#PhiladelphiaPA -🌱 #EarthDay Party & #ToySwap! 🎉

A celebration of community & sustainability!

"Join us for Rutabaga’s Earth Day Toy Swap & Celebration—a fun-filled day of community, sustainability, and play.

📅 Date: April 25th, 1pm- 4pm
📍 Location: East Falls Presbyterian Church, 3800 Vaux St.
💚 Event Cost: FREE to ALL
🎟 Toy Swap Ticket: $25 per bag (Donate in advance & get $5 off!)

What to expect:
- Plant a seed with Dirt Baby Farm
- Earth Day Circle Time with Greene Towne Montessori
- Live music from the Blumbellies
- Rutabaga merch
- Tie Dying Station - Buy a shirt or Bring your own Item to Dye!
- (Mostly Native) #PlantSwap – Bring your seedlings or transplants to swap
-Rabbit #Recycling table. Bring your recyclables: #PlasticBags, #Electronics/Tech (handheld or small), #Cables, #cords, #wires, #Cork, #RubberBands, #BreadClips, and #TwistTies
- Games with East Falls Presbyterian Church
- Decorate Tree Cookies with The Miquon School


How the Toy Swap works

Donate (optional, but awesome).
- Drop off toys and goodies the week before the event at EFPC or Rutabaga Toy Library to get $5 off your bag.

Show up on Saturday.
- Check in at the door, grab your ticket, and get to “shopping” the swap.

Fill your bag.
- Browse toys, books, games, decor, and stocking stuffers for all ages and fill your bag to the brim.

Feel good.
- You’re keeping great stuff in circulation, skipping new manufacturing and extra waste, and supporting Rutabaga’s Scholarship Fund.


How to Donate

To help us set up thoughtfully, please drop off donations ahead of time (starting 4/20) rather than bringing them the day of the swap.

You can donate toys ahead of time in two ways:

Bin outside East Falls Presbyterian Church (by the entrance) @ 3800 Vaux Street, East Falls

At Rutabaga Toy Library during our open hours, listed here

We just ask that donations are:
✨ Clean
✨ In working condition
✨ With all important pieces

Basically, if it’s something you’d be happy to find at a swap, it’s perfect.


Volunteer & Get Early Access

We’d love some helping hands to make the swap magical.

- Friday: Sorting and setting up donated toys
- Saturday: Welcoming folks, keeping tables tidy, and supporting the flow of the event

As a thank you, volunteers get early access to shop the swap before doors open."

👉 Sign up to volunteer and FMI...
https://www.rutabagatoylibrary.com/earth-day

#SolarPunkSunday #EarthDay2026 #BuildingCommunity #Recycling

#Australia - #ToySwaps!

Toy Swaps are happening across Australia in all year round​

- Melbourne
- Perth
- Sydney
- Wollongong

"Toy Swap Australia is an initiative by the Joy of Giving Network, created to spark a movement around swapping. It's about rethinking how we utilise resources like toys, fostering community connections, and minimising our impact on the planet.

​Toy Swap brings families and children together to exchange preloved toys, share stories, and enjoy the joy of giving. Each swap is more than just fun — it helps keep toys out of landfill, saves resources, and teaches kids the value of reuse and caring for the environment.

Everyone can be part of it. Whether you're a school, local council, community group, or a parent who wants to make a difference, you can host your own Toy Swap. We’re here to help with ideas, tools, and support.

Join the Toy Swap movement and help build a future where sharing is normal, waste is reduced, and every toy gets a second life."

FMI:
https://www.toyswap.com.au/

#SolarPunkSunday #ToySwap #ToySwapsAustralia #CircularToyEconomy #ReduceWaste #SharingToys

Good to know... Especially if one is looking to donate a used stuffie to a #ToyLibrary or #ToySwap!

How to Wash #StuffedAnimals the Right Way

Keep your child's favorite #toys looking brand new.

By Madeline Buiano
Updated on October 17, 2025

"From their favorite bunny rabbit to the plush teddy bear they play with once a year, many children have a collection of stuffed animals they display with pride. But these beloved toys—even ones that sit on the shelf waiting to be played with—can quickly build up with dust, dirt, germs, and dander. Not only can allergens and germs be potentially harmful to your child, but dirtiness can also degrade the overall longevity of their treasured keepsakes. Keep their stuffed animals looking as beautiful as the day you got them with these cleaning tips for washing in the machine or by hand. "

Learn more:
https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-wash-stuffed-animals-8424772

#SolarPunkSunday #ToyCare #CleaningStuffies #CircularToyEconomy

#ToySwaps and the #CircularToyEconomy: How to Raise Waste-Free Kids

Ash Gregg, July 24, 2025

"Kids outgrow toys fast — sometimes faster than we can recycle the packaging. What starts as a sweet moment of play often ends up as clutter, then waste.

Behind those bright colors and fun shapes lies a hidden environmental truth: the toy industry is one of the most wasteful in the world. Most toys are made of plastic. Few are designed to last. And almost none are built with end-of-life reuse in mind.

But there’s a better way — and it doesn’t mean denying kids joy or imagination. In fact, it can inspire more of both.

Welcome to the circular toy economy: a movement built on #sharing, #reusing, #fixing, and reimagining play. It’s not just good for the planet — it’s good for your home, your budget, and your children’s values."

1. The Hidden Impact of the Toy Industry
2. What Is the Circular Toy Economy?
3. Host or Join a #ToySwap
4. Create a #ToyLibrary or #BorrowingCloset
5. Embrace #ToyRotation (Minimalist Parenting Hack)
6. Choose #Sustainable, Open-Ended Toys
7. #Repair or #Repurpose Before You Recycle
8. Talk to Kids About Waste and Sharing
Final Thoughts: Raising Planet-Protectors

Read more:
https://uberartisan.com/zero-waste/toy-swaps-and-the-circular-toy-economy-how-to-raise-waste-free-kids/

#SolarPunkSunday #CircularEconomy #ToySharing #ReduceReuseRecycle

A free #DinosaurFestival is coming to #MexicoCity with concerts, #games, and a #ToySwap

A free event in Mexico City featuring workshops, live music, and themed games for kids who love dinosaurs

by Elva Pérez, April 10, 2026

"If you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate the little ones, this dinosaur festival in Mexico City is just what you need. It’s an event designed especially for young dinosaur fans that promises a morning full of fun, creativity, and plenty of Jurassic imagination.

"One of the event’s biggest draws is its variety of activities. There will be dinosaur mask-making so every little one can tap into their artistic side, plus a fun dinosaur scavenger hunt that will put their spirit of exploration to the test.

"You’ll also find activities like a toy swap, ideal for encouraging exchange and giving new life to those forgotten items. And if that weren’t enough, there will be a plaster mini-dinosaur casting activity that’s sure to delight the most curious visitors.

"Music is not left out either. The festival will feature a live concert with artists such as Jack Ditortion, Manu Choque, and Crazysaurios, who will set the perfect mood to keep the energy at its peak.

"The event is designed to be enjoyed as a family, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and, of course, bringing your best dino spirit to make the most of every activity."

📅 Saturday, April 25
📍 Mercado Público 221, Santa Isabel Tola
⏰ 11:00 a.m.
🎟️ Free admission

https://cdmxsecreta.com/en/gam-dinosaur-festival/

#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeOutdoors #Mexico #SharingToys

Last tweaks to the Eventbrite page of our upcoming ‘Swap&Play’ event, excitement is there!

📆 June 7th
📍 Tallaght, Dublin 24
🎈 Free entry

More details soon 🌟

#toys #ToySwap #event #dublin #Tallaght #Eventbrite #familyfriendlyevents #thingstodoinDublin #weekend

Limerick, here we are! 🎈

#ToySwap #toys #swapandplay #familyfriendly #familyevent #freeevent #event #Limerick