Lately, whenever I walk around the house, I see one. Maybe there’s a pink princess on the family room floor, a red pizza slice on the kitchen table, or a brown baseball bat on the sink in the bathroom. Finding them in the bathroom really drives me crazy! If you have a child over the age of five, you know what I’m talking about. They’re Silly Bandz! Chances are you have lots of these colorful rubber bracelets sprinkled throughout your house, just as I do. These slinky rubber bands which are worn around the wrist are shaped like animals, musical instruments, princesses, sea creatures, flowers and many other things. They are the latest kids’ craze and are the main topic of conversation in schools across the country. In fact, some schools have even banned the bracelets because teachers and administrators find them to be too distracting.
The bracelets, which are made of colorful silicone molded in different shapes, return to the original shape when taken off the arm. Usually, kids keep them in plastic baggies they can securely close so none of their precious commodities will get lost. Half the fun is collecting the bracelets and the other half is trading them with friends, which helps keep the trend fresh and exciting. These transactions can take place on the school bus, on the soccer field, at the lunchroom table, or anywhere else. Here’s how it works: One kid will take a band off her wrist, hold it up, and ask what bands other kids will trade for it. Then the transaction occurs. According to one of my six-year-old daughters, once the trade is made, the deal is sealed.
“The person really has to make up their mind before they trade Silly Bandz, because when you trade it, you trade it and that’s it,” says Chloe. “You’re never going to get that Silly Band back again.”
The fad, which hit stores about a year-and-a-half ago, is the brainchild of Toledo, Ohio businessman Robert Croak. Many different suppliers sell virtually identical bands, all with different brand names, but most kids call them all “Silly Bandz.” BCP Imports has a trademark on that name. A spokesperson for the company says the number of employees at the main office shot from about 20 a year ago to almost 70 today. At around $5 for a 24-pack, they’re a relatively cheap collectible. This factor definitely contributes to their staying power and popularity. Plus, they are sold pretty much everywhere moms and kids frequent on a regular basis like supermarkets or other local stores. Pretty convenient, huh?
Penny Chandler, a Brick mother of four, fully understands the Silly Bandz craze. Her girls actually look forward to going to the doctor because they know they can get Silly Bandz after the appointment.
“My four daughters, ages 5, 5, 3, and 2 receive Silly Bandz at our chiropractor’s office which we visit on a regular basis,” says Chandler. “The girls really look forward to it! They can exchange one if they have doubles, or just simply add to their collection! They are crazy about displaying them at the dinner table and with friends wherever we go. My youngest daughter fell a few weeks ago, and it was then that I realized just how powerful these silly bands really are! As she sat hysterically crying in my lap, a seven-year-old young man handed her a corn dog band which made her so happy. It was like he gave her a million dollars! It really helped dry up all of those tears!”
Wow! Now they are a healing mechanism! Being able to console a kid during a crying episode is quite significant. So, just what does this fad have that drives kids over the edge and can wipe away the tears, too? My other six-year-old daughter, Chelsea, finds it exciting and fascinating to see which bands she’ll come across every day on the school bus.
“I like Silly Bandz because you can trade them and you can get different ones,” says Chelsea who particularly likes the glow-in-the-dark bands. “It’s cool to trade them, but it’s a little hard, too. Some people aren’t good traders. You have to be careful. The people who have the most Silly Bandz usually have the best ones. That’s who I like to trade with.”
True twins who even think alike, Chloe wholeheartedly agrees with her sister and fellow Silly Bandz buddy.
“I like Silly Bandz because they are so cool,” says Chloe who likes the princess Silly Bandz the best. “I like to trade with the kids who have the best ones because they might have the one that you really want. Then, once you get it, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. I’m just so happy that I can trade Silly Bandz.”
As if the excitement wasn’t enough, now kids can trade the Silly Necklace which debuted in June. At the moment, they are only available online at sillybandz.com. It will be interesting to see if the Silly Necklace will enjoy as much popularity as the bracelets in the upcoming months. There’s one thing I know for sure: the Silly Bandz bracelets are here to stay for a long time in my household. My daughters are so obsessed with looking for new packs in the stores and then trading with their friends, that I can’t even imagine them losing interest in this new hobby anytime soon. Just when I thought we had enough Silly Bandz to last us a lifetime, I’m hit with another desperate request: “Mom, can we get the New York Yankees Silly Bandz? Please? I don’t have them and they are my favorite baseball team! Pretty please with a cherry on top!” How can I resist? Guess where I’ll be tomorrow morning?
