Question from TA
Could you give me any pointers for evaluating the safety of art supplies for my toddler? It seems that many products are considered “non-toxic” on the label, but they are made from petrochemicals. My toddler is pretty good about not eating these kinds of things, but paints and glue/paste can be absorbed through the skin. So I’m a bit uncertain about how to ascertain which products are safe. Is the “non-toxic” claim good enough? Or is there something else I should be looking for?
I am specifically wondering about these Stockmar watercolor paints. I have seen them sold on various sites devoted to using natural materials in children’s toys – sites that sell wood toys, fabric dolls, and other Waldorf or Montessori types of products. So I would like to believe that this is an indication that those stores have some degree of confidence about the safety of the paints. I also gain some confidence from the fact that they are made in Germany, as their standards for children’s toys are generally much higher than ours here. But beyond that, when I encounter products such as these, are there any specific questions I should ask to verify the safety of the products?
www.stockmar.de/product_info.php?cPath=476&products_id=3848&language=en
I do have the Stockmar beeswax crayons. I like that they are made of beeswax, but I’m not sure what the pigments are made from.
Debra’s Answer
This is a very good question.
The quick answer is that there is some controversy about the “nontoxic” seal on art supplies. Until I get that sorted out, that’s all I’m going to say about that.
About Stockmar, now here is an example of a good product being made by a good company, confirmed by the fact that it has been sold for a long period of time by retaliers who are dedicated to choosing natural products. Natural ingredients are part of their ethic. And that’s a very important thing to look at about a brand. What is their purpose? What are they committed to?
See Stockmar’s Product Information page, which clearly outlines what they do to ensure their products are safe.
This is what you should be looking for when evaluating art supplies.
