got my first one early 1960's. promptly pulled it apart to see how it worked. folks werent happy about that.
built one for a science project in elementary school to teach light, colors, mirrors, and reflection. even how rods and cones work in our eyes.
Of course, it was a primitive understanding to be sure, but I also learned what seemed to be "magic".
Light can go around the world 8 times in one second, it can travel 6
trillion miles in a year (my Dad used an adding machine paper roll to help me make a prop to write that number on - 6,000,000,000,000 - and stretch out in front of the class).
Been into that science stuff ever since. I had that thing until end of junior high school.
My kids (mid 30's now) still have theirs (age has dimmed the light openings so vivid colors are gone), and my grandson just turned 4 got his last month (his just turned 1 little sister only knows about 10 words, and "killy cup" (kaleidoscope) is one.