Did you know that children have been playing with toys for thousands of years? It's true! An early version of draughts was discovered in what was once Babylonia. It was over six thousand years old! A thousand years later a game that resembles modern backgammon was played by the ancient Sumerians.
Yes, most of the ancient toys were really games. It wasn't until about 1000 BC that items that were specifically designed for children came on the scene. The kite from China and the stone yo-yo from Greece are probably the first devices that were made to entertain kids. They were the very first toys.
Today, the toy market in the UK is worth an estimated 3 billion pounds per annum. There is even an annual award for the year's top toy, perhaps this games site will have more of an answer. An organization called the Toy Retailers Association represents sellers throughout the UK.
Each year they host the prestigious Toy Awards Dinner where the Toy of the Year Award is presented. The dinner takes place during the British Toy Fair where toymakers and sellers meet to get a look at the latest toys.
Held in London in late January, the Toy Fair is a trade show, which means that it is not open to the public. Only registered retailers and toy manufacturers along with a few members of the press may attend.