Richard Blizzard in 1981, in his book Making Wooden Toys gives a great explanation why wooden toys are better than their counterparts made from other materials, and the real educational value of wooden toys.
“With the introduction of plastics, toys changed from their traditional material and became available in gaudy bright moulded ‘bubbles’. However, this useful material has its limitations. After a while scratches make even the treasured plastic tractor scruffy, and many families despair when breakages cannot be repaired. Perhaps worst of all is the resulting sense of disappointment – and toys that let children down are bad toys. The child uses his toys as a means of experiment, with them he learns and discovers many things. To the very young child, play and work are inseparable.”
