A New Home for the Cape Cod Toy Library
Thanks to a very generous anonymous donor, 1919 Main Street (6A), West Barnstable, was purchased on behalf of Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. to be a home of our own — to enable greater community access to our educational resources and expansion of our services, beyond what was possible at our incubator space at the First Lutheran Church, 1663 Main Street, West Barnstable.
The move to our new space took place June 21st with the generous donation of Eldredge & Bourne Movers and many helpful volunteers. Renovations began July 1st to update the 75-year-old building and prepare the space for a Grand Opening Weekend November 7th-8th. The completed space will be a welcoming and aesthetically attractive learning environment that will offer enriching educational and child-development materials to support children’s cognitive and brain development, language and literacy, and social-emotional and physical development.
Primary Goals for the Environment:
Provide a model learning environment for children and adults.
Integrate theories on how children and families learn.
Strengthen the link between child development, literacy, and play.
Benefits for Children:
Improved outcomes — A quality environment is crucial to children’s development.
Developmentally appropriate practice — Play is an important vehicle for developing critical cognitive and social skills. Young children learn best through self-directed play that creates a foundation for lifetime learning.
Safe design — Our space and furnishings are designed to provide a safe, child-centered environment for children and families.
Benefits for Parents:
Peace of mind — Parents can be confident they are in a safe and healthy setting with their children.
Successful children — A high-quality environment supports open-ended, creative play as well as exploratory science and math play for enriching learning experiences that develop children’s knowledge, problem-solving, and social skills.
Satisfaction — Parents can experience joyful learning with their children in an engaging environment.
DESIGN
Architect Mary-Ann Agresti of The Design Initiative and contractor Wesley Price of W.D. Price, Inc. are facilitating the design, construction, and needed renovations of the new Toy Library. The architectural plans below provide an overview of the new Community Play Space and Toy Lending Library collection.
The images below are conceptual drawings only. Specific visuals will be developed as the renovation process proceeds.
Reception Area
A “Reggio-inspired” environment - where every furnishing and play material is considered for its role in enhancing curiosity, and engaging children in learning and discovery.
Main Play Area
Multi-Purpose Play Spaces
The Community Play Space includes areas for dramatic play, construction play, creative arts, and sensory play for public use as well as for small group or 1:1 therapeutic sessions. The setting serves as a “natural environment” for therapists to provide behavioral screenings and other services.
A welcoming reception area and circulation desk to include play resource information as well as a selected toys and gifts for sale.
Access to the collection of toys, books, and other resources gives children and adults the freedom to choose and try new things — empowering them and building their confidence.
Toy Lending Library
A Reggio-inspired space ...
The Cape Cod Toy Library’s space is designed as a “Reggio-inspired” Community Play Space — which we believe is the first in the U.S.
Our child-centered approach to facilitating and supporting children’s learning derives from the Reggio Emilia region of Italy, and is exemplified by the aesthetic environment, which is viewed as the “third teacher.” Additionally, the staff’s intentional planning and responses expands upon the children’s interests and ideas, supporting their social-emotional needs, and deepening and broadening the learning experiences.
The Cape Cod Toy Library’s learning environment is designed to be welcoming, safe, comfortable, and nurturing for children and families. The community environment plays an important role in developing children and families’ sense of community, social-emotional well-being, and joyful engagement in life-long learning.
A Reggio-inspired environment is known for being filled with natural light, order, and aesthetic beauty.
The new space will be set up intentionally to encourage collaboration, communication, and exploration.
Every furnishing and play material is considered for its role in enhancing curiosity, engagement in learning, and discovery.
Our enriching learning environment is intended to “dazzle our senses, invite curiosity and discovery, and most importantly foster strong, respectful relationships.”
(Maggie Carter, “Making the Environment the Third Teacher,” Exchange Magazine July/August 2007)