The Willa Walker Story


Willa Walker is made up of a wooden handle, two ropes and two wooden rings. That's it.

It is a simple yet smart tool that makes learning to walk even more fun for toddlers while saving adults the back-pain from always having to bend over to help them.

Gabe Cohn, a Mechanical Engineer by trade, invented the Willa Walker in his garage after babysitting his cousin's daughter Willa. The first prototype was very simple: A piece of Bamboo, some string and 2 sticks for handles.


The first Willa Walker prototype being used for the first time by Willa.

Years later Gabe and his wife Haley spent a year travelling around the world. While they where living in Indonesia Gabe had some early Willa Walker prototypes made. Not long thereafter their daughter Poppy was born. Eight months after that Gabe had perfected the design and Poppy was ready to be the first Willa Walker beta tester.


Gabe in Indonesia proudly holding up one of the first Willa Walkers

Willa turning heads
When Haley (Gabe's wife) started taking Poppy out to the park and using the Willa Walker, the reaction was phenomenal. Everywhere they went Poppy and the Willa Walker kept turning heads. People started asking where they could get one for their baby.  So joining forces with four childhood friends Gabe created Playful Nature, LLC and started producing Willa Walkers for others.


Willa Hiking
The Willa Walker is not only good for babies learning to walk, Poppy is now walking but still loves to use the WIlla Walker when she is on uneven ground. It turns out the Willa Walker is a great accessory for active outdoor parents. With the support of a Willa Walker, a budding walker can tackle rough terrain with ease.


Poppy and her mom Haley walking in the redwoods

The walking evolution has begun.

There are now around 300 Willa Walkers out there with budding walkers acting as the beta testers. So far the testimonials have been unanimously gushing:
Toddlers and parents LOVE Willa Walking!


A Willa Walker Pioneer Loving it!

Not only toddlers love walking with the Willa Walker, small babies love it too.  Babies love to grab things that are hanging in front of them, and the Willa Walker is a perfect fit for entertaining young babies that are lying on their back


Leo Sunshine discovering the Willa Walker

Playful Nature LLC

Makers of Naturally Playful Tools

Playful Nature LLC is first and foremost an Earth-friendly company that strives to give back to the earth more than it takes by following the most sustainable business model possible.

Willa Walkers are made from scraps of woods left over from the Masaya Furniture company. Masaya manages and operates tree plantations — helping to create jobs and return damaged land to its natural state in Nicaragua.  


Every Willa Walker contributes to growing trees and saving the Oceans
Continuing with this earth friendly approach, Playful Nature LLC partners with two amazing environmental charity partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and the Lonely Whale Foundation. For each Willa Walker sold Eden plants 10 trees and $1 is donated to the Lonely Whale Foundation.