FALLS CHURCH, Va. —
Are you tired of buying your kids new toys that they play with for a week and then never touch them again? Well, there is a solution for you in Virginia.
The Toy Nest, located in Falls Church is a toy library. Liza Bourven is the Founder and Owner of Toy Nest and she describes the place as “a play space and a lending library for toys where families can come in and spend time and then when they leave, they can check out toys just like they would check out books from the book library.”
The Toy Nest provides an eco-friendly alternative to constantly purchasing new toys.
According to Bourven, “90% of toys purchased in the US are plastic... [and] up to 80% of the toys we buy end up in an incinerator or the ocean.”
The Toy Nest is on a mission to lower that number.
All you have to do stop in, pick a toy, and check it out for the week. If your kid loves the toy, you can purchase it. If your child isn’t impressed, then you can return it and try something else. There are hundreds of toys to choose from and they cater to a wide variety of age groups. From babies to crawlers and toddlers to tweens, everyone can find a toy to play with.
“We've got our cooking section, animals, vehicles. We have lots of people figures and playhouses, doll houses, and then larger dolls like our American Girl dolls,” says Bourven. They also have costumes that kids can check out for dress up at home or even for Halloween. All of the toys and costumes are cleaned once they have been returned so they are ready for the next home.
But how does this help the environment? The Toy Nest encourages conscious consumerism. This means parents can be sure their child likes a toy before they decide to purchase it. This can lead to fewer toys needing to be manufactured and fewer toys ending up in the landfill. Both of these cut down on greenhouse gases, which is great for the environment.
Checking out toys is done through a paid membership but there are scholarship options available as well. What if you have toys you want to get rid of? They accept donations. Just be sure to send in a photo of what you have and they will let you know if they need it.
The Toy Nest offers, birthday parties, special classes for moms, and so much more! If you would like more details, click here.
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