Even boys are into weaving Rainbow Loom bracelets

Gender-neutral craft: Garrett Fill, left, 10, and Conor Flanagan, right, 11, during a Rainbow Loom class at Learning Express Toys. (Andrew A. Nelles/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

TONI Notarangeli thought she’d misheard when her eight-year-old son Angelo begged her for a toy he just had to have: a plastic loom that helps kids weave colourful rubber band bracelets.

Angelo likes to skateboard and play basketball. He’d never shown much interest in crafts. But when it came to the Rainbow Loom, he was insistent.