Yo-yo

toys · ancient · tricks · skill

Ancient Spinner. Yo-yos are super old! People in ancient Greece were playing with them way back in 440 BC, making them one of the oldest toys we know about.

Simple but Clever. A yo-yo has two flat disks connected by an axle with a string wrapped around it, kind of like a spool. When you flick your wrist, the string unwinds and winds back up, making the disks spin.

Different Names. In the 1700s, people in Europe called yo-yos "bandalores." The toy traveled to different countries and picked up different names along the way.

Tricks and Skills. Once you master the basic up-and-down motion, you can learn amazing tricks like "Walk the Dog" where the yo-yo rolls along the ground, or "Around the World" where it spins in a circle.