A note on Toy Safety

With the recent news about toy recalls and unsafe toys from China, we have received many inquiries regarding our toys, their origins and the components used in their making.

From the start, The Wooden Wagon has been committed to selling only the finest—and safest—European toys for children of all ages. All of the wooden toys imported by The Wooden Wagon—whether stained or painted, colored or natural—are toxin-free. A number of the manufacturers use vegetable-based dyes and natural lacquers, and all comply to the stringent European Community toy-safety standards.

The vast majority of our toys are made in Germany, with others originating in European countries such as Switzerland and Poland. Many of the toymakers we work with may be categorized in one of three ways:

  1. Small, family-owned businesses in which the toys are designed and produced in a small workshop by several generations of family members;
  2. Workshops that provide work for the mentally or physically disabled, often connected to a church or regional social services program; and
  3. Workshops and manufacturers that employ at-home workers (often caregivers or the elderly) to help assemble or paint the toys.

These are workshops with a great sense of responsibility to both their customers and their communities, and they all take great pride in the products that they craft. A recent Associated Press article on one of our manufacturers, HABA, provides insight into the care that even our largest toymakers take in making their wooden toys.

A great number of the toys we sell have been tested and awarded the “Spiel Gut” Good Toy designation, awarded only to toys that meet exacting standards of good play value, good design and a high quality of craftsmanship and safety. Many (but not all) of these toys are included within our Award Winners toy category.

We are always happy to answer any questions our customers may have regarding our toys. Please forward any inquiries you may have to info @ thewoodenwagon.com.