The Baby Website
Written: Wednesday, December 15, 2010Lego was yesterday (tues) voted the greatest toy ever - in a poll of parents.
The colourful building bricks, invented in 1949 by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, were hailed as versatile, great value for money and fun for adults as well as kids.
Incredibly, Lego - which now sells seven sets every second - almost never made it onto the shelves of the world's top stores because initially the bricks failed to fit together.
Scalextric was voted into second place. The slot cars first appeared in 1952 when British firm Minimodels invented metal bodied model racing cars under the trademark 'SCALEX'.
Small electric motors were added to the cars in the mid-fifties and the Scalextric brand was born.
Monopoly came third, despite it being dubbed as 'monotony' due to its reputation for being never ending.
Nigel Crawford, spokesman for TheBabyWebsite, which conducted the study of 3,000 parents, said: ''We were keen to explore which toys parents truly love, and the results are interesting because these are the people who've had the chance to remember loved toys from childhood as well as experiencing newer toys with their own children.
''And the results clearly show that the older toys are the best. The majority of those listed in the top 20 have longevity and have been on the toy market for years.
''Lego was always going to be a massive contender for the top spot, as in reality it would be hard to think of any toy which consistently sells as well and appeals to people of all ages and tastes.''
The first issue of Lego, named the 'Lego System of Play', was launched in 1955 but failed to make an impact as the hollow blocks didn't stick together.
But the re-launch a couple of years later, with a new patented studs-and-tubes, solved the problem and the brand has never looked back.
Scalextric is still enjoyed by millions of kids - and parents - around the country.
Fourth place went to the Nintendo Wii. The most modern 'toy' in the top 20 list has sold more than 50 million consoles since its UK launch in 2006.
In fifth place was the bicycle.
There are six games included in the top 20 list, as well as Monopoly, Twister, Scrabble, Snakes and Ladders, Connect Four and Cluedo are all considered worthy of the best toy title.
Characters and figures play a big part of childhood, as many kids like imaginative play - and parents have voted Barbie and Action man as the seventh and eighth best toys.
Art and crafts games to appear in the top 20 include Etch-A-Sketch, Crayola Crayons and Plasticine.
And other toys parents rate include Rubik's Cube and Jigsaw puzzles, and Yo-Yo's.
Nigel Crawford added: ''Toys are played with during our most formative years and therefore have a lasting effect on us.
''Many of the toys our children play with today will inevitably become their most memorable when they are parents.''
TOP 20 TOYS OF ALL TIME
1. Lego
2. Scalextric
3. Monopoly
4. Nintendo Wii
5. Bicycle
6. Play Doh
7. Barbie
8. Action Man
9. Etch-A-Sketch
10. Crayola Crayons
11. Rubik's Cube
12. Space Hoppers
13. Twister
14. Scrabble
15. Jigsaw puzzle
16. Snakes and Ladders
17. Connect Four
18. Plasticine
19. Yo-Yo
20. Cluedo
