This Stylish, Functional Kids’ Toy Will Blend Right in With Your Home Decor

Let’s face it, most kids’ toys are an eyesore, and if you enjoy having a home that is decorated and well-put together, the onslaught of plastic, brightly-colored toys can be enough to give you a headache. So you may have noticed a new, delightfully minimalistic-looking toy dominating your social media feeds lately: the Pikler triangle. This wooden climbing structure is seemingly everywhere these days, and seeing as though they’re designed for newborns up to kids to about six years old, they’re often featured in thoughtfully curated, drool-worthy nurseries and playrooms across Instagram and Pinterest.

After seeing Pikler triangles almost every time I opened up my social media apps, I have to admit I was intrigued. I immediately added a Pikler triangle to my wishlist for my daughter’s playroom and began researching what these toys were all about. As it turns out, Pikler triangles aren’t just stylish, they’re super functional and practical, too, and here’s everything you need to know about one, if you’re looking for a toy that’ll provide hours of stimulation and look great just laying out in your space.

Pikler triangles are exactly what they look like — small wooden climbing structures designed for indoor play. Pikler triangles actually aren’t new; they were created by pediatrician Dr. Emmi Pikler over 75 years ago and are enjoying a boom in popularity again right now.

The Pikler triangle was developed based on Dr. Pikler’s research into the benefits of freedom of movement for babies and young children. The idea is that the minimalist nature of the structure’s design encourages exploration and open-ended play.

Pikler triangles are beneficial in the development of fine motor skills and help foster confidence and independence through play. Babies can enjoy laying underneath the triangle with toys hung above them and practice motor skills, such as pulling up when the time comes. Older kids can climb the triangle and use it for imaginative pretend activities in a variety of ways. Many companies that specialize in climbing triangles, such as Cassarokids (whose products are seen here throughout), also offer accessories like reversible ramps, arch attachments, ladders, and more to take your Pikler setup to the next level. You can also find versions of the triangle at stores like Pottery Barn Kids and Maisonette. If you’re handy and experienced at woodworking, you could also probably make one of these fairly easily, though you definitely would want to make sure the structure was sound, since you’re little will eventually be climbing all over it (with your supervision, of course).

As a new mom with a now 10-month-old, let me offer a first-hand account of my experience with these climbing structures. After months of looking around, I eventually got the large climbing triangle in the color ‘natural’ from Cassarokids for my daughter when she was about eight months old. She’s turning out to be quite a climber, and I had a feeling that this climbing structure would be a hit (and would maybe stop her from trying to climb all of our dining room chairs — hah!). 

After two months of having the climbing triangle, it’s definitely one of our favorite baby accessories. She loves climbing it, playing underneath it, and figuring out new ways to explore it, and I have it proudly displayed in our living room where it blends in nicely with my existing home decor. I love that this structure will grow with her as she ages, and while we may still have lots of toys that don’t fit my decorating *aesthetic,* these climbing triangles feel like the perfect blend of style and practicality and are a welcome addition to our home.