Best Holiday Sleeper Gift: Slinky

You know we GeekDads love to spoil our kids with the best in geek gadgetry come the holidays. 
Sometimes it is but the simplest of gifts that really get the kids’ brain meats fired up.
On a lark the Mrs. and I decided to throw a Slinky in as a stocking stuffer.  I mean who wouldn’t like a Slinky? We were not prepared for what came Christmas day.

The boy thought his new Slinky was the coolest thing he’d ever seen.  Presents were left unopened so they could be built into a "training room" for his metallic friend. I know I’m not the only one who has made jokes about getting my offspring nothing but cardboard boxes (and it’s other National Toy Hall of Fame inductee the stick), but I’m starting to think there is really something to that.  Of all the gifts he got this year, the humble Slinky was number 1! 

In it’s honor, I offer up these fun Slinky facts from the official website:

• The Slinky was invented by fellow Philadelphian Richard James 1943.
• 400 Slinkys sold out in 90 minutes at their debut in Gimbel’s Department Store in 1945.
• The Slinky has been used as an antenna by soldiers in Vietnam.
• The Slinky has been named the Official State Toy of Pennsylvania as of November 4, 2001.
• Slinky comes from a Swedish word meaning stealthy, sleek and sinuous.

Anyone else have any surprise hits this year?

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