Toy Acceptance Guidelines

  • Quality & Materials


    Sustainable and Durable - We prioritize wooden and fabric-based toys, along with other eco-friendly materials that are built to last.
    Plastic toys are accepted if they are high-quality, and not disposable/cheap novelty items.

    Open-Ended - Toys that encourage creativity, exploration, and problem-solving are highly valued. Examples include blocks, stackers, pretend play sets, and Montessori-style learning tools.

  • Condition & Completeness


    All Pieces Included – Toys with missing essential parts (like puzzles with missing pieces or board games without instructions) will not be accepted.

    Good Working Condition –     No broken, cracked, or heavily worn-out toys. Battery-operated toys should include working batteries or be easily replaceable. (We accept a limited number of battery-operated toys, and they must be open-ended to encourage creative and flexible play.)

  • Hygiene & Safety


    Clean and Sanitized – All toys should be wiped down and free from dirt, sticky residue, pet hair, and excessive wear.

    Fabric Toys –     Must be freshly washed and in good shape (no excessive stains, rips, or odors).

    No Recall Items –     Please check that your toy has not been recalled for safety reasons.

Accepted Items

  • High-quality, safe, and engaging, including: wooden or durable toys, Montessori-style toys, STEM and learning toys, blocks, stacking toys, shape sorters, etc.

  • Figurines, baby dolls, peg people, and similar toys that encourage role-playing.

  • Includes train sets, and similar small-scale vehicles.

  • LEGO, Magna-Tiles, Lincoln Logs, etc. For LEGO sets, please include instructions.

  • Tonies characters, Yoto cards, Little Tikes Story Dream Machine stories and characters in good working condition are accepted.

  • Must include all pieces and/or instructions, and be family-friendly.

Items We Do Not Accept

  • Disposable or Novelty Toys

    Fast food meal toys, party favors, and easily breakable plastic toys won’t be accepted.

  • Dress-Up Clothing

    To maintain hygiene, we do not accept costumes, hats, or dress-up accessories.

  • Excessively Loud, Flashy, or Screen-Based Toys

    Our goal is to encourage meaningful, engaged play.

  • Art Supplies or Play Dough

    While we deeply value art and sensory play, we do not accept art supplies (markers, crayons, paint, etc. ) or play dough, as these items are typically consumable and difficult to swap once used.

  • Button-Battery Toys

    Due to choking and ingestion hazards, we do not accept toys that use button-cell batteries.

  • Stuffed Animals or Bath Toys

    Due to sanitation concerns, we do not accept stuffed animals (which can harbor allergens and are difficult to thoroughly clean), or bath toys (which often retain moisture).

  • Personal or Custom Items

    Personalized items (such as name puzzles) won’t be accepted, as they are unique to the original owner and not overly compelling to others.

  • Oversized Items

    For now, we cannot accept oversized items like: large dollhouses, bikes and scooters, play kitchens, or large ride-on toys. As we grow and secure more space, we hope to accommodate bigger items in the future!