I had never heard about the Rainbow Loom until about a week ago. Then, out of the blue, I found myself deep in conversation about this latest fad with three separate mums in one day. “Oh, the loom bands?! My yes! My kid loves them!!” says the first. “They’re great for fine motor skills!!” says the next. “You should totally get one!!” says the last “Once you’ve Rainbow Loomed, there’s no going back!!”

What they don’t say is this: like a rainbow-coloured cancer, it creeps up on you. You find a small fluoro rubber band on the bedroom floor. You bend down, pick it up, consider putting it away but then realise it’s worth 0.009 cents, and throw it away. You walk to the toilet this time you find two of these bands, both floating in the bowl. After weeing on them, you try flushing them (unsuccessfully) and then end up having to fish the bastards out by hand. As you enter the bathroom, you find half a dozen splashed over the bench top, and when you dry your hands, half a dozen more jump out of the towel.

Are you stressed yet? Well, don’t be THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. You will discover approximately 10,456 more of these little bastards by the time you’ve boiled the kettle for your morning coffee, and frankly, you might as well slip some Frangelico into that coffee because nothing else will ease the pain.

WHAT IS THE RAINBOW LOOM, ANYWAY (AND IS IT REALLY THAT BAD?!)?

The Rainbow Loom was invented by a US dad who saw his daughters making jewellery out of rubber bands. The fad kicked off in the US mid-late 2013 the first rights to sell the official Rainbow Loom in Australia were secured last December, so the fad is relatively new to us. (In other words, if you’re only just getting the memo on this, you’re not that far behind.)

The loom is a plastic board with a series of pegs and comes with a pick (like a crochet hook) and little rubber bands in various colours. You loop the rubber bands over the pegs and then weave them together using the pick and instructions provided. The possibilities are endless you can buy rubber bands of different colours, beads, charms, watch faces (so you can weave the straps), and with it you can make simple loom bands, more intricate loom bands, woven figurines and even larger items like handbags!

The basic starter kit comes with the loom, pick, S clips and a pack of 600 rubber bands in assorted colours this retails for just under $20 and the refill packs (of 600 bands) cost $4.99.

Cheaper versions can be bought easily online or in cheap stores. However, these bands may be of poorer quality (and more likely to snap) and may not have been safety tested (unlike the official product).

WHY LOVE THE RAINBOW LOOM?

It encourages fine motor skill development.
It inspires creativity.
It is a cheap, low-tech hobby that takes up very little space.
Finished loom bands make easy gifts, as do refill packs for addicts.
Loom bands are a great fundraiser for your next stall at a fete.
The idea of using these as friendship bands helps children socialise.
It is loved by boys and girls alike, from kindy kids through to teens.
It keeps kids entertained.
There are heaps of free loom band tutorials on YouTube.
When your child makes their first band and gives it to you, your heart bursts with pride.

WHY LOATHE THE LOOM?

You have to pick 600% more crap up off the floor.
You have to referee punch ups over ‘the last’ green band (of 5000).
The kid who comes home crying because they have no friends giving them loom bands might be yours.
If you have babies or pre-schoolers in the house, you spend your every waking moment paranoid that someone will choke on an abandoned band or C-clip.
Loom bands are lumps of plastic which look great now, but not so cool in landfill.
When the bands fall apart, it is expected that you can and will use your super powers to fix them.
You have to wear the bands your kids give you.

As much as I hate finding the bands every-freaking-where (as above), this is one fad which is actually pretty addictive. In fact, I might even go so far as to say I’m hooked.

P.S. A Rainbow Loom kept my kids busy while I wrote this.

Have your kids got the Rainbow Loom bug? Is this a fad you love or loathe?