Many parents are on the hunt for high quality toys that are made in the USA, but are any toys made in America anymore? Are any affordable, or are we left to decide between local artisans or factories overseas?
If finding toys that have their beginnings in the United States is important when you’re deciding what to buy, here’s a list of popular brands that make wooden toys, STEAM toys, imaginative play toys, arts and crafts, and sensory toys, to point you in the right direction.
Toys Designed and Made in the U.S.A
These are toys that are made in America from start to finish.
Uncle Goose
Uncle Goose blocks have been around since 1983, when William Bultman started hand-crafting wooden blocks in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Since then, they’ve expanded their line of blocks to include themes such as alphabets in 18 languages (including Braille and Hieroglyphics), numbers, and animals. Their blocks are made from sustainably sourced, untreated basswood, meaning there’s no need to stress if your baby decides to give them a taste test. Find them on unclegoose.com and Amazon.
Maple Landmark
Since 1979, Maple Landmark has been making eco-friendly, high-quality educational wooden toys, games and gifts in Middlebury, Vermont. This family-owned business makes a range of products including rattles, teethers, blocks, wooden name puzzles, blocks, trains, toy trucks, and games. Find them on maplelandmark.com and Amazon.
Wikki Stix
If you’ve got a kid who loves hands-on learning experiences, Wikki Stix are a versatile and budget-friendly toy that can provide hours of fun with practically no cleanup. Wiki Stix were invented in the 1990s and have been a favorite toy for teachers, parents and kids alike ever since. The food-grade non-toxic wax and yarn sticks are manufactured in Phoenix, Arizona and are tons of fun to bend, twist and shape, making them a great tool for practicing making letters, numbers, pictures and designs. Find them on wikkistix.com and Amazon
Green Toys
Green Toys is a California-based company known for its eco-friendly toys made from 100% recycled plastic (primarily milk jugs!)
Their toys are great for babies since they’re free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC, and parents love ‘em because they’re also dishwasher safe.
You’re probably familiar with their boats, trucks, and train sets; they’ve also got some really cute toys for outside and at the beach, like watering cans, shovels and buckets, as well as stacking cups, shape sorters, play dough and more. I will forever suggest their Build-a-Bouquet because it’s so unique. Find them on greentoys.com and Amazon.
Crazy Aaron’s
When your kid gets old enough to discover the world of putty, dough and slime, Crazy Aaron’s is a brand you’ll probably be hearing about over and over again.
The company was founded in 1998 in Norristown, Pennsylvania by Aaron Muderick, and includes two popular lines of goop – Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and Land of Dough. If you thought a container of putty was just a container of putty, you’d be wrong; Crazy Aarons has over 40 different styles, including holiday-themed putties, fancy effects (like magnetic and color-changing putty) and custom colors.
Land Of Dough products are made with organic ingredients, including all-natural, plant-based dyes and compostable glitters, also with different themes and colors. Find them on crazyaarons.com and Amazon.
American-Designed Brands
Here are some toy brands that have their beginnings in America but are manufactured globally.
Sassy Baby
Sassy Baby is a company from Grand Rapids, Michigan that specializes in super cute sensory toys that babies go gaga over, thanks to their bright colors, fun textures, and bold patterns.
Parents can feel good about their kids chomping away on their rattles, rings, and teethers or burying their faces in a busy book since all their products are made of non-toxic materials. Find them on sassybaby.com, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
KiwiCo
KiwiCo started in 2011 in Mountain View, California, and has been specializing in subscription boxes with STEAM projects and activities for all of the kids in your family, from infants to teenagers ever since.
Their crates include everything from robotics and cooking projects for older kids to musical instruments, tummy time, and sorting activities for babies. Find them on kiwico.com
Fat Brain Toys
Fat Brain Toys has been popular with parents since their humble basement beginnings in Elkhorn, Nebraska in 2002.
Their educational toys are a hit with everyone from babies to seniors and include a variety of brain-stimulating games and puzzles. Favorite toys for babies include their pipSquigz Loops, Dimpl teethers, and my favorite, the Spin Again.
Their high-quality toys are perfect for toddlers all the way up to big kids. Find them on fatbraintoys.com, Target and Amazon.
Melissa and Doug
You can’t take a step into a doctor’s office, daycare center, or living room without coming across a Melissa and Doug toy, and for good reason.
Melissa and Doug Bernstein started the brand which is well-known for its high-quality toys and games in Wilton, Connecticut in 1988.
They carry a range of imaginative play toys that kids love, from classic wooden toys to realistic pretend play sets like dolls and doll houses, kitchens (and all of the ingredients to make a delicious meal) and play centers, costumes for dress up, arts and craft supplies, puzzles, vehicles, plushies and more. Find them on melissaanddoug.com, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Mattel Fisher-Price
Probably one of the most recognizable children’s toy brands out there, Fisher-Price was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in East Aurora, New York.
Fisher-Price toys that you may have grown up with yourself include the Little People figures, Power Wheels ride-on toys, Mega Bloks, the classic shape sorter, xylophone, stacking rings and chatter phone, as well as character toys your kid is probably obsessed with like Thomas & Friends. Find them on mattel.com, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Cra-Z-Art
You might already be familiar with Cra-Z-Art, an American company founded in 2008 and based in the small town of Randolph, New Jersey.
The company was started by Lawrence Rosen, who co-founded Rose Art. As you probably guessed, arts and craft supplies make up a huge portion of Cra-Z-Art’s catalog. Budding artists can start making their first masterpieces with crayons, markers, paints and Magna Doodles, and older kids can try their hands at making jewelry, slime, sewing and modeling clay and dough. Find them on cra-z-art.com, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Crayola
You can’t talk about arts and crafts without mentioning Crayola. Crayons from the iconic Easton, Pennsylvania-based brand have been lining school pencil boxes since they were first produced in 1903.
Since its inception in 1885, Crayola has expanded its offerings to include just about every crafty creation you can think of, from markers and pencil crayons, to Doodle Boards, Activity Kits, sidewalk chalk, Silly Putty and more. Find them on crayola.com, Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Where do I start when trying to find American-made toys?
As you can see, there are lots of options out there when it comes to finding high-quality toys to fill your playroom with.
Brands like Crazy Aaron’s and Maple Landmark are both designed and manufactured in the USA, while larger brands like Fisher-Price, Melissa and Doug, and Fat Brain Toys are designed in the States but produced globally.
It’s worth checking out a brand’s FAQ or About Us pages (usually at the very top or bottom of their website) if you’re interested in finding out more about when they were founded, where their toys are produced, and what their values are.
It’s always cool to learn about and support companies that had humble beginnings and have still stuck to their guns as their brands have grown. Any other suggestions to add to the list?
Also check out: Best Wooden Baby Toys: 25 Quality Picks