Toy Library Launches Sensory Swap and Play Events for Children with Additional Needs

A Cork-based social enterprise has launched a series of inclusive sensory swap and play events for children with additional needs, with the first taking place in Cork and a second planned for Dublin next week.

The Toy Library, Ireland's first digital toy-sharing platform, held its inaugural sensory event at the Aula Maxima in University College Cork. A second event is scheduled for the Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre in Dublin on Sunday, 12 April.

The organisation has hosted swap and play events around the country for the past 18 months, and figures recorded at the end of 2025 show that 4.78 tonnes of plastic toys have been saved from disposal since the platform launched.

The sensory events offer families and children with additional needs a safe and welcoming play space with structured layouts, quieter zones, and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys. The initiative was developed in response to feedback from parents within the Toy Library community.

Ahead of the Cork event, The Toy Library prepared social stories, described as simple visual guides that help children understand what to expect in new or potentially overwhelming situations, and distributed them to families in advance.

Trish Cleary, who attended the Cork event, said:

"The Social Story was a game changer for us - being able to show my daughter exactly what to expect helped her feel safe before we even arrived. My son, who has ASD, needed to stay in his stroller for most of the event, but thanks to the calm, spacious setup, he could still take it all in. Watching him feel comfortable enough to come out and play a game of chess with me was a moment I'll really treasure."

Another parent, Geraldine Harris, added:

"My child has autism and as a parent you are always thinking about ways to enhance your child's development. Sensory swap and play gives you access to an array of toys and a new play experience for your child. It's a place to network with other parents in your local community, swap toys your child no longer plays with and find something new that sparks their curiosity, all at no additional cost."

The Toy Library has been working in partnership with ADHD Ireland and is hoping to expand the sensory events nationwide. The organisation is inviting charities, local authorities, and not-for-profit organisations working with children with additional needs to partner with them to deliver more events around the country.

Giorgia Anile, Founder of The Toy Library, said:

"Play is not just recreation, it is how children learn, connect, and build confidence. Parents in our community told us how transformative inclusive play environments can be for their children. One parent described it as the first time their child felt truly comfortable in a social play setting. That feedback made it clear we needed to expand this work."