Tale 36 - The Best Craze Ever!

 The Sassy Princess and the Prince of Tales are very happy. They just got a job lot of ‘Pop it’ fidget toys which are the current massive craze amongst youngsters!

It got me thinking of other items throughout my lifetime that were massively popular in school (and then usually banned in most cases because of the good age old proverb ‘You could have someone’s eye out with that!)

As a child in Bradford, and a teacher in Halifax, I have been in schools for 6 decades. I have seen many crazes, but these are the ones I can remember the most. The 1990s in particular seemed a popular time for ‘crazes.’

1970s

• Marbles. Every kid had their own collection. Prized ones at my school were ‘Bollies’ which were large ones made out of metal. Banned because some children started throwing them at each other!

• Football cards. Everyone would bring their cards to school for ‘Swapsies.’ As as swaps, games were invented where you could win or lose cards.                                 A) Nearest the wall where you tried to throw your card nearer to the wall than your opponent. Nearest wins the cards! B) Topsies, throw your cards until you can get one to land on top of an opponents card. Winner takes all cards thrown.  C) Knocksies, where you lean a card against the wall. You then in turn attempt to throw a card to knock it over. Winner again takes all!  Banned at my catholic school as the games seen as a form of gambling!

• Clackers. Two hard plastic balls at each end of a piece string that you bashed against other. Banned as some children used them as nunchucks! They also hurt your knuckles like hell if you became over zealous with them! 

1980s 

• Paper Fortune Teller. This may have been older, but I remember it most in the early 80s. A handmade game (mainly made by girls due to high level of skill and patience required) constructed by folding paper. When playing the game you would be given four choices. Your choice would lead to four more choices etc until a final message was revealed. Banned at my school as the messages were also homemade and became tools of verbal abuse! 

• Conkers. The age old game. Banned as conkers became contraband at my school and children were actually selling them and making a lot of money! Soaking your conker in vinegar overnight was the most popular cheat. If you beat someone at conkers, you not only get a win point, but all the win points of the opposing conker. So if your opponents conker had won its previous 39 bouts (thus called a 39er) you could add 39 to your conkers total! (For example, my 57er beats your 39er, I know have a 57er+39er+1 = A 97er!) (Bonkers but that’s conkers!)

• Rubber bands. Initially used like catapults. Saw many twanging across the classroom. Banned when started to be used as weapons! Many a teacher had their store room and equipment boxes raided for these cheap but sought after items.
• 

1990s

• Candy necklaces. The elastic band the ‘beads’ were attached to conveniently served as a firing mechanism like the rubber bands of the 80s. Holding the bead between your teeth, pulling back and then biting it in half would fire the rest of the sharp sweet at an enemy. Banned as used as a weapon!

• Tamagotchis came from Japan. They were basically little electronic pets you had to feed, exercise and clean. The aim as to keep them alive as long as possible. Banned as children more interested in keeping their electronic pet alive in class than doing schoolwork! 

• Yo-yos. Massive comeback in the 90s. New varieties including ones that lit up. Performing tricks on yo-yos became the ultimate street cred! Banned as again used as weapons and many yo-yos broken, causing playground tantrums and upset.

• Pogs. Round  pieces of card with pictures on one side. Pogs were actually swapped like football cards. There were lots different pictures on the pogs as well as the sought after ‘shiny pogs.’ Banned as children became that obsessed they started swapping them in lessons rather than at lunch or break! 

2000s

• Laser Pens. Usually brought back from a holiday abroad. Main use for adults is to highlight something on a wipeboard or screen when doing a speech. Main use for children is to shine in their mates and teachers eyes to cause temporary blindness. Obviously banned! 

• Pokémon cards. Started late 90s but very popular in the new millennium. Became more popular due to games on Nintendo and Game Boy. Banned as caused too many arguments and fights!

2010s 

• Loom Bands. Colourful plastic loops which were made into friendship bracelets. Also used like rubber bands as weapons to ‘flick’ at other students. Banned due to danger and because children had that many up their arms it contravened rage uniform policy! 

• Finger spinners. A toy you can spin on its axis on your finger. Smart arses can do more than one at a time using multiple fingers, or can make the spinner jump from one finger to another. Can help some children concentrate, but were banned as with many children they caused distraction rather than attention. 

2020s so far 

• Pop its. Brightly coloured rubber fidget toys with bubbles you can press like bubble wrap but can be continually reused! They come in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes, and are marketed as a stress-reliever. They rose in popularity due to Tik Tok. Like finger spinners likely to get banned as help with attention for some, but cause distraction for others.

When I talk to the Sassy Princess and the Prince of Tales about the crazes in my day, you can see the disbelief in their faces, and how deprived they thought I was!

Without doubt, crazes have moved from tradition and simplicity to toys based on media trends and now even social influencers.

I still  think I was lucky being a child of the 70s!

What was the best craze you remember ? 

Have I missed a craze? 

Let me know!