The Toy Library is holding a Sensory Swap and Play for kids with additional needs
Tell your mom and dad mates.
A new series of inclusive play events is coming to Cork this spring — and it’s all about creating calmer, more welcoming spaces for children who need them most.
Irish social enterprise The Toy Library will host two specially designed Sensory Swap & Play sessions for children with additional and sensory needs and their families. The Cork event takes place on March 29th, 2026 at Aula Maxima, with a Dublin date following on April 12th at Kilnamanagh Family Resource Centre.
Created in response to feedback from parents, the initiative aims to tackle a common challenge: finding safe, supportive play spaces that understand sensory sensitivities and diverse developmental needs.
Unlike busy, noisy play centres, Sensory Swap & Play sessions are intentionally designed to feel calm and manageable. Expect structured layouts, quieter zones and access to carefully selected developmental and sensory toys — all allowing children to explore at their own pace.
Founder Giorgia Anile said the idea grew directly from conversations within The Toy Library community.
“Play is not just recreation, it is how children learn, connect and build confidence,” she said. “One parent told us it was the first time their child felt truly comfortable in a social play setting. That made it clear we needed to expand this work.”
View this post on Instagram
Founded as Ireland’s first digital toy-sharing platform, The Toy Library focuses on making play more accessible and sustainable through reuse and community sharing. While previous Swap & Play events centred on sustainability, these new sessions place accessibility and neurodiversity front and centre.
After unsuccessful public funding applications, the organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign to ensure the events can go ahead while remaining affordable for families — many of whom already face significant costs linked to therapies and supports.
Alongside inclusive play, the events will also offer families a chance to connect with others in similar situations — something organisers say can be just as important as the toys themselves.
