The Yo-Yo

A yo-yo is a small round toy attached to a string. You wrap the string around it and flick your wrist to make it go up and down. People have been playing with yo-yos for thousands of years.

The History of the Yo-Yo

The yo-yo is one of the oldest toys in the world. Ancient Greeks played with yo-yos more than 2,500 years ago. They were made of wood, metal, or clay.

In the 1920s, a man named Pedro Flores brought the yo-yo to America from the Philippines. A businessman named Donald Duncan bought the idea and made yo-yos very popular across the country.

Yo-Yo Tricks and Competitions

People can do amazing tricks with yo-yos. Some popular tricks are called Walk the Dog, Rock the Baby, and Around the World. Some tricks are very hard and take lots of practice.

There are yo-yo competitions held around the world. Players show off their best tricks in front of judges. The best yo-yo players can make their yo-yos dance, spin, and fly through the air.

Fun Facts

• The yo-yo is believed to be over 2,500 years old.
• A yo-yo once traveled to space on a NASA space shuttle.
• The largest yo-yo ever made weighed over 4,000 pounds.

Did You Know?

In the Philippines, yo-yos were once used as hunting weapons by tying rocks to a string and throwing them.