Fun Facts About Christmas 2010's Hottest Toys

If toys are fun, wouldn't it be just as exciting to find out how they came to be? Here's a list of this year's hottest, and some wacky trivia on how they became popular today.

LEGO Ultimate Building Set

Did you know? It took 26 years before Lego, the hottest selling toy this year, has been officially patented and launched. It all started from a Danish carpenter's wooden toys (see Austin's Rootin Ridge Toymakers review) that resembled interlocking bricks. Eventually, the manufacturer had shifted to durable plastic. The first modern Lego bricks were sold in January 28, 1958. Amazingly, those decades-old bricks can still interlock with the Lego bricks of today!

Kinect Xbox 360

How did this awesome Xbox 360 peripheral come to be? The Kinect was originally named Project Natal, after a Brazilian city. Through the use of infrared structured light, the Kinect is able to sense 3D movements as well as recognize voice, a far more superior technology than what Nintendo's Wii was able to do. What's even more amazing is as soon as the Kinect has been launched in the States (far later in Europe, Australia, and Asia), as of now Microsoft has sold more than 2 million Kinect sensors. Don't be surprised if you can't find any in your local electronics store. You can buy Kinect for the Xbox 360 as a Christmas toy gift with the help of this article guide.

Leapfrog Leapster

The most popular educational toy for grade school children, I consider Leapfrog a kiddie version of the Nintendo DS. Did you know that it was developed by a Californian dad whose son was struggling to read? Like many products that succeeded in the market today, it took determination and faith in order for Leapfrog to finally "leap" its way into the worldwide marketplace. As a new company, Leapfrog is continually evolving and developing new products for children to enjoy while learning.

Airzone Trampoline and Enclosure Combo

The chilly air of Christmas may not be the perfect environment for outdoor toys or games such as trampolines, but believe it or not, it is still one of the most popular children's toy gifts this year. Trampolines have thought to have been originated by an artist called du Trampolin, or from Spain whose "trampolin" means diving board. In reality, the trampoline is invented by two gymnastic enthusiasts from the University of Iowa. The trampoline evolved from being a net that is meant to train gymnasts, to a modern outdoor game that brings entertainment to kids and adults alike.

Fisher-Price My First Dollhouse

Here's something: Fisher-Price toys dated back in the 1930's, and like Lego, they were originally made from wood. The owners of the company, Henry Fisher, Irving Price, and Margaret Price were already well on retirement, but were fond of toys and games for children and infants. Interestingly, it was not a perfect world for Fisher-Price manufacturer, since they have recalled about a million hazardous toys back in 2007. Today, however, Fisher-Price toys are still the most loved gifts for little kids. The brand's My First Dollhouse is on Walmart's top 10 list of best-selling Christmas toys this year.