The World Cup brings together the very best from around the globe — and that got us thinking about the brands that fill our shelves at The Playful Peacock.
Each one comes from a different corner of the world. Each one has its own story, its own traditions, and its own approach to play. And each one has earned a place in our shop for the same reason: beautifully made toys that children return to again and again.
From handcrafted wooden toys in Germany to felt play food in Australia and play dough made right here in Oakville, here's our all-star lineup of the best toy brands from around the world. Let's meet the team.
Why These Brands Made Our Team
Over the years, so many toys have crossed our shelves. Some are beautiful but don't quite hold a child's attention. Some are fun in the moment but don't stand the test of time. The brands in this lineup are the ones we reach for again and again — because families come back to them too.
They come from different corners of the world, but they share what matters most: thoughtful design, lasting quality, and open-ended play that invites creativity and imagination. Many are made from natural materials like wood, wool, and cotton, or handcrafted by artisans using techniques passed down through generations.
Most of all, they're the kind of toys families keep, love, and hand down — played with, displayed, and remembered for years. That's what earns a brand a place on our team.
Meet the Roster
Thirteen brands, nine countries, one curated lineup. Here's the full team.
🇨🇦 Canada | Cherrypick
Every great team needs an innovator. Designed in Canada, Cherrypick transforms ordinary walls into creative play spaces — their magnetic Playwalls invite children to build, draw, and tell stories without taking over the whole playroom. The design feels right at home in family spaces while encouraging hours of open-ended play.
Why they made our roster: thoughtful Canadian design that turns everyday spaces into invitations for creativity.
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🇨🇦 Canada | Dough Parlour
Proof that some of the best things are made just down the road. Handmade in Oakville, Ontario by a former preschool teacher, Dough Parlour creates food-grade, non-toxic play dough in dreamy scents and colours. It's the kind of soft, sensory play little hands love — and that parents can feel wonderful about.
Why they made our roster: beautifully made, genuinely Canadian sensory play we'd happily hand any toddler.
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🇺🇸 USA | Folkmanis
Stories have always been part of childhood. For decades, Folkmanis has helped children bring them to life through beautifully crafted puppets inspired by animals from around the world. A butterfly becomes a character, a bear becomes a best friend, a tortoise becomes the star of an afternoon adventure. Simple toys often create the most memorable play, and Folkmanis proves it time and again.
Why they made our roster: they turn imagination into something children can hold in their hands.
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Le Toy Van
Charm is part of every Le Toy Van design. Founded in the UK, Le Toy Van creates beautifully made wooden toys inspired by everyday life — café counters, beauty sets, vet clinics, and kitchens that become invitations for imaginative role play. Their attention to detail is remarkable, but it's the storytelling potential that keeps children coming back. Role play helps little ones make sense of the world, and Le Toy Van sets the perfect stage.
Why they made our roster: imaginative wooden toys full of character and lasting play value.
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🇫🇷 France | Moulin Roty
A little French magic. Moulin Roty has been crafting beautifully illustrated toys and nature-exploration treasures since 1972 — flower presses, observation boxes, and storybook-sweet keepsakes that turn a walk in the garden into a whole adventure. These are the heirloom pieces children carry with them through childhood.
Why they made our roster: timeless French craftsmanship that makes everyday wonder feel special.
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🇩🇪 Germany | Grimm's
If there were a hall of fame for open-ended toys, Grimm's would be in it. Handcrafted in Germany from sustainably sourced wood and non-toxic, water-based colours, Grimm's makes toys that invite children to build, stack, sort, and imagine. A rainbow becomes a bridge one day and a dollhouse the next; building blocks become cities, castles, and inventions only a child could dream up. Few brands grow with children quite like Grimm's.
Why they made our roster: timeless wooden toys that grow with children through every stage.
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🇩🇪 Germany | Ostheimer
Heirloom figures, carved by hand. Ostheimer has been hand-carving and hand-painting wooden animals and characters in Germany since the 1930s, each one a little work of art. Smooth, simple, and beautifully tactile, they're made for Waldorf-inspired, open-ended small-world play that children return to for years.
Why they made our roster: hand-carved wooden figures with timeless, heirloom quality.
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🇩🇰 Denmark | Maileg
Some toys become part of childhood itself. Designed in Denmark, Maileg is beloved the world over for its tiny mice, miniature furniture, and whimsical world-building pieces. Every suitcase, bed, toothbrush, and outfit adds another chapter, and children return to these little characters day after day, year after year. There's a timeless quality to Maileg that feels increasingly rare.
Why they made our roster: few brands capture the magic of imaginative play quite like Maileg.
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🇪🇸 Spain | Tambú
Music, made joyful. From Spain, Tambú handcrafts steel tongue drums with colour-coded notes and a soft, calming sound, so anyone can play a tune — no lessons, no reading, and truly no wrong notes. It's a gentle, screen-free way to bring music into the home for children and grown-ups alike.
Why they made our roster: beautiful instruments that make music feel possible for everyone.
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🇪🇸 Spain | Grapat
Open-ended play at its most joyful. Also from Spain, Grapat creates vibrant loose parts — little figures, flowers, and creatures designed for sorting, stacking, counting, and wide-open imaginative play. There's no single way to use them, which is exactly the point.
Why they made our roster: colourful, open-ended pieces that hand creativity straight to the child.
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🇷🇴 Romania | Bumbu
Tiny works of art. From Romania, Bumbu hand-carves and hand-paints the most gorgeous wooden figures, animals, and nature scenes. These are the heirloom pieces that bring small-world play and storytelling beautifully to life.
Why they made our roster: handcrafted wooden treasures with the soul of a keepsake.
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🇦🇺 Australia | Tara Treasures
Handcrafted, colourful, and full of personality. Australia's Tara Treasures makes beautiful felt toys inspired by childhood favourites and beloved storybooks, handmade by skilled artisans using natural wool felt. From ice cream cones to Gruffalo adventures, these toys invite children into worlds of storytelling and imaginative play.
Why they made our roster: handcrafted, Fair Trade toys that celebrate craftsmanship and the joy of play.
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🇦🇺 Australia | Kinfolk Pantry
Sensory play, made simple. Also flying the flag for Australia, Kinfolk Pantry creates eco-friendly, plant-based play dough and sensory tools from pantry-simple ingredients — a feast for little hands and big imaginations.
Why they made our roster: thoughtful, eco-friendly sensory play from genuinely simple ingredients.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Toy Brands From Around the World
What are the best toy brands for open-ended play? Some of our favourites include Grimm's, Grapat, Ostheimer, Bumbu, and Maileg. These brands create toys that invite creativity, imagination, and child-led play, rather than prescribing a single way to play.
Which toy brands use natural materials? Many of the brands we carry prioritize natural materials like wood, wool, cotton, and felt. Grimm's, Ostheimer, Bumbu, Grapat, and Tara Treasures are wonderful examples.
What are heirloom-quality toys? Heirloom-quality toys are made to last for years rather than seasons. They're often crafted from durable natural materials with exceptional attention to detail, and designed to be enjoyed by more than one child over time — loved, then handed down.
What should I look for in a great toy brand? We look for exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, open-ended play value, durability, and materials families feel good about bringing into their homes.
Are wooden toys better than plastic toys? Many families choose wooden toys for their durability, timeless design, and open-ended play. Every family is different, but wooden toys often stay in use longer and grow with children through multiple stages of play.
What are the best toys for imaginative play? Open-ended toys, dolls, puppets, figures, play food, and role-play sets all support imaginative play beautifully. Brands like Maileg, Folkmanis, Le Toy Van, Ostheimer, Bumbu, and Tara Treasures are customer favourites.
Why does The Playful Peacock carry brands from different countries? Every country brings its own traditions, craftsmanship, and design philosophy to children's toys. Curating brands from around the world lets us offer families a thoughtful collection that prioritizes quality, creativity, and meaningful play.
Do you carry other international toy brands too? We do — this World Cup lineup is just a glimpse. Our shelves are home to many more wonderful makers from around the world. We love celebrating that diversity, because the toys our children play with help shape how they see the world. A playroom full of different stories, traditions, and faces is a gentle, everyday way to raise kind, curious, open-hearted little ones — and that's something we care about deeply.
And That's the Roster
Nine countries, thirteen incredible brands, and one thing in common: every single one earned its place because we'd put it straight into our own children's hands. The World Cup may crown one champion — but when it comes to toys, we're grateful to have a whole roster of winners.
Whoever you're cheering for this season, there's something here worth celebrating. Explore all our brands at The Playful Peacock →