What was your favorite toy as a child? Mine was a Lemon Twist, which was a plastic lemon at the end of a rubber tube that looped around my ankle. The goal was to swing the lemon around and around, jumping over it each time with my other foot. I had plenty of "games for one" like this -- socializing was not a strong suit! I also relied on jump rope, wiffle ball, and other group games to help me build relationships with peers. Looking back, those simple toys and games boosted my physical coordination and confidence, taught me patience with myself and others, and provided a framework for cooperation and teamwork that I wouldn't have otherwise had.
As a parent and teacher today, I can see how profound those seemingly simple activities were. Living in Philadelphia, I can also see that a vast percentage of our population struggles for basic resources. Communities that have access to such toys and games often accumulate them at breakneck speeds (my basement and closets are a testament to this!), and finding people and places to donate them to can be challenging. Thrift stores are wonderful, yet for some, even the reduced prices and transportation can be obstacles.
My hope is that Instant RePlay can keep these vital resources in circulation, empty out some basements and closets, provide for those in need, and bring the playfulness and possibilities of toys into kids' lives.
--Virginia Friedman
