The Benefits of Fidgets

Have you ever had to sit through a long meeting and felt yourself zoning out?  Or had a big presentation and felt lots of nervous energy in your body?  As adults, we have many different ways to cope with these feelings, like scrolling on our phones, chewing on gum, taking a few deep breaths, or getting up and walking around.  However, children sometimes have fewer coping skills that they can rely on when they are feeling nervous, scared, anxious, or excited.  At school, sometimes students struggle to sit still or focus for long periods of time, and a tool that works for some are “fidgets.”

Fidgets or “fidget toys,” are small, tactile items that help to support self-regulation and focus.

Fidgets or “fidget toys,” are small, tactile items that help to support self-regulation and focus.  Fidgets can be used by adults and kids alike, and are especially helpful for those who are sensory learners, those with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Their ultimate purpose serves to self-regulate our bodies and concentrate.  

There are multiple benefits of fidgets when used appropriately.  They are shown to increase focus, self-control, and productivity by distracting the brain without taking attention away from a task.   Fidgets help by stimulating the brain, keeping students engaged with a lesson or activity.  They also have been shown to reduce anxiety by giving students an outlet for unspent or nervous energy.  Some research has shown that tactile fidgets may help teens with behavioral and emotional problems learn how to calm themselves and control their impulses 

They are shown to increase focus, self-control, and productivity by distracting the brain without taking attention away from a task.

At Detroit Prep, we strive to support students exactly where they are, and to teach them about tools they can use to be successful in all areas of their lives.  Self-regulation is SUCH an important skill that we can begin to build in our students at any time.  In the past, I have provided students who are anxious for a presentation with a stress ball that they could squeeze.  Wobble seats are stools that students can use to move around while still completing their work.  Quiet fidget toys, such as tangles, pop-its, infinity cubes, and putty, work well in classrooms because they provide brain stimulation for students but are not distracting to others.

It’s important to note that not all fidget toys work for everyone!  If you’re looking for a tool to help with focus, it may be worth investing in some fidgets to try.  If you are considering teaching your kids to use them, be sure to teach them that they help your body to focus, and aren’t just toys.

“ If you are considering teaching your kids to use them, be sure to teach them that they help your body to focus, and aren’t just toys.”

Fidgets have their place, especially when it comes to school!  They can be super fun, but also distracting if they are not taught to be used as a tool.  It’s important to teach and model how to use a fidget appropriately, so that they can be used effectively.  Take a look at some of my student’s favorite fidgets, and happy fidgeting!