This page has been created to provide an added plus to all exclusive product evaluations we publish. It enables you to learn more about valuable features of a product or service to assist you in your buying decisions. * You have the option to scroll through the entire page, or use the links. Progressive Skill Development    |   Independent Lab Testing    |   Countries    |   Ecological    |    Certification   Creative Expression Encourages an individual to make concepts more concrete, personalize abstractions, and affect attitudes by involving emotional as well as intellectual responses in their creative thinking and actions.  This stimulates imaginative and creative activity in an individual.   Gross Motor Skills Helping to involve large muscle groups for actions which may include walking, kicking, jumping, and climbing stairs. This skill is especially important for individuals in following surgery and / or with neurological problems, traumatic brain injury or disabilities.  This is specific to challenges that affect movement with individuals.   Fine Motor Skills Helping to develop focused and detail-oriented hand coordination. This coordination includes writing, cutting, tracing and self-care skills, such as buttoning, lacing, zipping and similar tasks. This is specific to challenges that individuals with neurological problems or traumatic brain injury.   Sensory Helping stimulate sensory skills to provide feedback from the senses to the brain so that an individual can interact with his or her environment successfully. It is especially good for stimulating an individual's sensory development, whether it be through vision, sound, balance, body awareness, or tactile experience.   Self-Supportive Play / Activity Encouraging an individual to become more engaged with and resolve problems & challenges without support from others.  It encourages an individual to learn to define, develop, and learn about themselves and their relationship with others around them. This helps to develop a sense of autonomy and self-confidence in their own abilities while also recognizing the important of the unique abilities they see in others.   Social / Emotional Encouraging psycho-social interaction during personal and recreational activities, as well as greater level of emotional development. This helps individuals to develop and understand the skills to interact and work with others in a cooperative fashion. It also encourages development of emotional responses which create productive end results in a variety of different situations.   Cognitive Skills Helpings to encourage problem solving and other skill development through activities such as abstract symbolic reasoning, spatial reasoning, counting, matching and sorting. It contributes to an individual's basic mental abilities used to think, study, learn, analyze sounds and images, recall information from memory, make associations between different pieces of information, and maintain concentration on specific tasks.   Language Contributes substantially to skill development, use and comprehension of language via speech and vocabulary, symbols, conventions of written language and forms of storytelling. It encourages development / improvement of constructing coherent sentences, using proper grammar and / or recalling words.   Independent Lab Tested Confirmation of a product being  independent lab tested.  There is also confirmation of the lab testing and CPSIA approval if paperwork has been provided for our review and confirmation. This seal designates the product meets the Federal standards for what is considered a "safe" level of content of BPA. More information about phthalates can be found at: https://www.mayoclinic.org This seal designates the product meets the Federal standards for what is considered a "safe" level of content of Latex. More information about Latex in products can be found at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/ This seal designates the product meets the Federal standards for what is considered a "safe" level of lead. It is important to remember that lead has a cumulative effect.  The product exposure to products with "safe" level of lead, the higher level of lead accumulated which can reach dangerous levels.  More information about lead in products can be found at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ This seal designates the product meets the Federal standards for what is considered a "safe" level of phthalates. More information about phthalates can be found at: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/phthalates/ COUNTRIES   Made in the USA This product is manufactured in the United States, and as such is produced under the laws and regulations in accordance with United States Federal product standards.   Made in Europe This product is manufactured in a country that belongs to the European Union, and as such, is produced under the laws and regulations of the EU   Made in Canada This product is manufactured in Canada, and as such, is produced under the laws and regulations of the EU. As such, it is done in accordance with Federal product standards to be sold in the USA.   Made in China This product was manufactured in China, and as such is produced under the laws and regulations in accordance with Federal product standards to be sold in the USA.   Made in Mexico This product was manufactured in Mexico, and as such is produced under the laws and regulations in accordance with Federal product standards to be sold in the USA.   Made in Hong Kong This product was manufactured in Hong Kong, and as such is produced under the laws and regulations in accordance with Federal product standards to be sold in the USA.   Made in Israel This product was manufactured in Israel, and as such is produced under the laws and regulations in accordance with Federal product standards to be sold in the USA. ECOLOGICAL   ecoFriendly This product may include the use of biodegradable packaging, recycled materials, FSC certified wood products, non-toxic dyes and low-impact manufacturing and distribution.   ecoConscious This product or service is marked by, recognized, and/or provided with commitment and caring to protect the environment, good causes and the community. This includes exercise of social responsibility and caring for the Earth.   Organic This product is created from materials that are from a reprehensible organic source. This product may also have been processed using organic materials, such as natural dyes and oils. To be identified as organic in our evaluation, the majority of the product must be grown and manufactured with a minimal amount of inorganic material being used. CERTIFICATIONS   CE Certified Products that have CE marking indicate their conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area, ECA. The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that have been manufactured to EEA standards.   CSA Certified Unlike UL, CSA Certification meets International certification standards. CSA provides expert testing, inspection, and certification services that demonstrate products are in compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and operating performance standards for International, {ISO) standards.   ETL Certified The ETL Mark is proof of product compliance to North American safety standards. Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and code officials across the US and Canada accept the ETL Listed Mark as proof of product compliance to published industry standards.   FDA Approved FDA experts review the results of laboratory, animal, and human clinical testing done by manufacturers for products. If FDA grants an approval, it means the agency has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the known risks for the intended use.   ISO Certified There are two primary ISO certifications, 9001 and 140001. ISO is not involved in certification of products, and does not issue certificates. That is performed by experts from external certification bodies in accordance with CASCO Standards.   NSF Certified Products with the NSF Seal have passed the strict NSF evaluation standards established. NSF stands for National Sanitation Foundation, which is a non-profit organization based in the United States. NSF was established in 1944 with the goal of creating standards for sanitation and food safety for public health.   RESNA Certified  RESNA offers two certifications to recognize resistive technology (AT) service providers who have met a national standard of job-based knowledge and experience. By promoting the professionalism of AT service providers, RESNA's certifications ultimately serve to protect consumers of AT solutions.   TÜV Certified TÜV Certified products are created from materials that are from a reprehensible organic source. This product may also have been processed using organic materials, such as natural dyes and oils. To be identified as organic in TÜV evaluation, the majority of the product must be grown and manufactured with a minimal amount of inorganic material being used.   UL Certified UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories. For more than 100 years, manufacturers have had their merchandise evaluated and tested for safety risks by their independent, third-party safety certification organization; UL Certification.    Return to Top      Main Menu