Thanks to a very generous anonymous donor, 1919 Main Street in West Barnstable was recently purchased on behalf of the Cape Cod Toy Library as a home of its own — to enable greater community access to our educational resources and expansion of our services.
The Toy Library’s current location at the First Lutheran Church at 1663 Main Street will continue to offer on-site programs and serve as a hub for outreach activities. Regular Saturday hours from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. will continue there through June 14th. Friday hours are available by appointment and for special programs.
The move to the new space is planned for June 21st, with needed renovations set to begin by July 1st. 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:
Be a model learning environment for children and adults.
Integrate theories on how children and families learn.
Strengthen the link between 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 open-ended, self-directed play that creates a foundation for lifetime learning.
Safe designs — The Library’s child-centered products include pinch-free hinges, child-proof latches, rounded edges, and BPA- / PVC-free “green” chemistry.
Benefits for Parents:
Peace of mind — Parents will be confident their children are in a safe and healthy setting.
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 will 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 Lending Library collection.
The images below are conceptual drawings only. Specific visuals will be developed as the renovation process proceeds.
Reception Area
A welcoming reception area and circulation desk to include child development and parenting resource information as well as a selected toys and gifts for sale.
Main Play Area
A “Reggio-inspired” environment (see below) in which every furnishing and play material is considered for its role in enhancing curiosity, and engaging children in learning and discovery.
Toy Lending Library
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.
Multi-Purpose
Play Therapy Room
A play therapy room for therapeutic sessions for small groups or 1:1. The setting will serve as a “natural environment” for therapists to provide behavioral screenings and other services.
Meeting Space
A versatile meeting space is envisioned, with a large two-way mirror to transform it into a play therapy room for parent observations, professional training purposes, and grant-funded educational research.
A Reggio-inspired space ...
The new space will be a “Reggio-inspired” toy library — which we think will be 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. These community environments play 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 Library 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)