Fun Inventions that Kids Love

Slinkys were invented in 1945 by Richard and Betty James. Had it not been for a tension spring falling to the floor on the naval ship Richard James was working on, we quite possibly might not have Slinkys today. Richard and his wife, Betty, perfected the Slinky and it went to market in 1945 and then the American Toy Fair in 1946. It was a hit, 400 hundred were sold in the first 90 minutes.

Slinkys have their own song:

"What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, And makes a slinkity sound?
A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing, Everyone knows it's Slinky
It's Slinky, it's Slinky, for fun it's a wonderful toy
It's Slinky, it's Slinky, it's fun for a girl and a boy"

- Advertising Jingle

Crayola Crayons were invented in 1903 by Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. After inventing crayons for commercial use with a high black carbon, these cousins saw the need for non-toxic crayons in schools for children and ended up with the Crayola Crayon. Edwin's wife, Alice, thought of the name Crayola by combining two french words craie meaning chalk and oleaginous meaning oily.

Lifesavers were invented in 1912 by a chocolate maker named, Clarence Crane. Since chocolate melted so easily in in the summer, Clarence decided to invent a candy that could with stand the summer heat. The Life Saver was first manufactured only as a peppermint candy. Unfortunately, for Clarence, he sold the rights to his Life Saver candies to Edward Noble for $2900. Edward went on to make the 5 flavor roll in 1935. The rest is history and Life Savers are sold by the billions around the world.

It is unknown who actually invented the Hula Hoop. A form of the hula hoop dates back to ancient Europe and were used by the Greeks as an exercise tool. The name Hula Hoop was introduced by the Wham-O Company, which was founded by Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin, The Wham-O Hula Hoop was first manufactured in 1958 and sold twenty million in the first six months.

The Teddy Bear was named for President Theodore Roosevelt. A cartoon drawn by Clifford K. Berryman of the Washington Post depicted the President holding a small cuddly bear cub and the idea was born to make the adorable stuffed toy. It is thought that Morris Michtom and his wife, Rose, made and sold the first bears and sold them in their candy store. They wrote a letter to President Roosevelt and asked his permission to call it a "Teddy bear"

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe.
Teddy Bear, Teddy bear, that will do.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say "Good night."

~ Author Unknown ~

Chewing gum has been around for centuries but bubble gum was invented by Frank Fleer in 1906. He called his new gum Blibber-Blubber but it was never sold at market. One of Frank Fleer's employees, Walter Diemer, was the inventor of Double Bubble the first manufactured and marketed bubble gum.

The original concept and name for the frisbie is believed to have come from Frisbie Baking Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, The company sold many pies to local college students who discovered that the pie tins made great flying discs. The Pluto Platter was the first plastic design of a fribie invented by Walter Frederick Morrison and his partner Warren. The Frisbee became wildly popular when it was patented and marketed by the Wham-O Company in 1964.