20 Childhood Fads That Disappeared Overnight
Some childhood fads burned bright, took over recess, and then vanished faster than anyone could explain.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
Kids latch onto trends with an intensity that makes them feel like they’ll last forever—until they don’t. From rubber bracelets that everyone had to have to toys that seemed life-changing for about a week, these fads were everywhere one day and completely irrelevant the next. Looking back, it’s hard to understand why they were ever so important, but at the time, nothing else mattered.
1. Pogs
Nizzan Cohen on Wikimedia Commons
These little cardboard discs turned playgrounds into battle arenas. Everyone carried a stack, ready to slam and collect, but the excitement faded as quickly as it started. One day, schools banned them, and the next, nobody cared. Now, they sit in shoeboxes, waiting for a comeback that will never happen.
2. Slap Bracelets
Anntinomy on Wikimedia Commons
A simple metal strip wrapped in fabric, yet they were everything. You’d slap them onto your wrist, sometimes too hard, and trade them like currency. Then, parents freaked out over “dangerous” versions with sharp edges. Schools banned them, and suddenly, no one wanted them anymore.
3. Silly Bandz
Scot Scoop on Wikimedia Commons
These colorful rubber bands were worth more than gold on the playground at their peak. Shaped like animals, objects, and even superheroes, kids stacked them up their arms. Then, like all things stretchy and pointless, the hype snapped. One day, everyone had them; the next, they were just rubber bands again.
4. Heelys
Celardore on Wikimedia Commons
Shoes with built-in wheels were the coolest. Every kid either had them or desperately wanted them. Then, as schools and malls banned them (probably to avoid broken bones), the trend lost steam. Walking normally just seemed easier.
5. Tamagotchis
xmacex on Wikimedia Commons
For a brief moment, every kid was responsible for a tiny, pixelated pet. Feeding it, cleaning up after it, and ensuring it didn’t die felt like a full-time job. Then, one day, the batteries died, and nobody bothered to replace them. RIP to thousands of neglected digital pets.
6. Yo-Yos (The “Trick” Era)
ANBARASU THIRAVIYAM on Wikimedia Commons
Yo-yos have been around forever, but in the late ’90s and early 2000s, trick yo-yos took over. Every kid tried to “walk the dog” or pull off an “Around the World” move. Then, after enough tangled strings and bruised knuckles, kids just moved on. Now, they live in the bottom of random junk drawers.
7. Rainbow Loom Bracelets
Franklin Park Library on Wikimedia Commons
These colorful, rubber band-woven bracelets turned kids into mini jewelry designers. It started with simple weaves and then escalated to full-blown masterpieces. Then, just as fast as it started, everyone stopped making them. Loom kits are now collecting dust in closets everywhere.
8. Fidget Spinners
Habib M’henni on Wikimedia Commons
At first, they were “focus tools,” but they soon became the biggest distraction in every classroom. Kids spun them, stacked them, and battled to see who had the coolest one. The craze was so intense that stores couldn’t keep them in stock—until suddenly, no one cared. Now, they just remind people of 2017.
9. Giga Pets
Zeitblick on Wikimedia Commons
These were like Tamagotchis but somehow more stressful. Kids begged for them, but interest faded fast once they realized how needy they were. There was no time to keep a virtual one alive between school, homework, and actual pets. After a few weeks, they were just beeping plastic blobs.
10. Pokemon Cards (The First Wave Craze)
Jarek Tuszyński on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, Pokémon cards are still a thing, but the first wave in the late ’90s was a whole different beast. Kids traded, battled, and lost friendships over holographic Charizards. Then, the fad fizzled, and binders full of cards got stuffed into closets. Years later, some realized those same cards were worth actual money.
11. Beyblades
Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt on Wikimedia Commons
“Let it rip!” was the battle cry of kids everywhere. These spinning tops fought to the death in plastic arenas, and every match felt intense. Then, as newer toys took over, Beyblades spun into irrelevance. Some kids still have them, hoping for a rematch that’ll never come.
12. Scoobies (Plastic String Bracelets)
AngryJulieMonday on Wikimedia Commons
Every kid in the early 2000s spent hours weaving colorful plastic strings into keychains and bracelets. The more complex the pattern, the cooler you were. However, like every playground crafting obsession, interest vanished overnight. Now, they’re just a nostalgic mystery in old drawers.
13. Crazy Bones
AleksRok on Wikimedia Commons
These tiny, weirdly shaped figurines were a mix of marbles and collectible toys. Kids flicked them at each other, aiming for victory. Then, faster than they arrived, they disappeared. Now, they’re just another relic of the late ’90s toy boom.
14. Wristwatch Candy
Joe Haupt on Wikimedia Commons
It was a fashion statement and a snack—until you realized it tasted terrible. Kids proudly wore them, taking nibbles throughout the day. However, once the trend faded, the idea of sticky, half-eaten candy on your wrist just seemed gross. They vanished, and no one missed them.
15. Eraser Collecting
Vis M on Wikimedia Commons
At some point, kids stopped using erasers for erasing and started collecting them like trophies. Tiny food-shaped erasers, animal erasers, and puzzle erasers filled pencil cases. Then, as quickly as the obsession started, it ended. The unused erasers sat untouched, still looking brand new.
16. Blackberry Phones (For Kids Who Weren’t Business Executives)
Wojciech30 on Wikimedia Commons
For some reason, kids needed a Blackberry even though they had no business meetings to attend. They clacked away on BBM, feeling superior to flip phone users. Then, iPhones took over, and Blackberries became extinct. Kids have moved on, but some still miss those tiny keyboards.
17. The Cinnamon Challenge (And Other Internet Dares)
formulatehealth on Wikimedia Commons
Kids have always done dumb things for attention, but this one made no sense. Trying to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon just led to coughing, choking, and regret. It was everywhere online—until kids realized suffering wasn’t fun. The internet moved on, and so did everyone else.
18. Glow-in-the-Dark Stars on Ceilings
ESO/VPHAS+ survey on Wikimedia Commons
At some point, every kid’s bedroom had these plastic stars stuck to the ceiling. They made bedtime slightly cooler, but they just collected dust after a while. Eventually, kids grew up, and peeling them off became a hassle. Now, they’re mostly forgotten—except those still stubbornly stuck.
19. Banana Phones (Yes, The Actual Toy Ones)
Jenavieve on Wikimedia Commons
For reasons unknown, kids were obsessed with toy phones shaped like bananas. They didn’t actually work, but pretending to take calls on a fruit-shaped device was peak comedy. Then, like all joke fads, it stopped being funny overnight. Now, the only people talking about banana phones are nostalgic millennials.
20. Gel Pens (Especially the Scented Ones)
BD2412 on Wikimedia Commons
Writing in neon, metallic, and even glitter ink was a status symbol for a while. The best part? The ones that smelled like fruit, which kids sniffed way too much. Then, teachers banned them, the ink dried up, and kids returned to boring blue pens. The era of sparkly, grape-scented notes ended just like that.