Boomerang

When it comes to toys that are enduring, few of them can boast the longevity of the boomerang or the Frisbee. Favorite pastimes of generations of children, both these items continue to be popular today, and for very good reason. Here are some basics of the nature of the boomerang and the Frisbee to ponder.

Boomerangs have been around much longer than Frisbees. Just who came up with the boomerang is not something that has an easy answer. Often found as a hunting tool among indigenous peoples in Australia and South America, the boomerang began to makes its mark as a kid’s toy in the twentieth century. Learning how to throw a boomerang because a national pastime, as well as helping unhappy kids who would yell “my boomerang won’t come back!” Of course, there are several different schools of thought when it comes to how to make a boomerang, as a quick search on the Internet using a search criteria of “make your own boomerang” will attest. Still, the simplicity of the boomerang is the key to its enduring popularity. Being able to toss the boomerang and have it return is something that continues to amuse all of us, adult and child.

The Frisbee does not have the long history of the boomerang, but it does play a big role in understanding the role of play in the lives of mid-twentieth century young people. The history of the Frisbee is rather short-lived and easily accessible for those that are interested. There is plenty of information about the Frisbee inventor and how it came to be nationally marketed to be found online. However, the real power of the Frisbee disc lies in how it became synonymous with youth, beauty, and the beach. During the 1960’s the Frisbee became a staple of beach equipment, with teenagers in particular enjoying the fun of tossing around a Frisbee on the beach. Millions of kids around the country emulated the beach culture and took the Frisbee along on camping trips and into the parks. Dog lovers found their pets had a lot of fun getting into the action as well, so it was not unusual to see city dwellers at the parks, playing Frisbee with their pets. As the information about who invented the Frisbee faded from public consciousness, new ways of keeping Frisbee alive and kicking began to come about. Ultimate Frisbee is the latest incarnation and comes with its own set of Ultimate Frisbee rules. Still, a lot of people just like the good old Frisbee and still haul it out on weekends.

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