Our Story

At Challenge & Fun we have long recognized the desire to surround our children with beauty and lasting quality. Founded in 1998 by mother and son team, Margaret and Rob Wilson, we were one of the first companies to introduce organic soft dolls and stuffed animals to the American market. Over the years we have expanded our offerings, curating a collection of children’s products that honor childhood and are made with integrity. We believe our products make the world a better, more beautiful, gentler place for our children to grow up in. 

Challenge & Fun is run by a team of parents with deep roots in natural parenting philosophies, the world of European toys and Waldorf education. We understand the sleepless nights, the constant juggling of responsibilities and wondering if you’re doing enough or getting it right. The world is constantly evolving and our children are growing up in a different world than the one we inhabited. We recognize the importance of preparing children for an ever changing world, while holding fast to principles that will always form the foundation of our families and our company: leaving the world a little better than we found it, the golden rule, and the truth that simple joys are often the deepest joys. 

With so many disposable, hi-tech, media-centric options now for children, we often wonder “what happened to childhood?” It can seem an impossible task to both protect our children and honor their childhood, while also preparing them for the future. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. We offer products that are simple and joyful. Our toys encourage deep, open-ended play. This is the sort of childhood that fosters the creativity and independent thinking so prized by innovators and leaders. And it is also the sort of play that happy childhoods are built on. 

We invite you into our world where childhood is precious, quality matters and children can become their best and highest selves surrounded by beauty, love and lasting quality.

The Challenge & Fun Team Is Here For You!

	Margaret: Introduced to the world of European toys and Waldorf education by her German husband, she studied and taught Early Childhood Education as well as working for a teaching supply company in Canada. Observing a lack of natural children’s options in the US market; she created Challenge & Fun with her son Rob.
	Rob: The father of three young children, with 20+ years in the natural toy industry, Rob has lived in Canada, Thailand, Austria and the US and loves discovering wonderful new toys to add to the Challenge & Fun lineup on his regular trips to Europe.
	Erika: Our customer service angel, Erika is also keenly attuned to products that are both enriching and allow for the fullest expression of each child’s individual nature and creativity. She is also fluent in French and has diligently spoken French to each of her three children since birth.
	Amy: As part of her graduate program in education, Amy fell in love with Waldorf philosophy. She has both homeschooled and sent her four children to a local Waldorf school. She brings her deep understanding of the principles of a healthy childhood to Challenge & Fun. She also runs our social media program!