5 creative ways to play with a Pikler play frame
Pikler climbing frames are a Montessori favourite for good reason. Here are five imaginative, child-led ways to make the most of one at home — and how to borrow yours in Derbyshire.
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Latest news & articles
News, play ideas and stories from the toy library.
Our 2026 Impact Report: A Year Worth Celebrating!
From 600 Stay & Play sessions to 1,240 toys hired, our brand-new Impact Report shows just how much we've achieved together this year. Here's the celebration in numbers!
How toy libraries save families money (and the planet)
The average family spends hundreds of pounds a year on toys that get played with for weeks. There's a better way — and it's on your doorstep.
Heuristic play at home: a quick guide
Everyday objects can be your baby's favourite toys. Here's how to set up simple, safe heuristic play at home — no spending required.
Celebrate Sustainably: Making 2026 the Year of the Eco-Party!
At Derbyshire Toy Libraries, we believe that making magical memories shouldn’t have to mean making a mountain of waste.
A Lovely Morning Out at Kilburn Stay and Play
If you’re local to Kilburn or nearby and haven’t been to the Derbyshire Toy Libraries Stay and Play session yet, I honestly can’t recommend it enough.
Could you be our new Stay and Play Coordinator?
We’re on the lookout for a new Stay & Play Co-ordinator to join our team This role is on a self-employed part-time basis.
Derbyshire Toy Libraries Finalists - @WhatsOn4KidsUK Awards 2022
We were delighted to have been nominated in 2 categories at the recent @WhatsOn4KidsUK Awards 2022 held at @MercedesBenzWorldBrooklands in Surrey – the home of Mercedes-Benz
Every Giggle winner 2021
Ann-Marie McMillan: WINNER in the @EveryGiggle Awards 2021.
Most Loved Volunteer
Ann-Marie McMillan: WINNER in the @WhatsOn4KidsUK Awards 2021.
Spring Newsletter
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter, at the time of writing we are less than 2 weeks away from our 21st Birthday so, we thought we’d give you a quick round-up of the things going on since our Winter…
Ann-Marie on THE OWL HOOT podcast
/images/uploads/the-owl-hoot-final-podcast-logo-colour-300x300-1-300x300.jpghttp://https://theowlhoot.com/podcast/sustainable-toys-through-running-a-toy-library-with-ann-marie-mcmillan/Sustainable…
Winter News Letter
At the time of writing there are only 28 days until Christmas \internal panic\ So, we thought we’d give you a quick round up of the things we have going on in the lead-up to Christmas, in addition…
Autumn News Letter
We haven’t done one in a while and much has happened, so buckle-up it’s going to be a long one Rest assured next time we will be back to our regularly scheduled shorter programming. So, first for…
August Update
Welcome to our blog, here is our August update We have had another successful month here at Derbyshire Toy Libraries and that is thanks to your continued support. Although the country is still not…
Bank Holiday Toy Sale!
Derbyshire Toy Libraries offers Bank Holiday Weekend Virtual Pre-Loved Toy Sale Bank Holiday Toy Sale/images/uploads/bank-holiday-toy-sale-8.20-e1598614362855.jpg Check our Facebook…
July Update
Welcome back to our blog, here is our July update July was a successful month for us, we are so pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund,…
June Update
Hi there and welcome to our brand-new blog, where we will be posting monthly updates on what we have been up to at Derbyshire Toy Library. Derbyshire Toy Library’s mission is to “support…