Community Kids Brainstorming
Mar. 15th, 2010 11:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windinthemaplesSo I'm reading this book about how modern children don't interact much with other children. There isn't the neighborhood playtime that I experienced as a child where we all got together, impromptu, for summer evening games of kick the can or whiffle ball. Children are more likely to be indoors watching television and playing computer games than playing with a friend. It is just the way we operate now. This, combined with my dawning "commerce is at the heart of our troubles" realizations and I had this sudden vision for what I'd love to see in my own community.
I'd love to start a non-profit and rent out a large storefront somewhere. My motto would be something like, "Don't buy toys--borrow ours!". So to reduce toy purchase/manufacture, I'd operate a free toy library. There'd be a laminated photo 'card catalog' in the front that kids and their parents could flip through to find the toys they were interested in borrowing. Those toys'd be stored in a back room, out of sight. The large portion of the space would be for community gatherings, playgroups, arts and crafts, and other free activities for children and their parents. So it would be a space where parents and their children could meet and interact with other parents and their children under some friendly supervision and direction. The available toys could be unabashedly hand picked to emphasize imaginative play, non-violence, education, and sustainable materials. We could also, as a non-profit, accept donations of used toys from families that have outgrown what they purchased or just want to share what they have with others. There could be activity areas--like an arts and crafts corner where the activities and supplies/materials laid out change frequently, where getting messy is encouraged, and communal play areas with toys from our rental collection that we'd change out regularly to make each visit feel different and fresh. Every couple weeks or month, we could center activities and open toy play on a different theme. So like, you could walk in one month and be surprised to find colorful scarves and tents suspended from the ceiling forming a fairy court or a jungle of potted ferns and dinosaurs out to play with. I'd also have shelves of board games available to check out for family game nights and a safe area for infants to crawl and kick. Volunteer specialists could come teach classes, like children's yoga or pottery, and we could have regular times for age-specific playdates. Parents like me, with children underfoot, could come volunteer their time and/or work with their children at their side.
I spent some time talking it over with Daniel and he's super supportive. It fuses a lot of my desires and ideals. Daniel says it also utilizes my skill at being non-profitable. ;) Ha! (He also, not-quite-jokingly said my biggest expense would be in disinfectant.)
Why doesn't something like this already exist? Does it? Has anyone encountered a free family community space and toy lending library? I know of the concept but have never seen it in action outside of small grassroots mom groups getting together. Clearly, I need to do some research. Edited to Add: Who knew? There is an entire Toy Librarian's Association here in the States? Wow. How cool. Still, not much, if anything, is as ambitious as what I have in mind but it is nice to not have to reinvent the wheel for some of the functional considerations.
This isn't a matter of "if" but really a matter of "when". If I build it, will families come out of their homes and get together? Will people borrow expensive toys instead of feeling the need to purchase them? Could it even the playing field, so to speak, across socioeconomic lines and encourage a sense of community belonging and family fun?
I'm willing to take the risk to see. It won't be this year and it probably won't be next year, but I feel confident saying within five years one will exist and it will be a spectacular experiment in trust and idealism and togetherness.
I'd love to start a non-profit and rent out a large storefront somewhere. My motto would be something like, "Don't buy toys--borrow ours!". So to reduce toy purchase/manufacture, I'd operate a free toy library. There'd be a laminated photo 'card catalog' in the front that kids and their parents could flip through to find the toys they were interested in borrowing. Those toys'd be stored in a back room, out of sight. The large portion of the space would be for community gatherings, playgroups, arts and crafts, and other free activities for children and their parents. So it would be a space where parents and their children could meet and interact with other parents and their children under some friendly supervision and direction. The available toys could be unabashedly hand picked to emphasize imaginative play, non-violence, education, and sustainable materials. We could also, as a non-profit, accept donations of used toys from families that have outgrown what they purchased or just want to share what they have with others. There could be activity areas--like an arts and crafts corner where the activities and supplies/materials laid out change frequently, where getting messy is encouraged, and communal play areas with toys from our rental collection that we'd change out regularly to make each visit feel different and fresh. Every couple weeks or month, we could center activities and open toy play on a different theme. So like, you could walk in one month and be surprised to find colorful scarves and tents suspended from the ceiling forming a fairy court or a jungle of potted ferns and dinosaurs out to play with. I'd also have shelves of board games available to check out for family game nights and a safe area for infants to crawl and kick. Volunteer specialists could come teach classes, like children's yoga or pottery, and we could have regular times for age-specific playdates. Parents like me, with children underfoot, could come volunteer their time and/or work with their children at their side.
I spent some time talking it over with Daniel and he's super supportive. It fuses a lot of my desires and ideals. Daniel says it also utilizes my skill at being non-profitable. ;) Ha! (He also, not-quite-jokingly said my biggest expense would be in disinfectant.)
Why doesn't something like this already exist? Does it? Has anyone encountered a free family community space and toy lending library? I know of the concept but have never seen it in action outside of small grassroots mom groups getting together. Clearly, I need to do some research. Edited to Add: Who knew? There is an entire Toy Librarian's Association here in the States? Wow. How cool. Still, not much, if anything, is as ambitious as what I have in mind but it is nice to not have to reinvent the wheel for some of the functional considerations.
This isn't a matter of "if" but really a matter of "when". If I build it, will families come out of their homes and get together? Will people borrow expensive toys instead of feeling the need to purchase them? Could it even the playing field, so to speak, across socioeconomic lines and encourage a sense of community belonging and family fun?
I'm willing to take the risk to see. It won't be this year and it probably won't be next year, but I feel confident saying within five years one will exist and it will be a spectacular experiment in trust and idealism and togetherness.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 12:25 pm (UTC)A few thoughts, however...
I do not mean to throw negativity into your beautiful vision (and it IS a beautiful vision!) but I've been in the field with kids and families in Florida for 25 years and I know a lot about how things work. One thing you might want to research is the legalities of such a venture. Provided the parents are with their children at all times, you are not providing "child care" services, which frees you from the nuts and bolts of licensure and child care regulatory standards, however there will still be health department regulations and fire inspections, and other rules regarding a community center of any kind. Any serving of snacks or meals would also be affected by health dept. standards, so you would need to decide whether you wanted to go that route or not. Another thing to think about is liability, for both the onsite center and the toys themselves. I know that this sounds ridiculous, but people are sue-happy these days, and it would be awful to see your beautiful vision negatively impacted because a kid clobbered their sister with one of your toys, or someone fell and got hurt onsite. A simple registration process including a waiver would probably cover that aspect. I would hope liability insurance would not be a necessity, but it's something to consider (I work for a HUGE non-profit (the YMCA) and these are issues we face as well.) Another thing (and this is HUGE) is a screening process for volunteers. The Y does this also... every person that works with or around our children (be it a janitor, administrator or youth specialist) is fingerprinted, background checked and cleared through the police department. If people get antsy about this we simply explain that the safety of our children is more important than anything else. Period. Also, in Florida, the Jessica Lunsford act (http://www.browardschools.com/info/lunsford.htm)requires it of child care programs and schools, and it might apply to community centers as well.This would be something to research. Please do not think that I am trying to discourage you!! I think this is an amazing idea, and I think that you are the PERFECT person to do this!! I look forward to watching this dream grow into a reality... I think it will be so wonderful (I am already wishing I could volunteer to come do a children's music night!!) I am just cautioning you to build a careful foundation. Once (legal) safety structures are in place, you can focus on what is really the heart of the project; the families and children. I believe 100% that you will do this - it is an amazing idea, and you are an amazing person!
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 12:50 pm (UTC)Having worked as a leader for Spiral Scouts, I'm familiar with the protective legislation requirements. I'd be exempt from most of them, I think, because parents would be required to stay with and supervise their children. I would have background checks on file for volunteers, though, as an added layer of reassurance for parents.
While the services would be free (or virtually free), I would set up a membership system and have people check in on arrival. I'll be hiring an attorney to draw up the membership paperwork, but it would include waivers to legally protect us from lawsuits. (Or at least discourage them. Nothing can prevent suit being brought against you--it just increases one's chance of having the court find in your favor.)
I'm rambling! Let me rein in. :D
While I haven't discussed the nitty-gritty in my own post, I am aware of the huge undertaking I'm proposing in terms of zoning, construction, inspections, legal team, et al. :) That is infinitely less fun to talk about than the rainbows and moonbeams of my overall vision. ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 04:18 pm (UTC)