Toy Lending - What Do You Think?

[BigMama]

I love love love being a family child care provider. I really like that I am my own boss and that, within the state regs, I can design my program the way I think it should be. I really enjoy working alone as I can make all decisions. I have been, over the past year or so, feeling very disconnected from other people in the field. This was one of the reasons why I joined this forum.

Anyhow, I have been thinking about ways to connect with other providers in my area and was thinking about starting a toy lending program for family child care providers. I have a lot of materials that I have amassed over the years and was thinking that it might be nice for providers to be able to borrow materials rather than buy them (or to try something out before they spend $ on it).
What do you think? Would you participate in something like this if another provider in your area offered it for a small fee?
Do you see any pitfalls? I know that I will have to deal with loss/damaged/late materials. I was thinking that I would have a contract that stated that the borrower was financially responsible for damaged toys.
My only other concern was liability. If someone borrows a toy from me and they don't supervise a child properly or allows a child that is too young for the toy play with is, could I be held liable? Could I add a clause to my contract saying that I cannot be held responsible? I don't know how that would work. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

[melskids]

It sounds like a good idea, but honestly, I spend WAY too much money on my stuff for me to want to lend it out to providers I don't know very well.

It kinda sounds like too much paperwork to keep up with as well.

But if it works for you....try it!

I wonder how far you are from me. Maybe we could swap toys.

[MarinaVanessa]

I was thinking about doing something like this also in my area. I figured that I would have to have some type of contract and a form that lists what toy they took and how many pieces etc. I keep all of my toys in plastic bins with lids already so I was thinking of just sticking some type of sticker label on the bin with my name on it, the number of pieces, name of toy, manufacturer etc and how much to purchase it new. If it doesn't get returned and they don't replace it then I'd have to go after them in court I suppose, if it was returned with missing pieces then there would have to be some type of fee.

I figured that I'd only do this with childcare providers that I already knew VS letting just anyone borrow toys. As I meet new providers or as providers introduce me to others then I could broaden up my lending circle etc. There was also the thought of swapping/trading toys (you give me a toy and I give you a toy of the the same monetary value) type of thing vs just loaning out a toy and not getting anything in return. At least this way I'd have SOMETHING if someone didn't return my toy.

I think that there's a lot to think about and there's a lot of pro's and cons that you have to weigh out but it is an interesting idea isn't it?

[WImom]

I like this idea. Might be something I'd try within my daycare assocation. I don't know if I'd do it anyone not in the association.

[Unregistered]

I used to run a toy lending library

its was open from 1972-2011 But unfortunatly people stopped wanting to borrow toys. We were open to providers and to the general public at $30 per year. The way it was organised was that each toy had a # and each # was refrenced to the inventory. Each toy (or set) was kept in a bin labeled with the inventory # and the pieces count. We had everything from equipment to toys. It worked like a library the toys were signed out for 2 weeks at a time and they were to be "used at your own risk". There is no longer a need in my community for such a service so we closed.

[MarinaVanessa]

its was open from 1972-2011 But unfortunatly people stopped wanting to borrow toys. We were open to providers and to the general public at $30 per year. The way it was organised was that each toy had a # and each # was refrenced to the inventory. Each toy (or set) was kept in a bin labeled with the inventory # and the pieces count. We had everything from equipment to toys. It worked like a library the toys were signed out for 2 weeks at a time and they were to be "used at your own risk". There is no longer a need in my community for such a service so we closed.

I can see that. We had an awesome toy lending library through our local R&R. Now they downsized (budget cuts) and they're only opened during these incredibly inconvenient hours one or two days a week but I still like to go from time to time to borrow toys. I liked picking out the toys we didn't have and letting the kids try them. If they liked the toy enough I bought a set of my own. They don't have much now though because they had to get rid of a bunch of stuff.

I can see that if providers did this it would probably work better. I can deffinetely see the toy lending between providers being a good idea running it with daycare association members, I think I'll propose it to ours too. Each provider can give a list of what she is willing to loan out to other members. I still think that it could be done, all of the details can be worked out using trial by error etc.

[cheerfuldom]

Dont lend anything that you would be upset about if it is never returned. Like anything, this sounds like a good idea but the actual practice of it could get dicey. I know I am a pessimist but all i can think of is people complaining, work organizing and keeping track of stuff, things get ruined or not returned at all, etc, etc.

[MarinaVanessa]

Dont lend anything that you would be upset about if it is never returned. Like anything, this sounds like a good idea but the actual practice of it could get dicey. I know I am a pessimist but all i can think of is people complaining, work organizing and keeping track of stuff, things get ruined or not returned at all, etc, etc.

Yes exactly. This is why if it was done with an association I think it would work better. There could be more consequeces etc. i.e. you don't return someone toy back you get suspended from the association, can't attend meetings/workshops etc. Here we all pay yearly dues to be in the association and none of us would want to miss out on workshops and such due to a toy.

Then again our association is pretty much the same group of ladies that pretty much hang out together anyway so we all know each other. And that's why I think it should be an even trade ... you want to borrow my set of large unit wodden blocks? Sure. Leave me your Fisher Price large toddler play gym with slide.

[Rachel]

People loan a lot of things around here, from toys to cameras to computer equipment to costumes for kids. Most of the places work where there is a small fee when you borrow, which goes into replacing stock, etc., and a large deposit which you get back when the item is returned (usually a check that is then given back when the item is returned in the condition it was borrowed).

[morgan24]

We have a lending library that is run by a providers association. The toys and baby equipment were purchased with a grant and you can borrow them if your a member of the association or if you volunteer to run the toy library. You also have to put in so many hours towards cleaning the toys and equipment They are checked out like a library system. I'm not longer a member because I live 40 minutes from the library and they are only open for 3 hours one Saturday a month. If it was closer I would use it more, I just have a hard time being able to get there.

I think once you get all the details figured out it will be a great resource for other providers.

[MarinaVanessa]

People loan a lot of things around here, from toys to cameras to computer equipment to costumes for kids. Most of the places work where there is a small fee when you borrow, which goes into replacing stock, etc., and a large deposit which you get back when the item is returned (usually a check that is then given back when the item is returned in the condition it was borrowed).

This is a good idea actually, I like the idea of a deposit. I think our association would want to keep it free and since we don't have an "office" for storing a large amount of toys we would need our members to house them. Most of us already store extra toys that we rotate anyway. I'll bring it up at the next board meeting next month and see what they say. It would all depend on how many other association members would be interested in sharing the toys and the rest of the board members would have to be the first to volunteer. If everyone on the board volunteers to share their toys then that already makes 8 of us willing to lend them out and members. I guess I'll start working on a proposal.

Bigmama: What did you decide?

[BigMama]

I like the idea of trading one toy for a toy of equal value. I also think a deposit would work well (and might be less complicated). Oh, and I definitely will not loan out things that are irreplaceable! I think what I will do is start out small and offer just 25 pieces at first and only to providers in my zip code This way I can gauge interest without it getting too crazy and I can add materials if the interest is there.

[gelbesonn]

My local childcare resource has a toy van. It is for area providers. There are some pretty good toys that come around (last year there was a whole class set of snow shoes). There are also resource books for providers too. The lady who drives the van comes to my house about every 6 weeks. All the toys have labels with a number that she writes down on a card with my name. I'm allowed only so many toys (3-4) and then when she comes back, I have to give them back before I get new toys. It's been a great way for me to test out things that are expensive before I buy them. I'm not sure what the liability is behind it though, since it's run by CCR.

[MarinaVanessa]

Wow the toy lending van is cool. I wish we had something like that.

Bigmama: You could also just start by loaning out toys in your city. That's what I figure I'll propose. I think it would be easier to loan your toys out to providers that are in your city vs a different city until you really get to know providers out of your city. I would have better piece of mind KWIM?