There’s something unavoidably nostalgic about looking back on our school days – from the old classrooms filled with chalkboard scrawls to the sound of classmates chattering across the hallway. The memories may fade, but some student trends and fads remain forever etched in our minds, like a permanent marker on our favorite school binder. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most iconic student trends and fads that defined our school years.
1. Tamagotchis
Before smartphones filled our pockets, these digital pets were a staple for students in the 90s. Feeding them, playing with them, and cleaning up after them was serious business during every recess break.
2. Crazy Bandz
These colorful rubber bands shaped like animals, objects, and letters might not have served much purpose (other than creating stellar arm candy), but there’s no denying their popularity among kids in the late 2000s.
3. YOLO
The acronym for “You Only Live Once” became wildly popular among youngsters in the early 2010s, often encouraging slightly risky or adventurous behavior they could look back on with pride (“I climbed the school roof because YOLO!”).
4. Slap Bracelets
Equal parts fun and dangerous, these wristbands would wrap themselves around your arm with one satisfying snap – especially when they were banned in schools for causing minor injuries!
5. Pokémon Cards
Since the late 90s, Pokémon cards have been a crucial part of many students’ lunch breaks. This enduring franchise sparked endless trades, battles, and playground debates over which creature was truly the strongest.
6. Bottle Flipping
‘y spinning a plastic bottle in midair and attempting to land it upright might sound simple enough, but back in 2016 it was all the rage among young folks competing to see who could pull off the most impressive flips.
7. Silly Putty
This iconic gooey substance was the ultimate fidget toy before “fidget spinners” even crossed our minds, offering endless entertainment as we bounced, stretched, and molded it into various shapes during class.
8. Heelys
Few things felt more thrilling back in the 00s than gliding across school hallways with shoes that had hidden wheels, defying every rule in the process.
9. Pogs
These classic cardboard discs from the 90s had many students engrossed in tournaments, fervently hoping their collection would reign supreme and separate them from their classmates.
10. Fidget Spinners
Whether you found them calming or annoying, these toys filled with spinning bearings became wildly popular among students in 2017, often claiming to help improve focus for those with ADHD or anxiety.
So how many of these student trends and fads do you remember? Whether we look back on them fondly or roll our eyes at their triviality, it’s incredible to see how each generation has left its mark on school culture.
