This toy is based on the priciples of fluid flow. As air is forced through the air holes (the long, radial holes) by swinging the toy through the air, the inner disk spins. The sound holes are also based on fluid flow. They are small, specifically shaped holes such that when air is rapidly moving over their surface, they will produce a whistling noise. Based on the nature of sound waves, the holes will naturally produce lower or higher pitched whistling depending on how fast the inner disk is spinning.
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The child grips the handle and swings the toy through the air. This forces air through the air holes. Thus, the inner disk spins and produces a whistling noise. Due to the somewhat funnel-like shape of the toy, the child could swing the toy back and forth through the air and more air would be forced through the disk one way than another, such that the inner disk would continue to spin. Alternately, the child may swing their arm in a circle such that air only hits the disk going one direction. This would likely lead to the highest attainable rotational speed of the disk. The child will hear the changes in pitch and will have fun trying to swing the whirlygig as fast as they can to produce the highest pitched noise.
The whirlygig also has an alternate form of use. The funnel tapers down to a threaded hose attachment. When a hose is attached, the water, being a fluid, acts in a manner very similar to the air, but in reverse. No sound will be produced, but the water will forced the disk to spin and the water will then spiral out in a somewhat sprinkler-like fashion. This will be fun for children, they can play in the water, spray things, spray each other, ect. Ages 4-7 will almost certainly have fun with it. All ages outside that range still have a decent probabily of enjoying the whirlygig.
Overall, the toy should be very easy to make considering it has only one moving part, which is simply a disk incased in a groove. All pieces are plastic. The pieces must be of fairly exact construction such that the hose attachment threading and the sound holes work as desired. Still, it should be very cheap and easy to produce. I would say it could end up being as cheap as $5.
The whirlygig is extreamly safe. The only way I can conceive of a child getting injured by it is if somebody throws it at him/her, which can happen with anything. It is also extreamly durable. There is essencially nothing that can "go wrong" with it. For the whirlygig to be broken, it needs to truly be physically broken.
Other toys: Spring Ball, Jump Roller.