Thanks to a very generous anonymous donor, 1919 Main Street in West Barnstable was recently purchased on behalf of Cape Cod Toy Library, Inc. to have a home of its own - to enable expansion of services and community access to the educational resources.
Design plans for necessary renovations are in place to begin by July 1st. Our move is planned for June 21st, from our current incubator space at the First Lutheran Church, 1663 Main Street. Regular Saturday hours 10-1 at the church location will continue until June 21st and for Friday special programs or by appointment.
Cape Cod Toy Library’s central location will continue to offer on-site programs and serve as a hub for outreach activities. The new completed space will be an aesthetically attractive, welcoming, learning environment. It will include enriching educational materials for whole child development including: sensory and creative construction materials as well as science and math materials to support children’s cognitive & brain development, language & literacy, social-emotional, and physical development.
The following images are conceptual only drawings. Specific visuals will be added along the way.
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. Every furnishing and play material considered for its purpose to enhance curiosity, engagement in learning and discovery.
Toy Library
Access to the collection of toys and resources gives children and adults the freedom to choose and try out 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 their services and do behavioral screenings with children.
Meeting Space
A large two way mirror is envisioned from a versatile meeting space into a play therapy room for parent observations, professional training purposes and for grant funded educational research.
A Reggio-inspired space...
Cape Cod Toy Library will be a “Reggio inspired” toy library – we believe it will be the first.
The Reggio Emilia, child-centered approach of facilitating and supporting children’s learning is exemplified through the aesthetic environment, thought of as the “third teacher”. Additionally, the staff’s intentional planning and responses to the children expands upon the children’s interests and ideas, supporting their social-emotional needs, and deepening and broadening the learning experiences. 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 children and families’ lives in developing a 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 space will be set up intentionally to encourage collaboration, communication and exploration.
Every furnishing and play material is considered for its purpose to enhance 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.”
(“Making the Environment the Third Teacher” Maggie Carter, Exchange Magazine July/August 2007)