Children across Basildon are being invited to become storytellers this October half-term, with free library sessions putting imagination ahead of expensive entertainment. For parents trying to keep family spending under control, Kidora, a UK platform for buying and selling preloved baby and children's items, offers another way to think about the cost of play.

The Great Basildon Storybook, organised through Essex Libraries, begins on Monday 26 October. Families will help invent characters and adventures through drama, games and storytelling, with the chapters from six libraries brought together into a community storybook intended for professional publication. The project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Sessions are scheduled at Vange and Basildon libraries on 26 October, Wickford on 28 October, Fryerns on 30 October, and Billericay and Laindon on 31 October. Families should check the Essex Libraries event listings for booking instructions and availability before travelling; the Billericay session requires contacting the library to reserve a place.

The project is a reminder that a child's favourite activity does not necessarily require a new purchase. An afternoon spent making up stories, acting out characters or sharing a library book can be memorable without adding another expensive item to the household shopping list.

That idea also applies when families do want to buy something. With Christmas approaching, parents can consider preloved picture books, building sets, puzzles and toys rather than automatically buying new. A well-kept item that another child has finished enjoying may offer just as much excitement to its next owner, often at a lower price. Buyers should still check for damage, missing parts, age suitability and product recalls, particularly with toys for younger children.

Kidora was created by Karolina Gudes, a mum of two from Broughton in North Wales, to help UK parents buy and sell preloved children's belongings. Its marketplace brings together clothing, toys, books and baby essentials offered by other parents, with local collection and nationwide delivery options where available. The platform also includes a Parent Hub with parenting content and a Family Places directory covering more than 6,500 attractions and places to visit around the UK.

The library's storytelling initiative and the marketplace are entirely separate, but both offer families useful choices: borrow rather than buy when that makes sense, enjoy free community activities, and consider second-hand purchases for items children will quickly outgrow. Parents planning ahead for Christmas can make a simple list of what their children actually use and enjoy before deciding what to buy.

For details of The Great Basildon Storybook, families can consult the official Essex Libraries events calendar. Parents interested in browsing preloved baby and children's items, or exploring ideas for family life, can visit Kidora online.

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https://kidora.uk