About Meadowlark Toy Company

Meadowlark is a team of toy makers - siblings Jennifer Rondeau and Matt Bird - that are passionate about early childhood development. They work together to design and handcraft wooden toys that are heirloom-quality with a simple clean aesthetic appealing to modern parents and early childhood educators. The name “Meadowlark” was chosen by Jennifer: "We grew up on a grain farm and cattle ranch in southern Alberta that has been in the Bird family for well over 100 years. We had a pasture near our house that was native prairie. In the spring it would be filled with crocuses and the song of meadowlarks. That sound is the most enduring sensory memory of my childhood. The lark is traditionally symbolic of merriment, singing to announce the coming of day, of birth and joy. The lark sings at the gates of heaven. The name Meadowlark is a culmination of all these sensory, intellectual and spiritual forces. Just like that lilting song coming from the pasture I hope this business becomes a beacon of happiness." The Meadowlark business model is designed around the "Head, Hands, Heart" model of Waldorf teaching. Jennifer and Matt are drawn to the Waldorf method because of its focus on children as holistic individuals and their connection to the natural world, emphasizing learning through doing. This is exactly how they were raised on the family farm, and a type of learning they want to instill in their own children. And what better way to teach kids than through play!Read their story