Sensory toy swap-and-play event held at Cork's UCC

The Toy Library, a social enterprise set up to reduce and recycle plastic toys, has launched sensory swap-and-play events for children with additional needs.

The first event took place in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork, with a second event scheduled for Dublin soon. The Toy Library is the country’s first digital toy-sharing platform and has hosted swap-and-play events around the country for the past 18 months, with 4.78 tonnes of plastic saved as of the end of 2025.

The sensory events offer families and children with additional needs a safe play space with structured layouts, quieter zones, and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys.

The Toy Library prepared social stories — visual guides that help children understand what to expect in new or potentially overwhelming situations — and distributed them to families before the event.

Trish Cleary was at the event in Cork and 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 set-up, 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.”