Our Story
It started with our own children.
We're a few dads who became fathers during the strange, quiet early months of 2020. With the world shut down and a newborn in our arms, we did what every new parent does — we went looking for toys. Not just something to fill the time, but toys that were safe to chew on, gentle on little hands, and actually good for a growing mind.
The more we searched, the more we kept coming back to one thing: wood. Solid, natural, and free from the plastic and screens we were trying to avoid. But we didn't want to just assume it was safe — we wanted it proven. So from the very beginning, we held our toys to the safety standards that matter most for children: CPSC in the US, CE in the EU, and EN71 toy-safety testing. And when we paired that trust with the Montessori idea — learning through hands-on, self-directed play — everything clicked.
So we decided to make them ourselves.
Handmade in Texas
Every KindlyToys piece is crafted in our own woodworking workshop in Texas. We choose the wood, sand every edge smooth, and finish each toy with non-toxic, child-safe materials. Because we make them ourselves, we control every step — which means the CPSC, CE, and EN71 standards aren't a label we bought, they're something built into how each toy is made. Nothing is mass-produced overseas and dropped in a box. It's made by hands that care, in a place we're proud to stand behind.
Made for one child — yours
We believe a toy means more when it's truly theirs. That's why so many of our Montessori toys are personalized with your child's name — a small touch that turns a wooden puzzle or busy board into a keepsake they'll reach for again and again, and one you might just hold on to long after they've grown.
Safety, certified — not just promised
We're parents first, so "trust us" was never going to be enough — not for your family, and not for ours. Every toy is tested and certified to:
- CPSC — the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for children's products
- CE — conformity with European product-safety requirements
- EN71 — the European toy-safety standard covering materials, small parts, and flammability
These are the same toys we hand to our own kids every day. [See our safety certificates →]
Why we keep going
Our own children are still our first testers, our toughest critics, and our greatest inspiration. Every new design and every small improvement comes from watching them play — and from wanting to build something better for your family, too.
Thank you for letting us be a small part of your child's world.
— The KindlyToys family