Have you ever wondered if there are age limits to enjoying toys? Well, there aren’t! Even adults love toys. For example, I have a cool 3D printed skull of a T-Rex on my desk. It’s based on the real skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and it’s one of my favorites.
Our friend Daniela asked a great question: How are toys invented? Toys have changed a lot over the years. For instance, the fidget spinner became super popular in 2017, but it didn’t exist when I was a kid in the 1980s. Back then, we had different toys.
Every generation has new toys that their parents didn’t have. When I was young, Legos were new in the United States. My parents didn’t play with them because they weren’t around when they were kids. Instead, they had toys like Mr. Potato Head, where you could make funny faces using plastic parts on a real potato. Other popular toys from their time included Play-Doh and Silly Putty.
While some toys remain popular, many new ones are invented all the time. But how do inventors come up with these ideas? Let’s explore the story of a real inventor named Lonnie Johnson.
Lonnie Johnson was an engineer who worked for the US Air Force and NASA. He didn’t start out inventing toys. One day, while working on a water pump for a refrigerator, he accidentally created a powerful jet of water. This gave him an idea for a new toy water blaster for his daughter.
Lonnie started working on a prototype in his basement. After testing it with his daughter and her friends, who loved it, he teamed up with a toy company to make it even better. They called it the Super Soaker, and it became one of the most popular toys of the 1990s!
Even though water blasters weren’t new, Lonnie’s invention was special because it used water pressure, which he discovered by accident. This shows how inventions can come from unexpected moments.
One important lesson from Lonnie’s story is how he handled his initial mistake. Instead of getting upset, he saw the potential in what happened and used it to create something amazing.
Thanks to the success of the Super Soaker, Lonnie started his own laboratory, where he continues to invent new things for both kids and adults.
Thank you, Daniela, for your question. In the next episode, we’ll explore questions about the heart. You can vote on one of these questions: Why does your heart have valves? How does your heart pump blood? Or what is your heart made of? I can’t wait to hear from you. Remember, there are mysteries all around us. Stay curious, and see you next time!
Invent Your Own Toy: Gather some everyday household items like cardboard, plastic bottles, rubber bands, and paper. Use your imagination to invent a new toy. Think about what makes toys fun and try to incorporate those elements into your creation. Once you’ve made your toy, share it with your family or friends and see if they enjoy playing with it. What did you learn from their reactions?
Observe and Report: Next time you visit a toy store or look at toys online, pick one toy and think about how it might have been invented. What problem does it solve, or what fun does it provide? Write a short story about how you think the inventor came up with the idea for this toy. Share your story with your class or family.
Experiment with Water Pressure: With the help of an adult, fill a plastic bottle with water and poke a small hole in the side. Squeeze the bottle and watch how the water shoots out. Try making holes of different sizes or using bottles of different shapes. How does the water pressure change? Discuss how this experiment relates to Lonnie Johnson’s invention of the Super Soaker.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language and personal anecdotes while maintaining the core content:
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(Phone ringing) – Hello, this is Doug. Are there any age limits to enjoying toys? I believe there aren’t. I have various toys on my desk here at work. For instance, I have a 3D printed skull of a T-Rex, based on the actual skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, which is one of my favorites.
We have a question from Daniela about toys. Let’s connect with her now. (Phone ringing) – Hello, Doug. – Hi, Daniela. – I have a question for you: How are toys invented? – That’s an excellent question. Our affection for toys seems to persist, even into adulthood. However, the toys themselves have evolved over time. A notable example is the fidget spinner, which became extremely popular in 2017. When I was a child in the 1980s, fidget spinners did not exist, as they had not yet been invented.
Each generation of children experiences new toys that the adults in their lives did not have during their childhood. For instance, during my childhood, Legos were relatively new in the United States, as my parents did not play with them since they were not available when they were kids. In their time, toys like Mr. Potato Head were newly invented, allowing children to create faces using plastic parts inserted into a real potato. Other popular toys from that era included Play-Doh and Silly Putty.
While some of these toys remain popular today, many toys that children enjoy now are entirely new inventions. The process of inventing new toys is fascinating. Who are the inventors, and how do they come up with these ideas?
Before I elaborate further, this would be a good moment to pause the video and discuss.
Are you ready? There are numerous inventors and a wide variety of toys. I would like to share a true story about one inventor, Lonnie Johnson. Lonnie is an inventor who initially worked as an engineer for organizations like the US Air Force and NASA, creating inventions for scientific purposes rather than toys.
One day, while working on a new part for a water pump intended for a refrigerator, Lonnie accidentally created a powerful jet of water during testing. This incident inspired him to develop a new type of toy water blaster for his daughter. He began working on a prototype in his basement. After testing it with his daughter and her friends, who found it enjoyable, he partnered with a toy company to refine his prototype and produce it on a larger scale. They eventually named it the Super Soaker, which became one of the most popular toys of the 1990s.
While the concept of a toy that sprays water was not new, Lonnie’s invention was distinct due to its use of water pressure, a result of his unexpected discovery during a different project. This story illustrates how inventions can arise from unforeseen circumstances.
A key takeaway from Lonnie’s experience is his response to the initial mistake. Instead of feeling frustrated, he recognized the potential in the unexpected outcome and considered how he could utilize this new knowledge.
With the success of the Super Soaker, Lonnie established his own laboratory, where he and his team continue to create new inventions for both children and adults.
Thank you, Daniela, for your question. In the next episode, with Valentine’s Day approaching, I have selected three questions related to the heart. After this video concludes, you will have the opportunity to vote on one of the following questions: Why does your heart have valves? How does your heart pump blood? Or what is your heart made of? I look forward to hearing from all of you. There are mysteries all around us. Stay curious, and see you next week.
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This version maintains the educational content while removing informalities and personal anecdotes.
