A Solution to Saving Space and Money
- Christine Lusk
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
It's Guest Blog Time!
When we arrived back from our first overseas posting we had a 2.5 year old and were awaiting the birth of our second child. We landed in New England for several months until our baby was born before moving to Falls Church for my husband's next assignment. We house hunted those first nine months in Falls Church leaving our HHE and Storage in storage. So for our first year back in the states we lived without our household goods, which meant anything we needed or wanted we had to buy it or borrow it. It was an expensive transition paying rent, buying two cars, paying for storage, and buying things we already owned all on one income.
Our next return from overseas was for training to go onto the next assignment. This time we had a better plan. We shipped our UAB two months before we left for training so that we wouldn't have to rebuy everything for our short stay. Only problem was that our plan hinged on our shipment actually getting shipped. Yet again, we found ourselves rebuying things we already owned. Our UAB was delivered two days before we moved out of Oakwood to go on home leave.
Stories like ours are fairly common. Things go wrong and you have to focus on the solution not the problem. For those facing these challenges today, you have more options. I have known Lisa since our kids were in the same preschool. We bonded over working in retail, Jazzercise, expat life, and now, being entrepreneurs. I have told her time and again how much I love her business and wished it existed when we were in all of those temporary situations. Having access to toy options without having to buy them is a immense relief for many families, plus the instant community that comes with it is priceless. It is our pleasure to welcome Lisa Bourven as a Guest Blogger.
Guest Blog by Lisa Bourven
If you’re like most people planning a temporary move, toys are probably at the bottom of your packing list. Why devote time, space, and money to shipping heavy and bulky non-consumable items that will likely take a couple of months to arrive and be outgrown quickly?
But what if you could just borrow what you need after arriving at your final destination? Enter the toy library concept! Just as the name implies, toy libraries allow families to borrow and swap toys, keeping them only as long as desired. Depending on the location, amenities such as in-library play and advance toy reservations may be available too. Fees can vary, ranging from donations to upwards of $65 per month, with a wide variety of hours as well, from 4 to 40 hours per week. The most extensive American toy libraries are open full-time and feature in-person programming, online catalogs and 1500+ items for all seasons and ages.
Here are six of our favorite uses for toy libraries when moving:
Saving Space and Money
Having access to large and seasonal items, such as water tables, wagons, tricycles, play couches, and tall playsets, feels like such a luxury when you’re far from home, especially when your new housing is tight and funds are scarce. Being able to return them once the kids have moved on feels even better.
Built-in Community
Though not all toy libraries offer brick-and-mortar locations, those that do often offer open play hours in addition to regular classes, meetups, and special community events. This is an especially easy way for new arrivals to get plugged into the community and meet other families whose kids are around the same age. Additionally, some collaborate to offer classes with local pediatric therapists, lactation consultants, and other professionals, which can be very helpful for families in need of developmental evaluations or services.
Versatility
Not only do toy libraries offer changing options as kids grow, but they are a fantastic option for transplanted families with kids of varying ages, eliminating the need to pack items for multiple stages. If you walk into a good toy library with your three kids under eight, you’ll walk out with something for everyone.
Supplement Learning
The best toy libraries include educational activities and games from brands like Lakeshore, Lovevery, Learning Resources, Melissa and Doug, and Guidecraft. You’re also likely to find a large selection of Montessori materials. For kids who are transitioning between different schools, these tools can be very helpful in maintaining continuity of previously learned concepts.
Planning Activities
Some toy libraries offer the option to reserve toys in advance, allowing parents to plan themes each week or to reserve toy bundles for parties and events. This is an ideal solution for adding structure to long summer vacations. The possibilities are endless: trains, STEM, LEGO, water, pirates, American Girl, (pretend) grilling, superheroes, and so much more.
Halloween Costumes
If your move is planned for October, it’s definitely worth checking whether your local toy library offers Halloween costumes. At up to $75 per costume and with an average use of about three hours, costume rental alone is enough to justify the cost of toy library use.
I hope this overview helps take at least one thing off your already long to-do list for your next move. If you have kids under age 10 and are lucky enough to be heading someplace with a toy library, your family is in for a treat!
Lisa's Bio
Lisa Bourven is the Founder and CEO of The Toy Nest, the first and largest toy library in the Washington, D.C. area, which opened in March 2020. You can find them at thetoynest.com, on Instagram @thetoynest, and on Facebook @thetoynest.toylibrary. They have been featured on the national CBS Evening News, on WUSA9, and in The Washington Post, Arlington Magazine, the Falls Church News Press, and the Falls Church Independent.
Before working as a stay-at-home mom for almost nine years, Lisa worked in retail analytics and operations leadership for five years. She has lived abroad twice, in Switzerland and France, has family in Scotland and France, and believes that living big with a small footprint is the future.
The Toy Nest is the solution to many of the problems that Lisa and her family have experienced while raising children: small space, limited budget, changing interests, and environmental concerns. Even as middle schoolers, her kids still borrow and enjoy many of the games in the collection. Their family favorite is Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza!
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