment<\/a>. If the initiative takes off well, you can consider expanding too! This is the kind of activity that can have fixed hours so it would not disrupt your routines too much, except in the very early days.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_Started\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get Started!<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust us when we say this, toy libraries are doable. And also a huge benefit to everyone. Think of all the toys that are gathering dust in your home and realise that those toys can put a smile on a child\u2019s face. Is that not worth a little effort?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why don\u2019t you get going right away? Take a look at all your child\u2019s stuff you\u2019ve put away. Maybe even share the pictures here for others to get motivated! Who knows, maybe you\u2019ll even meet a business partner here in the comments!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget to like and share this article. Cheers!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve got children, we\u2019re sure you are all too familiar with the amount of money parents waste on buying new toys. Kids are curious little things with very little&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":2131,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2022,2026,2025],"tags":[53],"class_list":["post-2130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adda-community-management","category-adda-for-community-residents","category-adda-global","tag-apartment-toy-library"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2130"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17182,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2130\/revisions\/17182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adda.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}