just ducky
Filed Under Going Green, Stuff | January 26, 2010
Just like their clothes, little ones outgrow their toys awfully quickly. What was developmentally appropriate last week doesn’t cut the mustard this week. So in addition to seeking out new toys to engage them with, you’ve also got a backlog of toys they no longer use. When Michelle Shackleford and Beth Huel became mums they wanted a solution to this ongoing cycle of clutter, one that was kid, parent and environmentally-friendly and so they launched Lucky Duck Toy Box Delivery.
Rather like a toy library – only they deliver – Shackleford and Huel undertook an extensive thrift store, craigslist and toy swap hunt to amass a collection of pre-loved toys that they rent out to mums, daycares, doctor’s offices and more. Between gigs each toy gets washed and sanitized and inspected to make sure it’s safe and in good condition. Plus before a toy starts making the rounds they test it for lead and make sure it’s not subject to recall.
We put Lucky Duck to the test for a birthday party for which we needed more variety (ie. toys for girls and boys) than we had. The selection of toys includes everything from puzzles to puppets to parking garages and spans the interests of kids from infants to five-years-old. The play garden was a huge hit with the boys, the girls all gravitated to the parking garage and we appreciated having toys on loan that we wouldn’t need long term but fit the party bill perfectly.
At first glance the subscriptions seem a little pricey and we’re not sure we’d use it for everyday, though it would be great for newborns, who regularly outpace their toys. It would also be handy if you had guests coming to town with kids at different ages and stages than yours or if you were coming to town to visit grandparents. We also think it’s a great idea for doctor and dentist offices as our GP’s office still has the same toys they had when our tots were just a twinkle in our eye.
Lucky Duck Toy Box Delivery: www.luckyducktoybox.com
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