This toy is recommended by spiel gut (Good Toy)

What does this mean?

Since 1954, educationalists, psychologists, doctors, technicians, experts in design, chemistry, electronics ... and parents - scientific and practical people - have been examining and assessing toys - from babies' rattles to material for experimenting.
They work on a honorary basis and are independent of the toy industry and retailers.
Their spiel gut recommendation signifies that this toy has been tested with children and examined by experts with a positive result.
Their criteria: play value, material, workmanship, construction, durability, safety, design, size, quantity, quality of the instructions for playing or making, suitability for the appropriate age group ...

Play + toys as educational aids?

Playing always entails learning, not by means of teaching, but on the basis of personal experience - the most effective form of learning in childhood.
Physical and mental agility, social behaviour, imagination, logical thinking, planned action, powers of concentration, stamina, joy at being active and a great deal more besides, can be developed by playing, and the benefits can be seen for the rest of the child's life - at work and during leisure activities, as well as in a wide variety of other situations.

Learning to play?

But playing too has to be learned. The readiness to play, which every healthy child has by its very nature, can only develop into the ability to play with careful assistance, stimulation and encouragement.
Good toys can also help in this, but only if the abilities and interests of the child are taken into consideration when choosing a toy.

spiel gut publications (only in german language availabe) give answers to all important questions.

Game and Toy Testing, Evaluation and Awards - Conditions and Prerequisites

Testing, Evaluation and the spiel gut Award are free

Despite our limited finances and since our foundation in 1954, it has been our principle to provide all game producers and designers with an equal opportunity to have their games tested - regardless of their financial means. This is only possible due to the fact that most of our work is done by volunteers.

Please do not send unsolicited Game or Toy Samples

Either catalogues with pictures and prices or photos are the most suitable ways of initiating contact with us. Our expert panel will then decide which of the Samples will be considered further. Unsolicited samples will be returned untested at your cost.

Game/Toy Samples must be sent to us free and post paid

We can also not pay Customs Duty on your samples. If your samples are clearly labeled "Muster (ohne Rechnung)", which means "Sample (without Invoice)", Customs will usually not demand duty.

Game/Toy details and confirmation of compliance with our safety guidelines

We require documents such as CE-Compliance, Safety Norms, Foodstuffs and Commodities Act, LMBG, VDE-Regulations to be available to us prior to the testing of game samples. Our questionnaire is available at our office.

Especially please notice: All games or toys that have to be imported into member-countries of the "European Union" must have been manufactured compellingly after the standards of the "EU". To show this clearly, they have to have a -sign on its packing sheet.

Game/Toy samples cannot be returned

After we have completed our evaluation, the game samples are returned to the children who tested them. Exceptions to this rule, for example for models or hand made samples, must be arranged with us in advance.

The time required to test a sample cannot be determined in advance

It depends upon the type of game and on the families, kindergartens and institutes testing them. (school Holidays, Seasonal factors, degree of interest or disinterest). We always attempt to evaluate games under the best possible conditions - technical games by children interested in technology, board games by families who enjoy playing games together.

About the spiel gut award, rejections and suggested improvements

After the sample has been tested, the expert panel (15 - 20 members from various disciplines) meets to discuss the samples and decide on the awards. There are around 10 to 15 sessions each year. The spiel gut award, or the reasons for rejecting the game are then returned to the manufacturer and/or designer.

Our objectives for the evaluation of games/toys

Details of our objectives when evaluating games or toys can be found in our handbook "Vom Spielzeug und vom Spielen". Information regarding our goals, method of operating and members can be obtained from our office or at www.spielgut.de

( Download Game and Toy Testing Conditions and Prerequisites as PDF )

Please note: All contacts to the office only in german or english language. Thank you!

spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß
Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V. ®
Neue Strasse 77
D - 89073 Ulm
Germany

Fax +49 7 31 - 6 56 28
E-mail

© spiel gut / 2000-2013  -