Local Virginia Wooden Toy Brands
Made in Virginia — For Virginians by Virginians
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(01) Blueberry and Third
When a Montessori-inspired brand makes it big, we’re glad! The Blueberry and Third brand is based in Ashburn, VA and Mishawaka, IN — made in USA between two states with a fine reputation for wooden toys.
Blueberry and Third’s best-sellers include a flat-top balance board that rocks band and forth, a balance beam to tiptoe across, and a variety of themed activity boards with wooden marbles and a set of bamboo tongs — each fostering focus, balance, and dexterity.
Visit the Blueberry and Third official website.
(02) Birch Street Goods
From an experienced Montessori educator in Charlottesville, VA comes handmade educational materials — designed to encourage young children’s life skills learning through practical hands-on activities.
See Birch Street Goods on Etsy.
(03) Bright Life Toys
Best known for their kawaii plush toys — somehow Bright Life Toys also fell in love with hand kits — a Waldorf classic made locally in Richmond, VA. Check out their wood & ribbon hand kites in amazingly flashy color schemes!
(04) WOOD U PLAY Games
Adding tons of imagination to the classic game of tic-tac-toe — WOOD U PLAY (a playful play on words) makes wooden tic tac toe boards with funky painted pegs pieces in all sorts of themes for holidays, occasions, and hobbies.
See Wood-U-Play Games on Etsy.
(05) Happy Place Nature
With all natural woodworks in walnut, cherry, and maple — and earthy themes of birds, bugs, and plant life — Happy Place Nature is a mommy-owned business celebrating nature’s finest. I really admire their vision to bring kids closer to nature through play.
See Happy Place Nature on Etsy.
A Virginia Toy Making Time Capsule
- Honey Bee Toy & Craft — For over 10 years until the year 2023, a mother and daughter team handcrafted little wooden pegs into people with major personality — gnomes, witches, and Christmas friends. Pairing organic wood with non-toxic wool felt materials — Honey Bee was the perfect store for Waldorf and Montessori inspired peg dolls.
- Laughing Crickets — Until the year 2022, toys made at Laughing Crickets were inspired by a fusion of experimental approaches to education — Reggio, Waldorf, and Montessori — with whimsical bright-colored wooden loose parts toys that encourage children’s imagination, color recognition, and fine-motor skills. At that time, Laughing Crickets’ signature style was miniature wooden figurines, repeated and sold in a set (like frogs, sardines, or soldiers), with numbers for math learning.
- Purcell Toys — Between 2020 and 2021, a one-man operation followed in his toymaking father’s footsteps — making wonderful little 100% wood push cars, trucks, trains, and planes. Each type of vehicle was available “Pre-assembled” or as a “Build-It-Yourself” DIY Kit you could. sand, assemble, and paint yourself.
