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| Study time feat. my fidget cube |
Now, I don't want to play the whole "I was into fidget toys before they were cool and y'all are posers pretending to be hip and into this but I'm actually the fidget queen" bit (despite it kind of being true). But there are some very real issues to dissect when discussing fidget spinners as a cultural classroom trend.
Fidget spinners are annoying. Teachers hate them. They are flashy and distracting and frankly, super obnoxious. This was not the intention of the fidget toys.
HowToADHD, one of my favorite YouTube channels, has a fantastic video on why fidgeting can be beneficial for students and adults with anxiety and/or ADHD. In summary, fidget toys provide a small and socially acceptable outlet for students who have trouble focusing on just one thing at a time. This can be referred to as "floating attention".
While the neurotypical student is sitting in class and listening to the teacher talk, maybe letting their mind drift a bit, the ADHD or neurodiverse student is using all their energy to listen, while also trying to manage their thoughts about how the room needs better AC, and maybe there should be a countdown timer to recess for better transparency in the classroom, and did I get in trouble last week for being distracted or was that sorted out already and this book is kinda cool but I really liked the one we read last, wait what was that character's name again, the girl one who I liked but I liked her friend's character more and is the teacher calling on me now should I be following along wait who are we reading about am I on the right page also we should get better ventilation in here and...
You get the idea.
You know those annoying habits your desk partner or colleague will do, like clicking their pen or tapping their fingernails on the table? That's actually a form of fidget focus tools. Their brain is saying "I can't focus on just this one task, so I'm going to fidget with my pen to relieve the part of my brain that is searching for something to do while I'm listening."
This is not the same as multitasking, where you are actually splitting your attention between stimuli. Fidgeting provides an outlet for the part of your brain that gets distracted to say "oh, okay, I'll just play here a bit and give the brain some space to focus." Think about it like giving a screaming toddler a lollipop. It may not fix the underlying issue (ADHD), but it will provide comfort and a space for you to recognize where your focus should be.
Fidget toys are a wonderful tool for all individuals, regardless of age and diagnosis. They are a tool to satiate the distractible urge without disrupting others.
Now, back to why I hate fidget spinners.
They do not provide either of the necessary aspects of fidget toys. Fidget toys should be discrete and subtle tools, which the spinners are not, and should not be entertaining or distracting to others.
They brand the idea of fidget toys as a trend that will die out. Fidget toys are incredibly useful tools to use and manage in everyday life. I have a Fidget Cube
I keep in my pencil case and another I keep on my desk. I have played around with other tools, and of course, I use my knitting. But fidget toys are not some shark tank million dollar idea. They are tools that can be incredibly beneficial for focus, sensory processing, and anxiety.I implore you to think critically about fidget toys, and separate the fidget toys from the imposters known as the fidget spinners. Do a little research on your own. I'll link some of my favorite sites and books below. I hope we can continue to learn and grow together, and use the tools that serve us to better improve our potential.
From strength to strength, Rivi
This post contains affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase an item through Amazon, I will make a small commission without any additional cost to you. Thank you so so much for helping to support me and my creative work!
Websites
HowToADHD Youtube Channel
ADHD in Girls (HowTo ADHD Video)
Hands On Review of the Fidget Cube (HowTo ADHD Video)
ADDitude (Website/Magazine/News)
Books
Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder
Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 2nd Edition-Revised and Updated: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized
ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
The ADHD Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Gain Motivation and Confidence
Fidget Toys
Tangle Jr. Original Fidget Toy
"Boink" Marble Toy
Pull and Stretch Bounce Ball
Fidget Cube
Roller Chain Fidget Toy
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