Wooden Toys We Love

We've all seen those trending Tik Toks and Reels where parents poke fun at the wannabe-minimalist-mom that they thought they would be before they had children. The good news is that many brands are embracing Montessori and Waldorf inspired wooden toys for your tots that are actually cute.

We’ve come a long way from basic natural wooden blocks [don’t get us wrong, we love a classic wooden block!] to meet the demands of parents who are attempting to keep their homes [mostly] free of electronic toys but who also want to spark curiosity in their children. From building blocks to big-ticket items like balance bikes and balance boards – today we are rounding up some of our favourite wooden toys and sharing more about why we are so stoked about them making a comeback.

Colour Their World

Open-ended wooden toys allow for a little bit of actual quiet time for the parent or caregiver. The kind that won't give you a headache, have you praying for naptime, or “accidentally” putting the batteries in backward claiming the electronic toy is “broken”. The Weekend was singing on behalf of tired parents everywhere who just wanted to sip their coffee in peace when he sang, “ooh, I'm blinded by the lights”!

Wooden toys are far from boring or basic just because they don’t have bright flashing lights. We love how many great options are available in literally every colour under the rainbow! We are specifically obsessed with these rainbow arches from Kinderfeets that are coloured with water-based stains. The 12 stackable arches encourage children to sort and explore and can be used endlessly think bridges for toy cars to pass under [or over], a hammock for a dolly, and more. Tegu is another brand we love that has an adorable selection of bright and cheerful toys like magnetic racers, and stackable blocks that are sure to add some life to your playroom.

Explore the World

You can build, stack, learn, and explore with open-ended wooden toys like these everyday options from TenderLeaf, Plan Toys, and Kinderfeets. We love open-ended play that can spark creativity and imagination. You'll be surprised just how creative your little toddler can be in their very own world of playing pretend.

Is your little one less of a homebody and always wanting to be on the move? Depending on your child's age and stage you might consider a balance board, or balance bike to help them explore the world and develop their understanding of balance and coordination while simultaneously burning off some of that toddler energy.

An Eco-Friendly World

Wooden toys are long-lasting, good for the environment, and in a world of overstimulation a wonderful way to offer your little one some open-ended independent play. Good for the environment? Yes! Since wooden toys don’t break as easily as some plastic or electronic toys your child can enjoy many years of play! There is just something about an old school set of wooden blocks with animals, letters, shapes, and more that we just cannot get enough of. You can never go wrong with a beautifully crafted set of blocks like these ones from Uncle Goose for your playroom.

Keep Playing!

Go ahead and shop the selections we shared, and stop by our Gift Guides page for Birthdays, Christmas, or just no reason at all! You will love browsing our safe, durable, and environmentally friendly wooden blocks, cars, musical toys, and building sets.