Perfect for Woody and Buzz

Nemo looks for a new owner at the Learning Tree Corinth Square Kid’s Flea Market in Prairie Village, Kan.

Just ask a parent — or any character from the Toy Story movies — kids outgrow or get bored of their stuff long before that toy car, pretty sundress, and picture book are worn out. And for many children around the country, that’s a reason to run a space at a kids’ flea market.

Janis Rice, coordinator of the Upland, Calif., recreation department, says that the city has been running a Kids Swap Meet for more than ten years. The market is part of a Wednesday Night Movie and Concert series. “It gives the kids something to do while their parents are enjoying the music,” she says.

But that’s the least of reasons for the event, which attracted about 100 kid vendors on Aug. 11. Rice says that the young sellers get a lot out of the swap meet. “There’s a kind of learning aspect to it,” she says. “We encourage them to barter. It helps them learn to make change. It helps them learn to bargain. It really teaches them some responsibility.”

The municipality charges $5 per space. “They use whatever they bring in,” says Rice, mentioning blankets, boxes, and tables. “We supply nothing but the grass.”

The kids also supply enthusiasm and excitement. In fact, even after they outgrow the swap meet, many remain devoted to it, volunteering to help run the event. “It is once a year,” says Rice, “but we are thinking about adding another one next year for teens, because there have been a lot of teens interested in doing it.”

For the first time this year, a group of local businesses in Chardon, Ohio, ran the Chardon Kids Fest on Aug. 12, which included a kids’ flea market. According to Brian Kelly, event coordinator and owner of Kelly’s Korner Gifts, “We wanted to do something for the kids, where they could make a little money, and not spend a lot of money on toys.” Kelly reports that 30 kids ran tables at the market, which he thought was a good showing for a first-time event. “We had 1,000 kids, and it was just an awesome day,” he says.

But next year, Kelly plans to run the market by itself. “That way the kids who participate in the flea market will be able to participate in the festivities without missing any time at their booth.”

Over 100 kids had tables at the Kids Swap Meet in Upland, Calif.

And it does not take a parks department or an association of businesses to run a market for children. Two individual businesses run them too.

Jonny Girson, owner of The Learning Tree, an educational toy and gift store in Prairie Village, Kan., held a kids’ flea market June 5 on the wide covered sidewalk of the store’s shopping center. About 75 kids ran booths. “It was a way to give back to the community to create a fun event for kids to learn how to run their own little business, get rid of some of their toys that they’ve outgrown, and give them a little bit of money to buy some other stuff,” he says.

A vendor at the Chardon Kids Fest in Chardon, Ohio.

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe in Willow Glen, Calif., near San Jose, is holding its fourth annual Kids Flea Market on Sept. 5. Says store manager Jamie Dreier, “A lot of it is just the satisfaction of helping these kids. That’s our biggest thing. There’s no charge. We make it a really big event for the kids. We’re mostly in it for the enjoyment of the kids and to teach them about entrepreneurship — counting money, cleaning up their room.”

And it’s a great place for an outgrown Buzz Lightyear to find a new owner.