It’s difficult for a child to pick up an instrument and make music. To produce a basic sound on most wind instruments, for example, children have to learn the correct embouchure (the shape of the mouth’s muscles) and rudimentary technique. But it’s easy to play a recorder because all that’s needed is your own ability to breathe.
Te recorder was the perfect instrument to hand to children, which is somewhat ironic considering the instrument’s history. It was a fundamental to renaissance and baroque ensembles, and eventually became a favorite instrument of the Italian, English and Armenian aristocracy.