Whirligigs & Thaumatropes

Children have been playing with toys throughout all of human history - the oldest known doll toy is thought to be 4,000 years old! The earliest toys were made from materials found in nature, such as rocks, sticks, and clay, like ancient Egyptian dolls that had wigs and movable limbs made from stone, pottery, and wood. Despite their age, these early toys still look very familiar to us: dolls and toy soldiers, toy animals, noisemakers like whistles, and little carts have all been found at the sites of ancient civilizations across the world.

Over time, toys became more complex, with more moving parts, and were made from newer materials like rubber and metal, but many of the basic ideas remained the same - children have been playing with different kinds of hoops and balls forever! However, up until relatively recently, many toys were often made at home, rather than bought at a store. They were often simple and used whatever materials were on hand, but these old-fashioned toys are still a lot of fun! Here’s some simple historic toys that you can make at home: the whirligig and the thaumatrope.

The Whirligig:

From antiquity, people have used their imagination and common materials to invent toys, many of them being active, kid-powered, and noise making (just like this whirligig). Simple whirling toys such as the whirligig are described in European literature as early as the 17th Century, and would have been as popular in Colonial America as they were in Europe. Additionally, numerous Native American whirligigs made of bone and clay have been found throughout the western United States as well! To make your own, you’ll need:

- 2-3 feet of string or yarn

- 1 large button (or something round and button-like)

- A pair of scissors

Ask your adult to help you cut about three feet of string. Thread the string through one buttonhole, then through the hole directly across. Tie both ends of the string together - you should have two loops of string on each end, and a button in the middle.

To use it, hold a loop in each hand with the button at the center, and swing it in a circular motion to wind the string up. Quickly pull your hands in and out to watch your button spin as it unwinds. It might take a few tries to get going, but keep trying - it’s worth it!

The Thaumatrope:

Popular in the 19th century, a thaumatrope is an optical illusion toy made out of a disk with a picture on each side, attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to blend into one! Our version is a little simpler, and easier to use. You’ll need:

Kitchen skewer or a long, straight stick - ask your adult to help you cut off any pointy ends to stay safe

- Cardstock or other thick paper

A drinking glass

- Colored pencils or crayons

- Glue

- Scissors

First, take your drinking glass and turn it upside down on your paper, and trace along the outside to create a circle. You’ll need two circles, one for each side.

Next, decide what kind of image that you’d like to put on your thaumatrope, and draw it in the circles. Traditionally, thaumatropes had paired images on either side, like a bird and an empty cage - when it was spun, it would look like the bird was magically in the cage! Other ideas include:

- Butterfly over a flower

- Robin catching a worm

- Goldfish in a bowl

- Dog in doghouse

- Leaves on a tree

- Flowers in a vase

Once your drawings are finished, carefully cut out your circles and glue them to either side of the kitchen skewer - it should look like a lollipop. If you only have thinner paper like computer paper, you can put a cardboard backing on your circles to make it more stable. After the glue dries, you’re all set!

To use the thaumatrope, place the stick between your palms, and rub your hands back and forth to make the circles spin. Watch the images you drew - can you see them move?

When you’re done, show us how your old-fashioned toys turned out! Tag the Des Plaines History Center on Facebook or Twitter, or email us a photo directly at contact@desplaineshistory.org - we can’t wait to see what you create!