Schools ban Woolworths’ Disney Ooshies collectables after toys cause conflict among students

Several New Zealand schools have banned Disney Ooshies collectables, a promotional item offered by Woolworths, due to the toys causing distractions and conflicts among students.

According to notices sent to parents, schools such as Wānaka Primary School, Māngere Central School, and Colwill School have prohibited students from bringing Ooshies to school. The schools cited the toys as a significant distraction during class time and break times, leading to disagreements and lost items.

Wānaka Primary School stated that while students enjoy collecting and trading Ooshies, they have caused distractions in the classroom and pending disagreements during break times. The school will collect any Ooshies brought to school and hold them safely until the end of the day for a parent or caregiver to collect.

Similar notices have been issued by other schools, including Snells Beach School, Cambridge East School, and St Peter’s Catholic School. St Peter’s Catholic School has announced a specific trading event for Ooshies, to be held at a designated time and date.

Schools in Australia, such as Somerset College and Bellevue Park State School in Queensland, have also banned Ooshies for the same reasons.

This is not the first time New Zealand schools have banned items due to similar reasons. In 2023, multiple schools banned Crocs, Jibbitz, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

The Woolworths Ooshies promotion, which offers a collectable toy from a set of 40 Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters for every $30 spent, is set to run until August 23. Woolworths has announced an additional swap day on August 22, following the success of a previous swap day, to provide a dedicated space for collectors to trade and complete their sets.

Article and image source: newstalkzb.co.nz