We have received a $6,000 Toy Library grant to grow our selection of high-quality educational toys and equipment. 🎉🧸 Our grant allows us to contribute towards a rich home learning environment for children. Our Toy Library has been supported by the Victorian Government to renew our toy and equipment stock, improve membership offerings, enhance accessibility, and cover a range of one-off costs. Part of the Victorian Government's $1.9 million investment over 4 years supporting

To grown-ups, it might look like blocks on the floor, a very elaborate pretend café or a puzzle being completed for the 47th time. To children, it’s learning. Through play, children experiment, problem-solve, practise language, build confidence, navigate friendships and make sense of the world around them. And the best bit? They’re usually far too busy playing to realise how much they’re learning. That’s one of the things we love most about our Toy Library. New toys mean new

Every game, puzzle and imaginative adventure helps children build confidence, curiosity and lifelong skills. At Carnegie Toy Library, every toy on our shelves is an opportunity to learn, grow and have fun together. Because the best learning doesn't always look like learning... sometimes it just looks like play. 🧸🚂💛 What's your child's favourite way to learn through play? 👇

CURIOUS MINDS... 🔬✨ It's National Science Week, and you don't need a lab coat to get involved. Building, experimenting, investigating, problem-solving and asking "but why?" are all ways children explore science through play. This week, we're loving: 🔬 3D Doodler Start+ - a kid-friendly 3D printing pen that lets children draw, design and build their ideas in 3D 🧪 Microscope Leapfrog Magic Adventures - a microscope that lets little scientists explore the microscopic world up

SAVE THE DATE: 10th October 2026 - mark it in your calendars and keep the morning free for fun and celebrations! Come celebrate 40 years of Carnegie Toy Library. More details coming soon! Watch this space!

Big school is a big milestone, but learning the foundations doesn't have to mean worksheets and screen time... From threading, counting and letter recognition to problem-solving, creativity and STEM exploration, our School Skills toys help children build confidence through play. We have so many different toys to build on sooo many different skills - the best part is, they won't even realise they're doing 'learning' because it all feels like such fun!!! And remember - you can

Toy libraries exist because children’s play is constantly changing. What captures their imagination this month might be completely different in six months. Sharing toys means families can explore new interests, new skills and new stages of development without the pressure to keep buying more. It’s a simple idea that makes a big difference - for families, for children and for the environment.

A BIG THANK YOU TO FOREST HILL COMMUNITY BANK... Some exciting new arrivals have landed at Carnegie Toy Library! Thanks to the generous support of Forest Hill Community Bank, we've been able to expand our collection with a range of new games and puzzles for local families to borrow and enjoy. Whether it's building problem-solving skills, encouraging teamwork or simply creating opportunities for quality family time, these resources will be loved by our members for years to com

Before returning toys to Carnegie Toy Library, please: ☐ Wipe toys with baby wipes or antibacterial wipes (Keeping a packet near your toys can make returns much easier) ☐ Wash toys that need extra care in hot, soapy water Please don’t fully immerse toys, as water can get trapped inside ☐ Use a toothbrush or cotton wool on a stick Great for getting into small nooks and crannies Dry thoroughly with a clean tea towel ☐ Disinfect toys if your child has been unwell Disinfectant wi

Award-winning Blockaroo blocks combine tactile learning with endless building possibilities. Designed especially for younger children, the soft magnetic blocks are easy to connect, rotate and explore, making construction play both fun and frustration-free. Benefits include: Encourages creativity and open-ended play, Develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, Introduces early STEM concepts through building and problem-solving, Supports spatial awareness and logical

Play is one of the most important parts of childhood... but that doesn't mean every toy needs to live in your home!!! (nightmare material if you ask us!!). At Carnegie Toy Library, every borrowed toy opens the door to new adventures, new skills and new ways to learn. From imaginative play to problem-solving, every visit brings something different home. Less clutter. More variety. More sustainable. More fun. 💚

Who says coding has to start with a screen? The Coding Critters Ranger & Zip set introduces little learners to the building blocks of coding through hands-on play. By creating simple sequences and solving story-based challenges, children are learning without even realising it. Why we love it: ✨ Early coding skills 🧩 Problem-solving 🧠 Logical thinking 🔢 Sequencing & planning 📱 100% screen-free 🎨 Imaginative play At the Toy Library, we're all about toys that spark curiosit

Play might look simple, but it's doing some pretty incredible work behind the scenes. Every tower built, story imagined, puzzle solved and game invented is helping children develop confidence, creativity, communication and problem-solving skills that will stay with them long after playtime is over. That's why we're so passionate about making high-quality, engaging toys accessible to local families. Because play isn't just fun. It's one of the most powerful ways children learn

Buzz, Woody and friends have arrived at Carnegie Toy Library! 🚀 🤠✨ If you've got a little Toy Story fan at home, this Fisher-Price Little People Andy's Room Playset is bound to be a hit. With favourite characters, fun moving pieces and plenty of opportunities for imaginative play, it's one that tends to stay in regular rotation. As your child plays, they're also building: ✨ Imagination and storytelling skills ✨ Language and communication ✨ Fine motor skills ✨ Confidence thr

Did you know we have an entire puzzle collection you can borrow? From chunky toddler puzzles to 100-piece challenges for older kids, there's something for every age and stage. Puzzles are one of the best things you can put in front of a kid... They build focus, fine motor skills, problem solving and resilience - and they're one of the few activities that genuinely holds attention without a screen in sight. Borrow one this week!

Our 7+ collection needs some love. This EOFY, we're hoping to grow our range of STEM toys and resources for older children - from coding kits and robotics to engineering challenges and space exploration. Every donation helps us add more exciting toys for curious minds. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and every dollar goes towards building a stronger collection for our community. Donate before 30 June 👇 https://www.carnegietoylibrary.com/about-6

The toys that tend to last the longest are often the simplest ones! 💚 Blocks, loose parts, dress-ups, play silks, little figurines… the kinds of toys that can become something different every single day. A tower one minute. A zoo the next. A birthday cake by afternoon. Open-ended play gives children space to imagine, problem-solve, experiment and create in their own way - without needing flashing lights, batteries or instructions. Sometimes fewer rules really does mean more

HAVE YOU CLEANED? A gentle little reminder from your friends at Carnegie Toy Library... 💙 Before returning your toys, please give them a proper clean so they’re fresh and ready for the next family to enjoy. A quick wipe down, checking for stray puzzle pieces, emptying sand/water trays and making sure everything’s packed together makes a huge difference for our volunteers and fellow members ✨ It really does help keep the Toy Library running smoothly for everyone - thank you f

Music, technology and problem-solving all in one toy. The Circuitry Keyboard introduces children to the basics of circuits, sound and engineering through hands-on play. As they connect components and experiment with different combinations, children learn how electricity works while creating their own music and sounds. Benefits include: Encourages STEM learning, Develops problem-solving skills, Builds confidence through experimentation, Supports creativity and critical thinkin

Our 7+ collection needs some love. This EOFY, we're hoping to grow our range of STEM toys and resources for older children - from coding kits and robotics to engineering challenges and space exploration. Every donation helps us add more exciting toys for curious minds. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and every dollar goes towards building a stronger collection for our community. Donate before 30 June 👇 https://www.carnegietoylibrary.com/about-6