The latest toy craze to be banned in Melbourne schools

Beyblades are the latest toys to face a crackdown in Melbourne’s schools, with one school saying their students had been “obsessing” over them. The lost, stolen or swapped toys are causing schoolyard troubles and even tears.

Students have been obsessing over Beyblades at Mitcham Primary School. Picture: Supplied

It started as fun but the Beyblade top craze has students in a spin, with some schools telling families to keep them at home.

Schools, grappling with sad children who have either had their Beyblades stolen, lost or ended up on the bad end of a dodgy trade, have cautioned families and students.

A number of schools have banned the spinning, fighting tops, which have been an enduring favourite since the early noughties, as they are causing too much friction.

Mitcham Primary School, which says it has a “fairly relaxed policy” on children bringing in toys, has banned Beyblades after problems in which young students were “obsessing” over them.

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“Beyblades have started to become a concern. Many of the younger children are obsessing over them and this has resulted in an increase in the number of incidents involving them,” school principal Erin Norman said.

The Beyblade craze is causing trouble in some Melbourne schools. Picture: Bill Rosier

“We are also concerned that children’s Beyblades have gone missing due to being mistakenly left lying around and this is causing distress.”

Writing in the school newsletter last month, Ms Norman said this had prompted a decision to ban the tops.

Good Shepherd Lutheran School, in Croydon Hills, has told families that Beyblades will not be welcome from term 2.

“We have permitted Beyblades to be brought along to school for quite a few weeks now, and on the whole, children have played quite well with them,” the school newsletter said.

“Unfortunately, Beyblades play and trading has begun to cause some issues and we believe it is now a good time for these toys to be left at home. All good things come to an end.”

Beyblades have been a popular toy since the early noughties.

Drysdale Primary School banned Beyblades last month after experiencing “a considerable number of issues between children at school”.

St Francis of Assisi Primary School, in Mill Park, said while the children were having a great time with tournaments in the school yards there were some problems.

“Unfortunately, we have had a few issues with children trading Beyblades. I have tried to put a stop to trading in the school and if you could reinforce this message to your children at home that would be beneficial for us all,” principal Mark Basile told families last month.

The Beyblades, which cost around $25 for a starter pack, are played in a shallow plastic tub called a Beystadium which costs up to $30.

In late 2017, St Kilda Primary School banned Beyblades, saying at first they seemed harmless but they had started causing problems.

Principal Sue Higgins told the school that the Beyblades were a toy for home use, rather than at school.

“At first they seemed harmless and the children were enjoying playing with them. Unfortunately the models have changed and some are now made with metal sections and are causing concern in the yard,” she told families.

“We have had a couple of children injured and so have made the decision to not have this particular toy brought to school. Beyblades are now a toy to enjoy at home under the supervision of parents.”

Last year Melton Primary School asked parents to ensure any Beyblades brought to school were named as they were grappling with lost and swapped tops that were ending in tears.

The school said personal property brought to school was done so at the owner’s risk.

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