ITLA Newsletter - June

Newsletter

June 2013

Editorial Adapt or die! We have changed the look of our newsletter and hope you will approve. We want to thank the Portuguese team who will be in charge of editing the newsletter from now on. Needless to say they will continue working very closely with Maxine: so all of you keep sending us news, innovations, recommendations, etc. But most important please share with us your experiences of working in toy libraries.

In this issue we report great events that make us proud to be toy librarians: the 30th anniversary of the Japanese National Council for Toy Libraries; our dear Roma Lear, one of the first toy librarians in the U.K., has turned 90 years old and keeps up the ludic spirit; we held the ITLA interim meeting where we achieved great accomplishments as an organization, and we are preparing for the Korean Congress.

We are preparing to offer our best service so that more toy librarians around the world will join us. Therefore we ask the national organizations to send us their directories of toy libraries to add to a future section of Toy Libraries around the World on our web site.

I hope that you all enjoy this issue and that it will provide a useful and rich learning experience.

ITLA’s Mission Statement*: "To provide information about toy libraries and their importance to communities, facilitating the exchange of experiences and promoting reflection between toy libraries around the world" * Approved in Lisbon, 2013

We hope that you all had a delightful and fun World Play Day. We kindly ask you to share it with us. And now start saving to meet up again in Korea from the 18th to 22nd of August 2014.

A big hug, Mónica Juárez President

In This Issue  ITLA’s Board in Portugal P.2  We Are What We Play AtZar P.3  New Kuru Kuru Chime (Whirling

Ball Chime) P.4  World Play Day P.5  Toy Libraries in Turkey P.7  Play Activity Department, Portugal -

International Path P.8

From April 14th to 17th Portugal hosted the first meeting of ITLA’s Board, elected at the 12th International Conference of Toy Libraries in Brazil.

Board members that were present: Monica Juarez (Mexico), Cynthia Morrison (South Africa), Isik Kamaraj (Turkey), Giorgio Bartolucci (Italy), Alice Lucot (France), Leonor Santos (Portugal) and Youngsook Suh (Korea).

ITLA’s Board in Portugal These meetings are an opportunity for joint reflection, in which ITLA defines the guidelines and shares the activities developed by toy libraries around the world. From Japan, we know that the Japanese Association of Toy Libraries now has 455 members, but they estimate that there are about 550 toy libraries operating. Mexico highlights the celebration of World Play Day that gathered more than three thousand people. In South Africa, the creation of Cotlands Toy Library Association of South Africa, after the closing of the national toy library association gave a new direction to toy libraries in that country. South Korea has invested in the organization of seminars and conferences in order to promote toy libraries in the country, highlighting also the organization of ITLA’s next international conference.

In Portugal, the investment was in online development, particularly through the creation and running of a Facebook group and editing digital newsletters. Noteworthy also are the actions that have been developed in schools with children, youth, teachers and families regarding the use of new technologies and the continuous technical support, for the last several years, for the creation and running of toy libraries in Portugal.

In the meeting, the functions of each member of the board were defined and ITLA’s mission statement was completed. Also the possibility was discussed of ITLA creating an international certification by assigning a certificate to toy libraries that meets the Quality Charter. The organization of international training and the exchange of toy librarians between countries were other issues discussed at the meeting.

World Play Day is a central focus of ITLA’s activity, so it was agreed that all members should continue to focus on this celebration and on the propagation of this day in their

For the social program, a dinner in a house of Fado

countries. ITLA reinforced the intention of working with the United Nations for the formal recognition of this celebration.

(typical Portuguese music and recognized as a

The 13th International Conference of Toy Libraries was also deliberated: it will take place between 18 and 22 August 2014 in Seoul, South Korea, with the theme "Play for

UNESCO World Heritage site) was organized.

Life - Play in the Past, Play in the Present and Play in the Future."

Members also had the opportunity to visit the toy libraries of Galiza, Monte and Adroana that belong to the Toy Libraries Network of Cascais, where they talked to the toy librarians and got acquainted with some of the work done in this area of Portugal. The toy libraries and the initiatives promoted earned praise from members of the board. The Cascais Council received the group, having organized and hosted a lunch in which it was possible to learn the plans of this municipality for toy libraries.

Visit to Adroana Toy Library

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Leonor Santos, ITLA Board Member

AtZar Spain

We Are What We Play We at AtZar, together with our close partner, IPA Spain,

The visitor discovers information about play by playing in

have created an exhibition to promote the importance of play in different spaces such as playgrounds, social centres, schools, etc. We have had as a clear goal, from the outset, that this should be a resource that invites children into the game. We know that if the way we communicate - in brochures, websites, posters and exhibitions - is more “game-like” its impact will be higher.

all modules.

"LOOK" This module shows us what we learn, for example, when we play with paper airplanes or look through a fun fisheye peephole.

Therefore, the exhibition "We Are What We play" takes a playful perspective. It reveals its contents through gameplay elements that facilitate action and interaction in order to hold the visitors’ interest. The visit dynamics promote personal discovery and enable individual and joint reflection. In addition, we plan an easy visit that does not

"TOUCH" This module shows us what we learn when we play with dolls: through a simple and attractive open or rotate gesture.

require more than 20 minutes for your enjoyment.

The different parts of the exhibition

"DISCOVER" This module

The input panel is the only part of the exhibit that is purely expository - the text of which we reproduce below.

shows us what we learn when we pretend to be another person. We can access that information to look for a different perspective.

The centre that requests the exhibition can arrange all of the easily mountable, detachable and transportable pieces as they wish, depending on their interests and the space they have.

This exhibition is available for everyone.

Play is an emotional experience loaded with communication and interaction with others, objects and space. It is one of the most valuable sources of development and learning.

Play is an attitude towards life. It is a primary and free impulse that comes out from inside pushing one to explore, discover, conquer and evaluate the world and life itself.

Therefore, play is a child’s right and it remains a need throughout life. That is why we want to invite everybody to enjoy this space where it will be possible to discover how play shapes learning, attitudes, skills...

Esther Hierro, Secretary of AtZar

While playing we are ourselves.

And… do you play?

Email: esther@marinva.es 3

New Kuru Kuru Chime (Whirling Ball Chime) In Japan like in many other countries there are numerous good traditional toys such as tops, beanbags, kites, etc. However in this article I’d like to introduce one example of our current toys which is very popular in toy libraries and the price is also reasonable.

The name of the toy is “New Kuru Kuru Chime” in Japanese. “Kuru Kuru” is

This toy can improve children’s fine motor skills, such as reach, grasp and release of the object. The size of the ball is not too small for babies or chil-

an onomatopoeic word for a whirling sound. The shape of the toy is a transparent cylinder and the top

dren with cerebral palsy to grasp. The height of the toy is appropriate for chil-

part is the head of a bird.

When children drop the ball from the hole in the top, balls whirl down along the gutter and finally make a tinkling sound by hitting the chime at the bottom.

It’s very important for children not to have difficulties when playing. Other-

The diameter of the ball is 45 millimeters (about 1.8 inches), so that children will not be able to swallow them. There are five balls and their colors are very

dren to play with easily. The rim and the size of the hole on the top are designed so that children will not miss dropping the ball into the toy.

wise they easily lose interest.

This toy can also improve visual tracking ability as well as hand and eye coordination. Furthermore ability to observe the object carefully is cultivated.

These are very important factors for learning skills. Because the balls are colorful children can learn colors and numbers. When children play with this toy for fun, they learn to concentrate. Their attention span gets longer and self-motivation to play spontaneously is developed.

These are the benefits of “New Kuru Kuru Chime” by Kumon Publishing Co. Ltd. I wish children could enjoy “New Kuru Kuru Chime” in your toy library.

beautiful: red, blue, yellow, orange and green.

Noriko Minejima, M.D. Vice-Director of JNCTL (The Japanese National Council of Toy Libraries)

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World Play Day World Play Day was created at the 8th International Conference in Tokyo in 1999. It was an initiative of Freda Kim, ITLA’s then president.

In 2001, at a board meeting in Florence, the date for this event was chosen - May 28th: World Play Day is held on ITLA’s birthday.

What I envisage is not an event or series of events, and not something that entails expansive and expensive preparations (or expensive presents). The essence of PLAY is childlike. It is what all children do naturally. Therefore, a WORLD PLAY DAY should be a day of total attention to each other, from generation to generation. A day when children and adults do what they want to do. A day that is relaxed and emphasizes human interaction. We do not need to stop the world for a day. We play in our own place, home, school or work place. Perhaps I am describing an attitude rather than an activity. A day that is FUN, shows adults and children in interactive situations promoting the healthy growth of each other in simple, self-motivated activities of their own choice. If everyone in the world can do this on the same day each year we will have a WORLD PLAY DAY. Freda Kim, Founder, World Play Day

ITLA is happy to show how everybody: families, children and adults played on World Play Day. In this issue of our newsletter we share what happened in Mexico, Canada and Portugal. In the next issues we’ll show you World Play Day celebrations in other countries around the world.

World Play Day 2013 in Mexico

In Mexico, several cities celebrated World Play Day. Here are photos from Mexico City, Tijuana and Pachuca.

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World Play Day 2013 in Canada

4000 people played in Canada!

World Play Day 2013 in Portugal

In Portugal we say “Play will get us to Children’s Day!” and so the World Play Day celebrations start on May 28th but end only on June 1st .

To see the Portuguese World Play Day videos go to: www.youtube.com/iacludica

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Toy Libraries in Turkey Recently, toy libraries have been founded in Istanbul, Mardin, Izmir, Bolu, Eskisehir, Antalya, Ordu and Adiyaman in Turkey.

Inspired by the project “One Hope, One Future” which is prepared by Umit Kokcuoglu, Selahattin Ozbucak and six students, the first and only toy library of its kind was formed in the Public Library of Gazi under the Ordu Culture and Art Center.

1. Bolu-Duzce Toy Library was founded at the permanent houses in Duzce at the Kizilay Community Center with the help of the Australian Consulate and with the participation of the Turkish people living in Melbourne in 2004.

9. Izmir Hasan Kaya Hearing-impaired Training School and Kindergarten is the first toy library created by an official school of the Ministry of Education, according to an article published by Star News in 2008. With the help

2. Eskisehir Toy Library was founded by the municipality of Eskisehir Odunpazari in 2005.

of this library, which benefits 0-6 year old hearingimpaired children and their parents, it is aimed to help children to learn proper game techniques and to support their communication skills.

3. Antalya Toy Library was opened with the help of the municipality of Antalya in 2008. The third toy library in Turkey was formed at the Antalya Karşıyaka Art and Career Training Facilities by Antalya Metropolitian Municipality Head of the Department of Social Services.

This toy library belongs to the 3 - 13 age group.

So far, nine toy libraries have been founded in eight different cities in Turkey. We haven’t a National Toy Library Association yet, but we have been celebrating “National Independence and Children’s Day” with international participants since 1920.

4. Mardin Toy Library was opened with the help of an NGO called KEDEV (The Assesment Center for Women’s Work) in Mardin in 2008. http://www.kedv.org.tr 5. Kücükcekmece Toy Library was founded in Istanbul with the cooperation of Kucukcekmece Municipality Preschool Center and Ertugrul Gazi Primary School in 2009. This toy library was opened for children without preschool education. This library is in the garden of the school.

Recently, toy libraries have been founded in Istanbul, Mardin, Izmir, Bolu, Eskisehir, Antalya, Ordu and Adiyaman in Turkey.

6. Izmir-Bergama Toy Library was opened with the cooperation of the Ege University Education Faculty, Municipality of Bergama, the District National Education in Bergama, the Association for Promotion of Contemporary Life, the Contemporary Education Charitable Fund, and the Ege Atatürk City Public Library in 2009. Moreover, there is another toy library called the Izmir-Narlidere Preschool Toy Library.

7. Adiyaman Fevzi Cakmak Sunay Akin Elementary School Toy Library Project, 2010, is a pre-support program which was created in order to help children-atrisk in terms of developmental stages, living in Yeni Mahalle- Adıyaman to have equal opportunities to others and to support the parents with their children’s education.

Assist. Prof. Işık Kamaraj Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty/Turkey

8. “One Hope, One Future” 0-6 years Child Books and Toy Library in Ordu was opened for the first time in 2011.

ITLA Board Member 7

The Child Support Institute (IAC) was founded in 1983 based on the utopian concept of its founder, João dos Santos, and his followers in this project, Manuela Eanes and Natália Pais.

IAC was created to "contribute to the resolution of problems affecting children in contemporary society and to defend their rights" (Statutes of IAC) and its objective is to be "an open space, available to be touched by people, e.g., to raise awareness and to be alert to all problems that, affecting the stability of families and children, are not covered by the departments of the

Portugal: Play Activity Department International Path The Play Activity Department started its journey more than 30 years ago, with the conviction that through play activity it is possible to: 

use our historic time and space as an opportunity to change..."



give each child the right to live with authenticity their own childhood "with all it implies: freedom, play and fantasy."



promote conditions that enable education "in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, equality and solidarity."

In the first years, we learnt from the experience of those working in other countries. We’ve promoted training and meetings, we’ve sensitized people to create play spaces and to learn from watching children play. We mention the importance of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in implementing the project of valuing play activity, by bringing us the knowledge of leading experts such as Denise Garon, Maria Borja Solé, Raimundo Dinello and Nylse

State" (Paths to Utopia, 1982).

Cunha.

Within these principles, the

other countries shows that the route taken by Portugal reflects issues experi-

first project was born: to sensitize the community in general and the policy makers to the "Defense of the Right to Play." Based

enced around the world, at one time or another, and what was witnessed by our participation in previous international meetings.

on the conviction that this was one of the most ignored rights of the child, IAC has promoted a wide awareness movement stimulating the creation of toy libraries in Portugal.

The contact that the department had over the years with experiences from

In 1981, the conference of the International Association of Toy Libraries (ITLA) was attended by a Portuguese woman whose poetic sensibility and pedagogical competence allowed her to recognize toy libraries as being, essentially, "an act of love for the child".

In 1984, we learned in Brussels that PLAY is a LANGUAGE and to value play as a universal language facilitating common experiences, whose meaning is renewed permanently; the play language is a way of communication capable of minimizing the differences of status and overcoming the divergence of codes. We called for the creation of spaces open to the Community where children, youth and adults would have access to games and toys and the act of play could occur in conditions of joy, safety and equality. In 1987, it was not possible to participate in the meeting that took place in Canada, but the frequency of contacts with Denise Garon allowed permanent forms of enrichment and constant updates regarding her experiences.

In 1990, in Turin, where a strong Portuguese representation was possible (38 participants), we defended the toy library as a liberating, creative and communication space, developing programs based on a dynamic and diverse educational context. We gave testimonies of projects aiming at the development of critical and creative skills, the respect for tradition, the revi8

talization of social groups and the renovation of cultural and artistic values.

In 1999, in Tokyo, we paid particular attention to how we play and we valued play processes that, coming from expressive spontaneity, allow progressive forms of access to knowledge, the mastery of materials, development of critical capabilities and creative production, as a testimony of self-consciousness. We stated further that these processes should be respected in the various toy design proposals, ranging from the construction of traditional toys, to the design and implementation of a game using sophisticated technological means (computer games, CD Rom). We left Tokyo with the responsibility of organizing the 9th International Conference of Toy Libraries. In preparing for it, we were disturbed by the deterioration of situations of armed conflict that, in several parts of the world, have victimized so many people and were denying so many children the right to live their own childhood.

Play Centre in Oliveira de Azeméis (north of Portugal)

In 1993, in Australia, our attention focused on the theme "How to educate for peace in war time”, as Portugal was receiving children who were victims of the conflicts of the former Yugoslavia in 1992. The person responsible for the toy library movement asked IAC to support children who had been without "parents, homes, schools, childhood, future". We are talking about children who had spent many days hiding, escaping at night, weeks of fear, months of panic, stayed in places where chaos and destruction reigned and lived in dramatic situations of risk and despair.

ITLA’s 9th Conference in Lisbon

In 1996, in Zurich, we highlighted issues related to the purchase of toys that do not allow the child to make a cultural appropriation, nor assimilate cognitively and emo-

In 2002 we organized the 9th Conference, and we considered it appropriate to update and reflect on many issues already addressed and think of them in the light of new contexts. Besides Portugal, a wide diversity of countries was represented, including Spain, Italy, South Afri-

tionally. We referred, as an example, to the mass production of dolls, which are purchased on the basis of consumerist imperatives and so turn out to be (like many children) neglected, abused, rejected, deleted or capriciously replaced by others, condemned to the fate of a thing that nobody has been able to value or to assign affective significance. We asked the question: How does

ca, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, India, Romania, Japan, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom: in total 22 countries and about 500 participants.

one reconcile the ability of the child to give soul and feeling to objects within the socio-cultural context of an adult world that insists on the the quantification of the objects and the "thingification" of people? We remembered the role that the toy library can play in relation to the objects of everyday family entertainment, which, by its deep meaning in the magic universe of childhood, must be used according to the will, the dream and the desire of the child while playing.

ITLA’s 11th Conference in Paris

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In 2005, in Pretoria (South Africa) we reflected on "Building a Better World through Play" discussing the objectives of toy libraries and their adaptation to different target audiences and also the importance of adapting play material to the specific needs of each child.

Paris hosted the 11th Conference in 2008 with the aim of understanding the role of objects in the contemporary world and their evolution throughout history, analyzing also the roles of the toy library and toy librarian. Basically, it was intended to clarify the importance of the object - as a central or marginal element - in play activities.

In all reflections, the importance of the social, cultural, national, ethnic and gender diversity of children, including children with special needs, has been present. One issue that crossed all subjects was the legal recognition of toy libraries by institutions and political power structures.

Recently, in October 2011, the Brazilian Association of Toy Libraries hosted the 12th International Conference of Toy Libraries, whose main themes were the historical, social, cultural and scientific background of toy libraries around the world and future perspectives in contemporary society, toy librarian training and the wide range of interventions that are required.

International Portuguese Participation: Papers Read at International Conferences: 1990, Torino: "The behavior of children from 4 to 12 years in a toy library” (Leonor Santos) 1993, Melbourne: "Present and future perspectives of play and toy libraries in Portugal" (Leonor Santos)

1996, Zurich: “The doll, a toy for generations” (Natália Pais) Creation of the European Group of Toy Libraries (ETL) (Leonor Santos, Renate Fuchs et al) 1999, Tokyo: "Toy libraries in Europe" "Toy libraries in Southern Europe" (Leonor Santos) 2002, Lisbon: "Toy Libraries in Portugal paths and dynamics" (Leonor Santos)

Toy libraries in Cascais (near Lisbon)

Play Activity Department - Member of European Toy Libraries The European Group of Toy Libraries (ETL) was founded in 1996 during the 7th International Conference of Toy Libraries in Zurich (Switzerland). Since its foundation, regular meetings have been organized and in 2013 the meeting took place in Denmark. ETL is an informal group. It believes that play is essential to improve the physical, psychological, social and cultural development of children. Its members belong to national associations of toy libraries. They are professionals interested in promoting play, from different European countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. ETL is a member of the International Association of Toy Libraries (ITLA) and works closely with this association.

This group provides an opportunity for exchange and, as an active network between European countries, is currently working to: systematize information regarding different play areas in each country to support and coordinate efforts for the legal recognition of the toy library and the profession of toy librarian; allow the exchange of professionals between countries, and promote the cultural value of games and toys.

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2005, Pretoria: "The toy library and planning" (Leonor Santos) 2008, Paris: "When will the ESAR system be recognised as a standard for cataloging and classification of play materials?" (Leonor Santos) "Systematization of intervention models" (Leonor Santos) "The profession and training of a toy librarian" (Leonor Santos) "Models for toy librarian’s training" (Natália Pais) 2011, Sao Paolo: "Play in dialogue with art" (Natália Pais) "Toy libraries in Europe" (Leonor Santos) "Building a relationship with the hospitalized child: play approaches in invasive procedures" (Leonor Santos)

We believe that we’ve given a great contribution to the Toy Libraries’ international movement and we continue believing that Play:

Portuguese Participation in European Toy Libraries’ Meetings:

"Is the way to live and grow every child!" Leonor Santos "Implies the pleasure of being free to discover new meanings, find new solutions, transmit new messages, create new affections." Natália Pais We work to create a better world where the child will be able to: LAUGH; PLAY; GROW.

1996 Zurich - Switzerland

Leonor Santos

1998 Paris - France

Play Activity Department Coordinator - Child Support Institute ITLA Board Member European Toy Libraries Member

1999 Lisbon - Portugal 2000 London - UK 2001 Florence - Italy 2002 Lisbon - Portugal 2003 Graz - Austria 2004 Brasov - Romania 2005 Lisbon - Portugal 2006 Athens - Greece 2007 Barcelona - Spain 2008 Noordwijk - Netherlands 2009 Winterthur - Switzerland

Upcoming Events

2010 Lisbon - Portugal

The 13th International Conference of Toy Libraries will be held in Seoul, Korea from 18 to 22 August, 2014. We’ll have more details for you in the next ITLA Newsletter.

2011 Brussels - Belgium 2012 Istanbul - Turkey 2013 Copenhagen - Denmark

Next Issue: 

Life Member: Roma Lear



Japanese National Council for Toy Libraries 30th anniversary



“The playgrounds, places of game where boys and girls can imagine” - Colombia



"The Gyrator of Colors" - Toy used in the toy libraries in Colombia



Ludo : Belgian National Association (French speaking toy libraries)



Swiss National Association - Toy Libraries in Switzerland



How to offer a toy - Christmas Special Newsletter Editor:

Remember to send stories of your own to

Leonor Santos (Portugal)

share with international colleagues.

Media Assistant: Maxine Fine

We also appreciate original book and toy

Design:

reviews.

Ana Lourenço & Anabela Fonseca

Please send your articles to

International Toy Libraries Association

news.itla@gmail.com

http://www.itla-toylibraries.org

Published by:

ETL Meeting in Lisbon

news.itla@gmail.com © Child Support Institute - Play Activity Department & International Toy Libraries Association 2013

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