The Toy Bank

The Toy Bank establishes Safe Playrooms in Municipal Schools of Delhi for economically weaker section children. These playrooms are equipped with child-friendly infrastructure, including furniture, toys, board games, and other educational materials. With over 100 varieties of age-appropriate toys and games, the playrooms enable children to engage in free play and recreational activities. The focus is on providing learning through play, as it supports the development of social, cognitive, physical, language, numeracy, environmental awareness, life skills, and emotional well-being.

To mitigate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown on underprivileged children in India, The Toy Bank has launched the "Reach and Teach Programme" in Municipal schools of Delhi. The programme aims to provide activity-based learning kits and toys to increase access to learning aids at home. Additionally, daily e-learning activity worksheets, virtual guiding videos, and audios explaining concepts and activities are shared with students from first to fifth grade. The e-learning classes are designed to be flexible and accessible to students with phones or other electronic devices. The programme focuses on strengthening existing knowledge, promoting emotional stability during the lockdown, reducing dropout rates, and providing equal opportunities for recreational activities.

The School Connect project addresses the lack of toys in small schools in India. It channels unused toys from affluent areas to underprivileged children. By connecting less fortunate kids with more fortunate kids, the project ensures cost-effectiveness and easy replicability. It aims to make a Toy Library a reality for these schools and provide children with access to toys for play and learning.

Toy Bank distributes toys to children in Anganwadi Centres gram panchayats, and other rural communities aiming to ensure that the development of children in these regions takes place through early stimulation using play-way methods. By providing toys, the Toy Bank aims to promote learning and holistic development among children. Additionally, the distribution of toys is expected to increase attendance in Anganwadis.

Toy Bank takes on the responsibility of supporting schools by adopting them. It strives to ensure that the school receives adequate infrastructure, such as suitable furniture and creatively decorated walls. In addition to these improvements, The Toy Bank emphasizes the establishment of toy libraries in each adopted school.

To advocate/promote Article 31 of the UN Convention on child’s Right to Play, The Toy Bank builds a Safe Playroom in Municipal schools of New Delhi for children belonging to the economically weaker section. A well-equipped playroom with appropriate child friendly infrastructure (Child friendly furniture- Chairs, tables, cabinets, cupboards and walls) and age-appropriate toys and board games to enable every child to participate in free play and recreational activities. The playroom constitutes a variety of toys, board games, puzzles, musical games, soft toys, life skill games, storybooks and other educational toys, to involve children in physical and mental exercise. It focuses on providing holistic childhood development through play. Since during these years, a child develops social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills that forms the foundation needed to have a healthy future. Through the safe playroom project, we aim to provide ample time and space for children to play freely. And, benefit the children to learn different skills such as numeracy, language, environmental awareness, life skills and emotional well-being.

The first six years of a child's life have been recognised as the most critical ones for optimal development. Since the process of human development is essentially cumulative in nature, investment in programmes for the youngest children in the range of 0-6 years has begun to be accepted as the very foundation for basic education and lifelong learning and development. Over the years, the field of childcare, inspired by research and front-line experiences, has developed into a coherent vision for Early Childhood Care And Education. The Toy Libraries aims to increase the access of toys, storybooks, board games, rattle toys, educational toys and much more. Different variety of toys will involve the children in physical and mental exercise. It concentrates on providing holistic childhood development through toys and board games. Since during these years, a child develops social, cognitive, physical and emotional skills that form the foundation needed to have a healthy future. The Toy Bank also aims to strengthen the capacities of the Anganwadis staff by creating "20 Activity Modules" which will be used by the Anganwadi centres. These Activity Modules are carefully mapped and provide specific guidance to Anganwadi staff in selecting the appropriate toy or play material to deliver learning through PLAY. These multi-purpose modules will incorporate basic numeracy, language, environment and others into the children's structured play sessions to enhance the holistic development of a child through toys. By working on all the domains such as sensory, fine and gross motor skills, social, emotional, language, teamwork and much more to have social and emotional well being.