Above: A WPA toy project in Memphis, Tennessee, September 1936. WPA workers refurbished old toys and made toys from scratch. During Christmas time, many underprivileged children received toys from the WPA. At other times of the year, the WPA operated toy lending projects. All of these projects were win-win-win policies: (1) Unemployed people had jobs, (2) landfill space was saved by recycling old toys and materials, and (3) children from low-income families had more toys than they otherwise would have. Toys and play have long been recognized for their importance in childhood development. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), "Play is essential to babies, toddlers, preschool, and school-age children. Children need plenty of opportunities to play with a variety of good toys... Toys are an important part of every child’s life" ("Why This Toy?" NAEYC). Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
Above: A closer look at the WPA Toy Project sign.
Above: A WPA worker paints a merry-go-round on the Tennessee toy project. How many children had a better Christmas because of WPA workers on toy projects? We'll probably never know for sure, but it's probably in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
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