CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. — “First you take a turn, and then I’ll get it back.” That’s according to children’s entertainment legend Daniel Tiger. The town of Chesapeake Beach is embracing this sharing model with the launch of the new Community Toy Library at Bayfront Park.
The toy library is a simple station outside the park that has beach toys for kids to grab on their way in. The idea is that kids can play with the toys while visiting the park and then return them for other kids to use. Kids can also leave toys they don’t want to play with anymore.
Toy libraries have a ton of benefits for kids, families and beaches. They can reduce waste on the beach simply by having fewer toys in circulation. Renting a toy can help a kid feel a stronger sense of responsibility — and be less likely to leave their plastic shovel in the surf.
These sharing models also provide a helpful service to families who might not have access to beach toys or are just in a hurry. Many parents know the feeling of carrying your kid, their snacks and that annoying beach pail banging against your thighs down a sandy beach path. Grabbing only the toys you need on the way into the park takes some of the load off parents’ minds (and out of their very full hands).
Tiny libraries like this one became popular over the last decade with little book libraries — cases stationed around town where residents could leave books they finished and pick up new ones. Advocates of sharing libraries say that they’re an eco-friendly solution to kids’ short attention spans. They also foster community connection and sustainability.
Bayfront Park is only open to Chesapeake Beach residents, but anyone living near one of Southern Maryland’s beaches can discuss setting up a toy library with their beach or town.
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