When I was a kid there were definitely a lot of fads. Where now kids mainly ask for big mainstream tech at Christmas I usually asked for flash in the pan crazes like a Soda Stream, Tamagotchi or Pogs. My parents luckily had more foresight and bought me things with longevity and purpose that I wouldn't be bored of in 5 minutes like roller blades and beautiful wooden dolls houses.
I remember seeing a Crystal Growing Kit for sale at the Science Museum as a child and being fascinated. For about 2 minutes. Until, tatt magpie that I was, my attention was detracted by a glow in the dark skeleton.
So when I saw this little kit my inner child whooped. Then wandered off while I paid for it.
I'll track the crystal's growth here: