Wooden Animals

Wooden Animals

Few toys get loved quite like a basket of wooden animals. They get lined up, sorted, tucked into beds, marched across the floor, and pulled back out again the very next morning. These little characters are some of the most treasured, played-with pieces in any collection.

These are the toys that fit perfectly in a small hand and a big imagination. A single wooden rabbit becomes the star of a hundred stories; a handful of creatures becomes a whole farm or forest. Beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted, each one is made to be played with hard and treasured for years.

What are wooden animals used for?
They're wonderful for open-ended, small-world play — building farms, forests, and zoos, telling stories, sorting and naming animals, and bringing imaginative scenes to life. They also pair beautifully with blocks, rainbows, and playscapes.

What are the benefits of small-world play?
Small-world play builds language, storytelling, empathy, and fine motor skills as children create and narrate their own little worlds. Wooden animals are open-ended, so the play grows right alongside your child.

What wooden animal brands do you carry?
Beautifully crafted animals from beloved makers Ostheimer and Bumbu — each one hand-carved and hand-painted to become a cherished character in your child's collection.

Are wooden animals good for toddlers?
Wonderfully so. Chunky, smooth, and easy to grip, wooden animals are a lovely first introduction to small-world play, and they grow with your child into more detailed storytelling for years to come.

Where can I buy wooden animals in Canada?
Right here at The Playful Peacock. We're a Canadian, mom-run toy shop, and we ship across Canada, hand-packed with care.

Start a little menagerie your child will add to, name, and adore for years — one beautiful creature at a time.

Few toys get loved quite like a basket of wooden animals. They get lined up, sorted, tucked into beds, marched across the floor, and pulled back out again the very next morning. These little characters are some of the most treasured, played-with pieces in any collection.

These are the toys that fit perfectly in a small hand and a big imagination. A single wooden rabbit becomes the star of a hundred stories; a handful of creatures becomes a whole farm or forest. Beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted, each one is made to be played with hard and treasured for years.

What are wooden animals used for?
They're wonderful for open-ended, small-world play — building farms, forests, and zoos, telling stories, sorting and naming animals, and bringing imaginative scenes to life. They also pair beautifully with blocks, rainbows, and playscapes.

What are the benefits of small-world play?
Small-world play builds language, storytelling, empathy, and fine motor skills as children create and narrate their own little worlds. Wooden animals are open-ended, so the play grows right alongside your child.

What wooden animal brands do you carry?
Beautifully crafted animals from beloved makers Ostheimer and Bumbu — each one hand-carved and hand-painted to become a cherished character in your child's collection.

Are wooden animals good for toddlers?
Wonderfully so. Chunky, smooth, and easy to grip, wooden animals are a lovely first introduction to small-world play, and they grow with your child into more detailed storytelling for years to come.

Where can I buy wooden animals in Canada?
Right here at The Playful Peacock. We're a Canadian, mom-run toy shop, and we ship across Canada, hand-packed with care.

Start a little menagerie your child will add to, name, and adore for years — one beautiful creature at a time.

The Playful Peacock Difference

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.