Who knows why kids like these stretchy bracelets? Who knows why kids like anything? Maybe it's because they're loudly colored. Maybe it's because when they are not worn around the wrist, they can take the form of animals or dinosaurs. Or maybe it's because school is boring and anything anything is better than algebra. For that reason, schools in several states (including Texas, Florida and New York) have banned Silly Bandz from classroom, calling them distractions. Some schools have cited safety reasons for their bans the silicone bracelets can be shot like rubber bands of yore, and kids who wear too many around their wrists at once risk cutting off their circulation. Which is just silly.
From Tickle Me Elmo to Squinkies: Top 10 Toy Crazes
Squinkies the tiny, squeezable rubber toys that come enclosed in plastic bubbles are just the latest fad to take over the minds of children. From Tickle Me Elmo to Tamagotchis, TIME looks back at other toy trends from years past