Toy Swap Fever: How to Host a Successful Toy Swap Event

Yes, you must be thinking, my child would throw a fit if I tried to swap this week's favourite toy. But let's face it, kids are like toys themselves, always looking for something new and shiny to play with. Plus, the concept of toy swapping is about exchanging the toys that have been gathering cobwebs under the bed for something that might spark interest for your kid.

Now, you must be wondering, "Okay, smart ar*e, so how do I go about dealing with this then?" Fret not; here is a solution.  

Tips to Host a Toy Swap Event. Let's Go!!

Firstly, there's no hard-and-fast rule or guideline that leads to a toy-swapping success. It entirely depends on your initial plan and managing everything accordingly on the day of. Life is bloody hard already so let's not overdo it on pressuring ourselves! 

Get the word out

An event largely relies on the attention it gains from other people, and a toy swap party is no different. Therefore, the next time you are with family or friends, parents at childcare or school, start a conversation that you will soon be hosting a toy swap event. This gets the ball rolling and will provide valuable feedback like how many people in your circle will be interested, which day may be suitable, the types of toys most are willing to exchange if you can get help from them to manage the party, and overall what are their expectations from the party.  

Finalise the date and a location

Once you have gathered feedback and gained people's attention, it is time to use the information you received and finalise the date and the place. Usually, your home or backyard will work just fine for a small gathering. But if, for some reason, you cannot host a toy swap party at home, you can rent space at a community centre. 

Pro toy swap tip: Choose a location or room that allows people to mingle and move around, has ample space for toys, can hold a table for snacks, and lets children play freely together. 

Setting the guidelines

It's time to put together the set of guidelines to share in the invite and to be followed on the event day.

• The type of toys accepted. It is preferable to ask the parents to bring toys for a particular age group and in good clean condition.

• The number of toys allowed for the event. 

• Decide if the leftover toys will be donated or returned or if the parents will be allowed to pick after the swap is over. 

• Will you have a 1:1 swap, e.g. a toy for a toy or bundle for a bundle?

• How will you rank the toys? E.g., toys with similar values are placed together and swapped accordingly.

• Sending out invitations. There are some pointers to consider here as well:

• Invite parents with children in the same age bracket. For example, having a seven-year-old at a toy swap party, where most kids are around the age of four, will not be the best idea. 

• Are children even invited? Many parents think toy swap events are better in the absence of children. It eliminated the last-minute change of heart, and the overwhelming response children can often have at the sight of so many toys. In contrast, others think having children at the party allows them to choose the toy they want. 

The Big Day! 

Yay! All the pre-party work is done, and the toy swap event is ready for inauguration. Set the tables for the toy display and label them 🔴🟡🟢 or A, B, C. As everybody arrives, place the toys on the tables depending on the value, condition of the toy, or whatever parameters you set for the event. This ensures fair exchange and not allowing guests to swap a bicycle for a book! 

Once the setup is complete, give each guest a numbered ticket to have an order in which each parent/ kid can choose a toy from the same table their toy was placed on for fair trade. Then sit back and relax! 

No, wait! There's one more thing; remember to talk about the rules beforehand so that nobody can say, "Ops! Sorry, I didn't know."

Finally, having fun

Don't aim for perfection because having hiccups, in any event, is inevitable. Instead of stressing about every single nook and corner of organising the toy swap event, focus on having fun. The toy swap party will be an excellent opportunity to make new friends and get a breather from the daily shenanigans of life. 

Psst… let Sassybae handle it all

Hosting a toy swap event may not be everyone's cup of tea. Of course, you can always swap toys with close friends and family, but sometimes you need that X-factor. You know what? There's another option, sign up for Sassybae's waitlist. It is the best alternative to hosting a toy swap event, and you can look for new toys and things in the convenience of your home.

Why is a toy swap party a brilliant idea?

In addition to making your home less of a toy store and more of a living space, a toy swap event has many other benefits. 

1. It improves children's cognitive and emotional development by allowing them to enjoy what they have and not jump from one toy to another. 

2. Teaches core values of social intelligence like giving, helping ones in need, community building, peer communication, decision making, etc. 

3. Promotes and teaches children about the idea of pollution, waste, and clutter control.

4. Easy on the pocket. 

Take Away

A toy swap event is a win-win for children, parents, and our environment. While organising and hosting a successful toy swap party can be too much work, signing up with Sasybae is something you can bank on if you want to experience the most convenient way to toy swap. 

Until next time, Happy Toy Swapping!