Evaluation
Since 1954, the spiel gut label has been an award for outstanding play material and is given for recommendable products available in Germany.
The product is selected by members of the spiel gut Arbeitsausschuss Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V. mainly at the toy fair.
It is also possible for companies to apply for an assessment at spiel gut with photos, links and information on their products.
spiel gut will request the product for assessment if it is obviously suitable.
The product is tested in suitable test families or institutions and evaluated in a complex questionnaire. After about eight weeks, the product is presented to the spiel gut committee, together with the experience gained from the practical testing. Based on the test feedback and the expert’s judgement the committee decides on the award.
Award
After a positive assessment, the manufacturer or importer receives a certificate and the product is published on the spiel gut homepage.
The company can decide whether it wants to use the spiel gut label to indicate the award.
If no spiel gut award is received, the company only receives a written explanation, sometimes with suggestions for improvement.
If the product is improved, it can be resubmitted. It is often apparent that in a subsequent product the free suggestions got implemented.
Testing
The spiel gut Arbeitsausschuss Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V. is a non-profit association based in Ulm. It is independent of the toy industry and retailers and is financed by the sale of books and the nominal fee for the spiel gut label. The German Ministry for Families, Seniors, Women and Youth financially supports the assessment work.
This voluntary association of educators, psychologists, physicians, technicians, experts in design, chemistry, electronics, etc. was founded in 1954 in order to show toy manufacturers what are really good toys from a practical, scientific and artistic point of view. The spiel gut award has meanwhile developed as a well recognized orientation for consumers. Most of the spiel gut experts are parents themselves or work professionally with children.
Play materials for children aged 0-14 years, but also sports equipment, handicraft materials and hobby articles.
The company must provide the product free of charge and will not receive it back. If the product has not been awarded, no further costs will incur. In case of an award spiel gut charges a processing fee for the award and the publication on the spiel gut website of 70.00 € per brand per calendar year. The product is shown on the website as long as it is available on the market. If the company advertises with the award, we charge royalties. Details can be found in the fact sheet on costs of the spiel gut award. Termination is possible as of 31 December each year.
Statute
for granting the spiel gut award. Valid from Mai 2023
(The spiel gut logo is a protected trademark)
spiel gut statute for manufacturers
The institution of the campaign is the “spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V.” a committee concerned with children’s play + toys. Only persons who do not have any economic interests in the production or distribution of toys can be members.
The purpose of the campaign is to advise consumers of particularly good toys.
The scope of the campaign: The spiel gut committee can restrict or expand the award to certain subject areas like types of toys or age groups, etc.
The granting of the award is carried out according to the spiel gut principles and criteria (compare „Vom Spielzeug und vom Spielen – Ratgeber für gutes Spielzeug“) and the procedure defined by the committee. The companymust provide the product free of charge and will not receive it back. If the product has not been awarded, no further costs will incur. After a positive assessment, the manufacturer or imorter receives a certificate and spiel gut charges a processing fee for the award and the publication on the spiel gut webside of 70.- € per brand per calendar year. The product is shown on the webside as long as it is available on the market. If the company advertises with the award, we charge royalties. Details can be found i the sheet on costs of the spiel gut award. Termination is possible as of 31 December each year.
The validity of the award is limited on the precisely described sample of the toy. The spiel gut award is only valid as long as the toy is produced respectively as long as it is available. Each change requires a new assessment. After a period of at least 3 years, the spiel gut committee can ask for a new sample of the toy assigned with the spiel gut award. It may cancel the award even with unchanged models, when the toy no longer complies with the new requirements. In case of non-compliance with the spiel gut guidelines, the seal may be withdrawn.
The use of the award for advertising objectives is possible in the following ways:
- spiel gut stickers make the award visible on the toy (orange/white, ø 22 mm or 33 mm, self-adhesive) It is important to note that the spiel gut label for children under 3 years is not allowed to be stuck directly on the toys! The label can be peeled off from the toy.
- The toy assigned with the spiel gut award can be labelled by direct imprint on the toy or on the packaging.
- The spiel gut seal can be used in catalogues, brochures, price lists, advertisements and other advertising material and media. It must be clearly recognizable which product is assigned with the spiel gut award.
Leaflets „This toy is recommended by spiel gut” – can be attached to every toy assigned with the award.
Introduction and background of the spiel gut award in four languages (German, English, French, Spanish) in DIN A5 (unfolded) or DIN A6 (folded).
Posters for traders to inform the customers about the importance of the spiel gut award.
- Poster 1: (in German) Informationen über die Arbeit des spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V. (information about the work of the spiel gut committee “spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V.”) Format A2: 59×42 cm.
- Poster 2: (in German) Tabelle „Welches Spielzeug für welches Alter“ (Chart “Which toy for which age”). Format A2: 59×42 cm.
- Poster 3: (in German) „spiel gut steht für: Spielwert–Sicherheit–Gestaltung“. (“Spiel gut stands for: Value of play and toys – security – design”) Format 21×60 cm.
The spiel gut seal can only be used together with the original text. The templates are provided by us.
To prevent any misuse we do not issue any reprinting licenses neither for the labels nor for the leaflets. Other publicity campaigns related to the award require the approval of the spiel gut committee. In case of misuse of the award, we reserve the right to take legal action. The minor costs for using of the spiel gut award for advertising objectives are compiled in a separate list (enclosure).
spiel gut statute for retailers
The institution of the campaign is the “spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V.” a committee concerned with children’s play + toys. Only persons who do not have any economic interests in the production or distribution of toys can be members.
The purpose of the campaign is to advise consumers of particularly good toys.
The scope of the campaign: The spiel gut committee can restrict or expand the award to certain subject areas like types of toys or age groups, etc.
The granting of the award is carried out according to the spiel gut principles and criteria (compare „Vom Spielzeug und vom Spielen – Ratgeber für gutes Spielzeug“) and the procedure defined by the committee. The award can also be granted without any specific application by the toy manufacturer or designer. Applications for the spiel gut award can be submitted at any time. The assessment and the spiel gut award is free of charge. We charge 70.- € per brand and year for the publication of the toy assigned with the spiel gut award – with picture and text – on the spiel gut website. Certificates are issued and handed over to the manufacturer for the toy assigned with the award. The designer receives a duplicate on request.
The validity of the award is limited on the precisely described sample of the toy. The spiel gut award is only valid as long as the toy is produced respectively as long as it is available. Each change requires a new assessment. After a period of at least 3 years, the spiel gut committee can ask for a new sample of the toy assigned with the spiel gut award. It may cancel the award even with unchanged models, when the toy no longer complies with the new requirements.
The use of the award for advertising objectives is possible in the following ways:
- The spiel gut seal can be used in catalogues, brochures, price lists, advertisements and other advertising material and media. It must be clearly recognizable which product is assigned with the spiel gut award.
- The costs for the promotional use of the spiel gut seal are listed separately. This fee is usually paid by the manufacturer – then retailers can use the logo free of charge.
- Before using the seal, please get confirmation from the respective manufacturer that the fee gets paid.
Leaflets „This toy is recommended by spiel gut” – can be attached to every toy assigned with the award.
Introduction and background of the spiel gut award in four languages (German, English, French, Spanish) in DIN A5 (unfolded) or DIN A6 (folded).
Posters for traders to inform the customers about the importance of the spiel gut award.
- Poster 1: (in German) Informationen über die Arbeit des spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V. (information about the work of the spiel gut committee “spiel gut Arbeitsausschuß Kinderspiel + Spielzeug e.V.”) Format A2: 59×42 cm.
- Poster 2: (in German) Tabelle „Welches Spielzeug für welches Alter“ (Chart “Which toy for which age”). Format A2: 59×42 cm.
- Poster 3: (in German) „spiel gut steht für: Spielwert–Sicherheit–Gestaltung“. (“Spiel gut stands for: Value of play and toys – security – design”) Format 21×60 cm.
The spiel gut seal can only be used together with the original text. The templates are provided by us.
To prevent any misuse we do not issue any reprinting licenses neither for the labels nor for the leaflets. Other publicity campaigns related to the award require the approval of the spiel gut committee. In case of misuse of the award, we reserve the right to take legal action.