Six of the best playground crazes (From Stourbridge News)

Six of the best playground crazes

7:00am Saturday 8th September 2012 in NewsXtra

Six of the best gadgets and gizmos on a theme. This week: Six of the best playground crazes.

By Peter Jenkinson

The modern day definition of a playground craze is certainly more complicated than perhaps it was a decade or so ago.

Most popular pastimes for the current playground generation seem to have links to a console, PC or other electronic gizmo, but, of course, many of these are strictly off-limits at break time.

So what's hot in the world of playthings today? Gathering groups are having fun with physical toys that can be traded and swapped among friends at playtime.

Check out this selection of toys for the term ahead.

Comical Creatures - Two Moshling Foil Pack Series 4 - £2 per bag at www.thetoyshop.com

Unless you've been on an extended holiday in Outer Mongolia, you'll be well aware of the outrageous success of Moshi Monsters. Now in their fourth series, this piece of merchandise contains a couple of collectible Moshlings, a character card and a secret code for grabbing in-game Rox - if you're a true fan, you'll know how important that is for your pet monsters.

Football Crazy - Character Building Sport Stars - £1.99 from www.character-online.co.uk

This could well be the 21st century update to football stickers. With this fine collection of top players from the best teams in the Premier League, kids can swap and trade with mates to create their ultimate team and set up a playground fantasy league. To extend play away from school, there are playing surfaces and even a Wembley stadium to build - that should make a decent start to the Christmas list.

Click And Collect - Playmobil Fi?ures Series 3 - £1.99 from www.amazon.co.uk

This new range of fabulous figures from Playmobil introduces plenty of grin-inducing characters for both boys and girls. Collect and click together the characters as per the standard in-pack procedure, but then youngsters can trade body parts, haircuts and costumes with friends to make their own exclusive, quite amusing and rather odd-looking Playmobil character.

Load Of Rubbish - The Trash Pack Series 2: Trashies Twin Pack - £1.79 from www.jacinabox.co.uk

These icky, ugly and rubbish-related collectibles are set to take over once more with the release of series two. This gross gang includes characters such as Disinfect-ant and Bin Scab Beetle and there are additional playsets to make storing your collection a doddle. Dustbin trucks and trash cans are just some of the bigger bits you can buy if you're a real fan.

Clever Clogs - Bananagrams - £11.48 from www.amazon.co.uk

You'll perhaps think this is one craze that'll never take off, but it is heavily endorsed by parents and lots of kids we've seen playing it have become utterly addicted. It's a fast-paced word-making game, and with no need for a board, pencil or paper, it's easy to transport. This has the potential to become a real hit with the kids this coming term.

Card Games - London 2012 Olympic Legends Top Trumps - £4 from www.johnlewis.com

With Olympic fever set to stay for the rest of 2012, these cards which feature a host of Olympic legends will be popular in the playground as a newly inspired generation discuss their sporting summer. There are, of course, lots of different subjects in the classic Top Trumps range which educate, inform and, above all, entertain. Plus, they manage to do it in a quick 15-minute break - brilliant.

App of the week: iTunes Festival - free from iTunes

If you've avoided outdoor music events this year for weather-related reasons, then it's time to kick back with this app and enjoy 30 days of music on your iOS device for free.