The serious side of Silly Bandz, the latest collectible craze

Psychologists say colorful bracelets can build social skills, but some teachers don't want them aroundParents may call them a fad. Teachers may call them a distraction but some child psychology experts say the colorful, collectible rubber bands that have captured the hearts of suburban kids in recent months are tools that can help them build social skills, form friendships and learn other important life lessons. And like stickers and collectible cards before them, the bands can even help inspire children struggling in school by being used as rewards for completing math problems, raising a hand before speaking or accomplishing other challenging tasks. "Those items have been very successful in terms of (motivating) kids, "said Mundelein, Illinois elementary District 75 psychologist Cindy Sementa. But there is that matter of being distracting in class. Some educators have declared the bands contraband or restricted their presence to the playground because they can take students ' attention away from's schoolwork. "If the start outweighing the pros cons ... then you have to start making an adjustment for that, "said Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association. Silly Bandz and their similarly named ilk are the latest craze school yard collectible, occupying the attention of kids in the same way marbles, baseball cards, Pogs and Pokemon cards did for children of other generations. The stretchy bracelets come in countless shapes and colors and are available for purchase in toy stores, greeting-card shops, discount stores and many other locations. Packs or 12 or 24 generally cost less than $ 5. Inspired by a Chinese product, their popularity in the U.S. started in the South and expanded to the Chicago area toward the end of the 2009-10 school year. This summer, kids from across the suburbs were busy swapping the bands at camps, community swimming pools, vacation destinations and other locations. The social aspect of band collecting is valuable for kids, says child psychologist Kenneth H. Kessler, the director of the clinical counseling program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago. Whereas adults can talk and bond about concepts like sports, politics or cars, kids often need physical objects to form social connections-and the colorful bracelets fill that role, Kessler said. "These things provide some structure around which interactions and social behavior can occur," said Kessler, who also serves as Mundelein's mayor Joseph Ferrari, a social psychologist and professor at DePaul University in Chicago, said collecting and trading the bracelets is a great way for children to start building friendships. That can be particularly beneficial for kids who struggle with peer relationships. Parents should help their children nurture those budding, bracelet-inspired relationships by encouraging get-togethers that don't involve the bands, Ferrari said. Those experiences will help form what he called a history of friendships. "I think the insightful parent will see these as a good opportunity ... to teach them (social) skills, "said Ferrari, or Lisle. "Don't just sit back."The bracelets have potential benefits beyond friendship-building, too, psychologists say. "They can teach kids about sharing and taking care of things, and they can teach kids about money, "Kessler said. "They're a commodity."Swapping bands also can help children understand how to trade and barter, Ferrari said. And an important part of that is how to trade without fighting or losing friends. "There are a lot of great social skills kids can learn from these things, "Ferrari said. District 75 's Sementa expects some teachers will use the bracelets to motivate students. In some classes, kids earn points by doing their work or meeting behavioral goals. If they collect enough points, they can get prizes-such as Silly Bandz. "These types of things will always end up in my treasure box for kids to pick from, "Sementa said. Not every grown-up is thrilled about the bracelets, of course. Schools in New York, Florida and other states have gained media attention in recent months for blacklisting the bands. School administrators across Illinois talked quite a bit about the bracelets this summer, the Principals Association's Leahy said. Some principals have restricted their display to recess or free time, while others have banned them completely, Leahy said. And at other schools, kids can wear the bands freely. it's really a judgment call, "Leahy said.It's a constant evaluation of the school climate and culture, "he said. In carpentersville, Illinois-based Dundee Unit District 300, the bracelets are prohibited at Liberty elementary in carpentersville, Illinois and Dundee Highlands elementary in West Dundee. Dundee Highlands Principal Patty Schmidt broke the news to parents in a recent letter."We have large class sizes this school year, and anything that distracts from a positive learning environment must be addressed, "Schmidt wrote. Some Arlington Heights School District 25 students have been told not to wear the bands in class, too."It's a classroom-by-classroom decision, "said Ivy Hill elementary School Principal Kristy Csensich. But even if some Ivy Hill kids can't wear the bands in class, displaying them during recess is OK, Csensich said. Trading is frowned upon, however, because elementary-age kids aren't necessarily mature enough to understand the consequences of such deals, she said. One place the bracelets definitely don't belong is the sports field, said Steve Endsley, executive director of the Illinois Elementary School athletic Association, a statewide organization. Just like traditional metal jewelry, they aren't allowed to be worn during sporting events because of safety concerns. "If you weren't born with it, then you don't wear it during athletic competitions, "said Endsley. But even the Endsley household isn't immune to the charm of Silly Bandz. His 9-year-old son recently came home with a wrist full of the bracelets. "They are the rage, "Endsley said.