Richmond Waimea Toy Library

Holiday closure 

1 December 2025

We will be closed for almost four weeks over the Christmas/New Year holiday period. Our last open session for 2025 is Tuesday 16th December and our first open session in 2026 is Tuesday 13th of January.
Aside from that holiday closure period, all open session hours are as usual.

For all toys hired at sessions Thursday 11th, Saturday 13th and Tuesday 15th December 2025 you will just get charged the one hire fee and you will get to keep them for the month. Toys will be due for return in the first open week of January Tuesday 13th, Thursday 15th or Saturday 17th 2026. 

As usual, please let us know via Facebook messenger, email or text, if you aren't able to get in to return the toys and need to renew.

We wish you and your family happy and safe holidays.

Enjoy!

December Closure

 

 Cover closure

 

 

 

DIY Christmas advent calendar ideas

30 November 2025

Countdown to Christmas 

Want to add some magic in the lead-up to Christmas while avoiding the pressure of Elf on the Shelf and the cost of store-bought advent calendars (often plastic and sugar-laden)?

At the Richmond Waimea Toy Library, we love sharing ideas that are affordable, family-friendly, and easy to enjoy together. So here’s a free DIY Christmas advent calendar resource for our community to use and adapt.

One of our committee officers created this for her own family, and we’re excited to share it with you. This downloadable resource includes:

  • A list of DIY Christmas advent calendar ideas

  • An advent planner

  • Printable activity cards

It’s completely customisable — use it as is, or change it to suit your family. Do all 24 days, try the 12 days before Christmas, or even choose an activity every second day. Keep the same traditions each year or mix it up whenever you like.

You can present the activities however works for you. The example below shows a quilted, reusable fabric pocket advent calendar made by a crafty nana for her daughters and grandchildren. Each day’s activity is rolled up inside, with a few chocolates sprinkled throughout (bigger gifts like books or outfits are kept separately). You could also pin each day’s activity to a board, hang them on the Christmas tree, or even add them to your digital calendar (phone or email).

These advent calendar ideas are designed to spark creativity, encourage play, and make every day of December feel a little more magical — free for our community to enjoy.

Click here to download and adapt: Word version | PDF Version

Activity ideas  Reusable advent calendar