Wooden toys have been around for centuries, but through the 1970’s and 1980’s the interest in wood toys declined among consumers and therefore retailers.  This was largely due to popularization of newer materials, such as metal and advanced plastics, which gained a strong foothold among toy producers and consumers.  Although in the current environment competition is fierce in the toy market due to the wide variety of available materials and technologies, there is a renewed, nostalgic interest in wood toys.  Some theorize that wood toys, especially ones that reflect hand-made and traditional styling, remind people of more wholesome times. In addition, toys made from wood are more in tune with environmental concerns than their counterparts that are made from plastics and other man-made materials.

Another socio-cultural factor affecting the toy industry is a statistically significant trend towards parents buying educational-oriented toys for their children.  This trend is documented in the December 19xx issue of Today’s Parent.  Even in light of and possibly because of the digital revolution , parents seem to want more for their children than just mindless entertainment.  Adults are looking for toys that can educate as well as entertain.