Collection: Heirloom Collection
The Heirloom Collection — Toys Made to Be Kept
Some toys get played with for a season. Others become part of the story of a childhood — pulled out again and again, eventually packed away carefully, and maybe brought back out one day for the next generation. That's what this collection is about. These are the pieces we'd choose for our own homes, and the ones we keep coming back to.
What is an heirloom toy?
An heirloom toy is one built to last beyond a single stage of childhood — physically, emotionally, and in terms of play value. It's made from natural, durable materials with craftsmanship you can actually see and feel. It doesn't rely on batteries, trends, or novelty to hold a child's attention. It simply endures.
What makes a toy worth keeping for generations?
The combination of material quality, design integrity, and open-ended play value. Heirloom toys are made from sustainably sourced wood, natural fibres, and non-toxic finishes that age beautifully rather than deteriorate. They're designed without a single "right" way to play, which means they grow with a child rather than getting outgrown.
How are heirloom toys different from regular wooden toys?
Not all wooden toys are heirloom quality. Mass-produced wooden toys often use softwood, plywood, or toxic finishes that chip, splinter, and degrade quickly. True heirloom toys are handmade or small-batch, crafted from hardwoods like beech or lime wood, and finished with natural beeswax or water-based non-toxic dyes. The difference is immediately obvious when you hold one.
Which brands are featured in the Heirloom Collection?
This collection brings together the makers we trust most for longevity, craftsmanship, and values. Grimm's has been handcrafting rainbow stackers, building sets, and loose parts in Germany for decades using linden wood and non-toxic dyes — toys designed to evolve with a child across years of play. Fagus builds premium beech wood vehicles and ride-ons in a family-run German workshop, finished with water-based lacquers safe for children of all ages. Ostheimer hand-carves and hand-paints each wooden animal and figure individually using sustainably sourced lime wood and natural beeswax. Grapat creates open-ended loose parts in Spain from FSC-certified beech, dyed with non-toxic water-based colours and designed with no instructions — just possibility. Maileg crafts beautifully detailed mice, dolls, and miniature worlds in Denmark, made from natural materials with the kind of storytelling quality that makes them collectible across childhood and beyond.
Are heirloom toys worth the price?
When you factor in longevity, play value across multiple ages, and the fact that they don't need replacing — yes. A single Grimm's rainbow or set of Ostheimer animals will outlast dozens of plastic toys, won't end up in landfill, and holds its quality year after year. These are pieces you buy once and keep.
Are heirloom toys safe for young children?
Yes. Every toy in this collection is made with non-toxic, child-safe finishes and natural materials free from harmful additives. Many are appropriate from infancy and are Montessori-aligned for open-ended, developmentally sensitive play.
The Heirloom Collection — Toys Made to Be Kept
Some toys get played with for a season. Others become part of the story of a childhood — pulled out again and again, eventually packed away carefully, and maybe brought back out one day for the next generation. That's what this collection is about. These are the pieces we'd choose for our own homes, and the ones we keep coming back to.
What is an heirloom toy?
An heirloom toy is one built to last beyond a single stage of childhood — physically, emotionally, and in terms of play value. It's made from natural, durable materials with craftsmanship you can actually see and feel. It doesn't rely on batteries, trends, or novelty to hold a child's attention. It simply endures.
What makes a toy worth keeping for generations?
The combination of material quality, design integrity, and open-ended play value. Heirloom toys are made from sustainably sourced wood, natural fibres, and non-toxic finishes that age beautifully rather than deteriorate. They're designed without a single "right" way to play, which means they grow with a child rather than getting outgrown.
How are heirloom toys different from regular wooden toys?
Not all wooden toys are heirloom quality. Mass-produced wooden toys often use softwood, plywood, or toxic finishes that chip, splinter, and degrade quickly. True heirloom toys are handmade or small-batch, crafted from hardwoods like beech or lime wood, and finished with natural beeswax or water-based non-toxic dyes. The difference is immediately obvious when you hold one.
Which brands are featured in the Heirloom Collection?
This collection brings together the makers we trust most for longevity, craftsmanship, and values. Grimm's has been handcrafting rainbow stackers, building sets, and loose parts in Germany for decades using linden wood and non-toxic dyes — toys designed to evolve with a child across years of play. Fagus builds premium beech wood vehicles and ride-ons in a family-run German workshop, finished with water-based lacquers safe for children of all ages. Ostheimer hand-carves and hand-paints each wooden animal and figure individually using sustainably sourced lime wood and natural beeswax. Grapat creates open-ended loose parts in Spain from FSC-certified beech, dyed with non-toxic water-based colours and designed with no instructions — just possibility. Maileg crafts beautifully detailed mice, dolls, and miniature worlds in Denmark, made from natural materials with the kind of storytelling quality that makes them collectible across childhood and beyond.
Are heirloom toys worth the price?
When you factor in longevity, play value across multiple ages, and the fact that they don't need replacing — yes. A single Grimm's rainbow or set of Ostheimer animals will outlast dozens of plastic toys, won't end up in landfill, and holds its quality year after year. These are pieces you buy once and keep.
Are heirloom toys safe for young children?
Yes. Every toy in this collection is made with non-toxic, child-safe finishes and natural materials free from harmful additives. Many are appropriate from infancy and are Montessori-aligned for open-ended, developmentally sensitive play.
The Playful Peacock Difference
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About the Playful Peacock
The Playful Peacock was created in 2021 to curate creative, open-ended play for curious children. The Playful Peacock is privileged to operate in Tkaronto/Toronto.
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Quality Toys Designed to Last
We are steadfast in our selection of toy makers that we work with.
Our offerings are from Canadian, female-owned, BIPOC and/or family-owned brands that are firmly rooted in environmental practices with strong ethical standards. We adamantly align ourselves with makers we are proud of and who are equally dedicated to sustainability, transparency and ethical labour, including paying living and fair wages. The majority of the toys these brands make are handmade, natural wooden toys that forge limitless play for kids to enjoy for years.
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The Handmade Difference
The Playful Peacock’s toys are built with quality and care to last for generations. All of the toys are safe and made with individualized love and attention using a high-caliber of materials and finishes that do not include any harmful additives. Our toys will quickly become an heirloom through their high-quality and endless enjoyment.
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Materials Matter
Plastic toys are typically mass-produced and easily breakable. These toys can contribute to sweatshops, unfair labour conditions and pollution in general.
While wooden toys are a step in the right direction, not all wooden toys are made the same. There are many wooden dupes to be aware of cheap, mass-produced wooden toys that are just as harmful as plastic! For example, softwood and plywood can chip and splinter easily, while non-handcrafted wooden toys often are filled with harmful toxic paints, finishes, and sealants.
Consciously opting for ethical, handcrafted wooden toys (renewable wood is even better) is safer for your child, is way more dependable and a kinder contributor to our already fragile planet.
The manufacturing process our makers use considers Mother Earth first through strict FSC Certifications, non-toxic paint, and planet-friendly materials across every single product. After placing an order, you will receive your newly beloved toy in 99% plastic-free, biodegradable, recyclable and compostable packaging, down to the stickers and tape.
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The Right Toy At The Right Time
Children are naturally drawn to play toys that they can master and that is right for their particular stage of development.
With a wide range of toys available for kids ages 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 and 3+, you can ensure the toy is safe, age-appropriate, and developmentally appropriate, too. The majority of our toys focus on fun and subtle learning, and open-ended play, while being Montessori approved.
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Ethical Toys Making A Difference
We are a purpose-first brand and a business second.
With a deep awareness that the toy industry must do better, we are committed to our part through advocacy for a range of social justice causes, environmental advancement and stringent criteria for makers. We are changemakers and give back through every purchase by donating meals to children in need across 26 Indigenous communities within Canada.