Hold a Gently Used Toy Swap Event

Toys are wonderful, but they can sure get expensive. A toy swap is a great way to get rid of the toys you no longer want, and acquire “new” ones. There’s no exchange of money, but it’s more than just a giveaway. A swap means that everyone brings something they can contribute to the exchange.

Toy swaps are really helpful during tough economic times, too – you never know who might be relying on a swap for Christmas presents. So it can be a big benefit to the community.

Here are some tips on how to hold a gently used toy swap.

1. Find Out If There’s Interest

Are people in your community, office, place of worship, etc. talking about getting rid of their kids’ toys? Do you know a lot of people with children? Try to find out how interested people would be by talking about a toy swap and see what people say.

2. Where to Have the Exchange

You can host a toy swap at your home. Some have chosen to do this on Thanksgiving weekend as an alternative to the consumer-driven Black Friday event. You can serve cookies and tea, coffee and muffins, or something else simple. This works best if you have mostly friends and acquaintances over, and have the space to do it. A large basement or recreation room would be ideal.

You can also hold the event at a local place of worship, community center, or someone else’s home if they are agreeable.

3. Send Out Notices

Most people opt for email or e-invitations these days. If you prefer to go the paper invitation route, you can save postage by hand delivering your notices.

4. Establish Guidelines for Items

When you send out notices, include guidelines for the toys you want donated to the swap. Note that you want toys that are “gently used,” and decide how leftovers will be handled (participants take them back, you will donate them, etc.). In addition, decide if you have certain toys you won’t accept, such as broken or violent-type toys. Make note of these decisions in your notice. Include date, time, and place of course, and your contact information for volunteers and questions.

While you’re considering guidelines, you also need to think about how the swap will occur. Should donated toys be worth a certain number of “tickets,” and then those tickets can be exchanged for another toy? This approach might help keep things even if someone donates a scooter while another person brings some small toy cars. Or you could take a more laid-back approach and let anyone take what they want and donate what they can. It’s up to you, but make sure you make it clear whatever you decide.

5. Ask for Volunteers

If you think you’ll need help, ask for volunteers. They can show up early to help set up or bring food. They can also stay late for clean-up, and to help haul leftover items to Goodwill (or wherever you like). In exchange for their help, they get first pick of the toys before anyone else arrives.

Have fun at your toy swap, and don’t be surprised if people want to do it again!