When I was growing up, if you were fidgeting with something in your hands—for example, while doing classwork at school—the perception was that you weren’t paying attention. I remember being reprimanded as a kid for making 3D pyramids out of post-it notes while listening to a lecture. It’s funny how that mentality has taken a complete 180º. Today, fidgets are widely regarded as effective tools to help reduce anxiety, and help kids to sit still, pay attention, and stay focused.
There is plenty of science to support the use of fidgets. A research study published in Behavior Analysis in Practice showed that students diagnosed with ADHD increased their on-task behavior by 45% when using a fidget. Similarly, behavioral science professor Julie Schweitzer of the University of California – Davis found that children with ADHD who were allowed to fidget during a cognitively demanding task performed at a higher level.
While fidgets can be helpful for anyone—adults and children, alike—they have become essential tools for neurodivergent children, especially those diagnosed with ADHD.
The Benefits of Fidget Toys
Fidget toys work by grounding and distracting the hyperactive body, so the mind can stay focused. The idea is that fidgets are operated outside of conscious awareness, so the mind shouldn’t focus on them at all. If your child is distracted by their fidget, it’s not doing its intended job (though, that doesn’t mean your child isn’t still having fun playing with it).
Fidget toys are often used in a therapeutic setting, because they provide just enough stimulation to keep children feeling relaxed, without distracting them from the therapeutic experience.
Some other benefits of using fidget toys include:
Improves academic performance: In a 2006 study, students who used stress balls showed improvements in attitude, attention, writing, and peer interaction.
Anxiety relief: Fidget toys provide an outlet for anxious behavior, and can have a powerful calming effect.
Improves focus: For many children—especially those with ADHD—the more they move, the better they focus. Fidgets allow children with hyperactive bodies to keep moving in a subtle, non-disruptive way, so they can stay focused on whatever task is at hand.
Stimulates the brain stem: Keeping the brain stem stimulated is proven to help respiration rates, heart rates, and consciousness. Fidgeting keeps the brain stem nice and alert!
Whether you believe they will work or not, fidget toys are worth trying—they’re no real risk, as long as you are using age-appropriate toys (i.e. no fidgets with small parts for young children, etc.). You might be surprised by how big of an impact a fidget toy can have on your child’s ability to stay seated and focused!
Different Types of Fidgets
While fidget toys are a relatively new advent, the act of fidgeting is as old as time. Picking at cuticles, biting your nails, clicking a pen, doodling, or chewing the end of a pen or pencil are just a few of the ways we used to fidget before “fidgeting” became a thing. Today, there are all kinds of fidget toys, each offering a unique sensory experience. Different people prefer different types of fidgets, and—fortunately for them—there are a seemingly endless array of choices:
Fidget Spinners:
Fidget spinners gained massive popularity in 2017, and are one of the more well-known fidget toys. These three-pronged tools fit in the palm of your hand, and are meant to be spun.
DIY It Stress Balls:
Me and my kids make our own stress balls—we call them “squeezies”—using balloons and flour. Use a funnel to pour some baking flour into a small balloon and tie off the balloon once it’s filled. So simple, and a great arts and crafts activity to do together!
Speks or magnetic balls:
These small magnetic balls can be squished and squeezed like a stress ball, or can be broken apart and used like building blocks—they’re like a fidget and a toy in one, addressing both conscious and sub-conscious movement needs. (Be careful. This is not for little fingers or those who put fidgets in their mouth!)
Putty or Slime
This hand-manipulated fidget has a tactile element. While functioning similarly to a stress ball, these fidgets provide the added element of physical sensation.
Chewable Fidgets:
Not every fidget was designed for your hands! Chewable fidgets are an oral sensory tool, perfect for people who tend to bite their nails, hair, or pencils, etc. Look for ones that are latex-, BPA-, lead-, and PVC-free. Most kids prefer the L shaped ones to get those choppers working! (You can try the pendants, but my kids didn’t like them.)
Weighted Stuffed Animals
These plush fidgets are meant to be draped over the shoulders, or cuddled with on the lap. Weighing between 4-5 lbs., these fidgets support a wide range of sensory needs.
Funny story about my own child, when they was in pre-school, they had a hard time sitting quietly for “circle time.” Their teacher recommended a weighted snake. Even though I was skeptical—‘Won’t they just whip this thing around and accidentally hit other students??’—I ordered one. I wish I could tell you that I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome, but what happened was exactly what I expected. The weighted snake was a short-lived fidget for us, but every individual is unique—there is no danger in trying a few different types of fidgets to figure out what works best for your child.
Let your child try out a few different fidgets to find out which works best for their sensory and movement needs!
Contact Orchid Pediatrics
At Orchid Pediatrics, we keep an open mind about the therapeutic tools and techniques that could help your child along their developmental pathway. If you’d like to discuss your child’s symptoms and needs, please contact us using the brief form below, or by calling (503) 208-4007.
*** Disclaimer
This blog is for entertainment, informational, and general educational purposes only and should not be considered to be healthcare advice or medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
