Top Toys For Xmas 2009

Toys have been around for thousands of years. Of course the first toys weren't as sophisticated as the toys we have now days. Some of the first toys were made from things found in nature such as rocks and sticks. Sometimes the rocks would be carved to look like an animal. The Egyptians made dolls from pottery, stone and wood that even had movable limbs and wigs. Ancient Greeks also made dolls only theirs were often made from wax instead of stone. They also invented the yo-yo although this didn't really take off until the 1920's. When a child was at the age where they were becoming an adult they would have a ceremony where they would sacrifice their toys to the gods which would mark their passage into adulthood.

Where as in ancient times toys would be made by the children themselves or their parents, modern toys are mass produced and sold in shops. These new toys were no longer made using the things found in nature but made of cloth, plastics and synthetic materials. This was largely due to technological advances that these materials became available.

In the early 19th century dolls were being made that could say "mama". Dolls that were part china and part material also started to become popular. Usually just the head of the doll, the fore arms and the bottom of the legs were made of china whilst the torso and the tops of the arms and legs were soft material that was stuffed. Now dolls have evolved even further. Barbie for example is made from plastic and has movable limbs. Some kinds of doll can even say a number of different phrases.

Because technology has evolved even more so have the toys. Now there are toys that can recognise voices and sayings. Some toys can recognise where they are and move around without bumping into anything. Radio controlled toys are also a big step from the primitive toys of the ancient world. The one thing that has not changed over the years is that children love to play with toys.