Clackers facts for kids
Clackers were very popular toys in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were also known by other names like Clankers or Ker-Bangers. These toys made a loud "clacking" sound. This happened when two hard balls, attached to strings, swung up and down and hit each other with a lot of force. Clackers look a bit like bolas, which are tools used in Argentina.
The toy has two solid balls, each about 5 centimeters (2 inches) across. They are connected to a finger tab with a strong string. You hold the tab with the balls hanging below. By moving your hand up and down, you make the two balls swing apart and then crash back together. This creates the loud "clacking" noise that gives the toy its name. With practice, you can even make the balls hit each other both above and below your hand.
Safety Concerns
Clackers were taken off the market in the United States and Canada. This happened after reports of children getting hurt while playing with them. The balls were quite heavy and moved very fast. They were made of a hard plastic. Sometimes, the balls would break when they hit each other. This was not as common as with the older glass versions from the 1960s, but it was still a risk. In the United States, Clackers were officially called a "mechanical hazard."
Coming Back!
Clackers became popular again starting in the 1990s. Newer versions used modern plastics that did not break easily. Some new designs had two free-swinging triangles attached to a handle, with weighted balls at the ends. Today, you can often find them in bright neon colors. They are sold as noisemaker toys or fun party favors.
In 2017, the original style of the toy was brought back in Egypt. It became very popular among school children there.
Clackers in Pop Culture
Clackers have also appeared in movies and TV shows.
On Television
They were shown in TV shows created by Dan Schneider. For example, in a 2007 episode of Drake & Josh called "Megan's First Kiss." They also appeared in a 2008 Zoey 101 episode, "Rumor of Love." This episode said the toys were "the hottest in the 1993 Netherlands" and made people more interested in them. Clackers were also an important part of the "Love and Sausages" episode of The Kids in the Hall TV series in 1993.
In the anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Clackers were used as weapons by Joseph Joestar. This happened in the "Battle Tendency" story arc. However, this was a bit of an anachronism (something that doesn't fit the time period). "Battle Tendency" takes place in 1938, long before Clackers became popular.
In Movies
Clackers were shown in the 1972 movie Beware! The Blob.
See also
In Spanish: Tiki-taka para niños
