Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is ADHD?What Are Fidget Toys?Types of Fidget ToysDo Fidget Toys Help ADHD?Where to Buy Fidget Toys

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is ADHD?

What Are Fidget Toys?

Types of Fidget Toys

Do Fidget Toys Help ADHD?

Where to Buy Fidget Toys

Close

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder most often diagnosed in childhood and frequently continues into adulthood. The condition causes symptoms related to hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.

The condition is typically treated with medication and therapy, but other techniques and tools are often used to help people manage their symptoms. Fidget toys for ADHD are one tool that are often marketed as a way of improving attention. They are often marketed specifically to kids with promises to help reduce symptoms of ADHD,autism, and anxiety.

Fidget toys are small, handheld objects that can be manipulated with the hands. These devices are intended to aid inself-regulationand help people with ADHD improve their ability to focus and better tolerate feelings of boredom, anxiety, and excitement.

9 Types of Toys That Are Good for ADHD

ADHD is one of the most common developmental conditions in childhood. Children with the condition often have a difficult time paying attention and struggle with managing their behavior. Whilesymptoms differ somewhat for adults, it is common for the disorder to persist into adulthood.

Other common symptoms of ADHD include:

Fidget toys are devices that are small enough to fit in your hand and allow people to repeatedly manipulate them in various ways. The goal of such toys is to provide a purposeless, movement-based activity.

The idea behind these toys is that people can direct their energy toward fidgeting with them instead of squirming or moving around. Because this energy is directed toward the toy, the hope is that people can better handle the challenging emotions they might be experiencing, including boredom, frustration, or even excitement.

Fidget spinners were among the first toys to explode in popularity among elementary and middle schoolers, but other fidget toys, from cubes to pop-up bubbles, soon followed. Originally marketed for kids with attention issues, the devices remain popular with kids with and without attention difficulties, often to the consternation of teachers and school administrators.

Many educators have questioned the benefits of such devices and, in some cases, banned them from the classroom.

There are a wide variety of fidget toys for ADHD. Some of the most commonly used ones include:

How Do Fidget Toys Help People With ADHD?

According to supporters, fidget toys can help people with ADHD to:

The core idea behind the use of fidget toys for ADHD stems from earlier research on the benefits of movement for kids with attention issues. Earlier research indicated that the gross motor movements that kids with ADHD often perform appear to play a role in improving attention to a certain degree. In a 2016 study, researchers found that more intense physical movement was associated with improved performance on a working memory task.

While intriguing, it is a jump to suggest that fidgeting with a small toy might produce the same effects. It’s even more of a leap to suggest that any improvements might impact performance in a classroom setting.

Why might fidgeting improve attention? According to researchers, physical activity—including small hand movements—releasesdopamineand norepinephrine. This can lead to improved focus and better attention.

“It is thought that fidgeting improves performance due to stimulation of the somatosensory cortex of the brain, which are responsible for integrating tactile information from the hands,” explained researchers in a 2017 review published inCurrent Opinion in Pediatrics.

Fidget Toys May Not Be That EffectiveWhile proponents suggest that fidget toys may benefit ADHD and sensory issues, emerging evidence disputes their effectiveness.

Fidget Toys May Not Be That Effective

While proponents suggest that fidget toys may benefit ADHD and sensory issues, emerging evidence disputes their effectiveness.

Impact of Fidget Toys on ADHD Symptoms

A 2018 study published in theJournal of Affective Disordersfound that fidget spinners had a negative effect on attention in kids with ADHD. The study found that using a fidget spinner was associated with decreased activity levels in the early stage of the experiment. However, playing with a fidget spinner decreased attention at all experiment phases.

Another study published in a 2019 issue of theJournal of Applied Psychologyhad college students use fidget spinners while watching educational videos. The results revealed that the students who used the fidget toys while watching the videos did worse on a memory test covering what they had learned.

Potential Risks

Fidget toys may have risks that should be considered. Adverse effects of fidget devices, including the popular fidget spinners, include:

Whether fidget toys might help or hurt, the toys remain popular with kids who can’t seem to get enough of the small gadgets that spin, pop, snap, whirl, and squish. The toys may be best utilized as entertainment in non-classroom settings, such as long car rides.

Such tools may have other benefits not necessarily related to attention. One 2018 study, for example, found that fidget spinners might help kids with ADHD improve their fine motor control.

Not all fidget toys are the same, so look for quieter and less distracting gadgets like squeeze balls or moldable putty. Such options allow you or your child to manipulate them without becoming distracted or intruding on others.

Plenty of retailers carry a variety of these devices if you’re interested in trying a fidget toy for entertainment or as a self-regulation tool. Major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Barnes & Noble, carry a variety of fidget toys both online and in-store.

Before purchasing a fidget toy for ADHD, consider factors such as the price, material, safety, and noise level. Some fidget toys may have small parts that pose a choking hazard for young children. Noise level is another concern since some gadgets may make more noise than others.

A Word From Verywell

Fidget toys can allow people with ADHD to fidget with their hands with minimal disturbance. Choose a safe and appropriate toy for your needs, and be sure to purchase from a reputable retailer. Most importantly, remember that these devices are not a substitute for effective treatment, including medication and behavior management strategies.

Fidget toys are not an alternative forevidence-based treatments for ADHD. There is a lack of documented research demonstrating these toys help with ADHD symptoms, so sticking to the things known to work is a better way to help kids and adults withinattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and diagnosis of ADHD.

The Washington Post.Schools are banning fidget spinners, calling them nuisances and even dangerous.

Schecter RA, Shah J, Fruitman K, Milanaik RL.Fidget spinners: Purported benefits, adverse effects and accepted alternatives.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2017;29(5):616-618. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000523

Graziano PA, Garcia AM, Landis TD.To fidget or not to fidget, that is the question: a systematic classroom evaluation of fidget spinners among young children with ADHD.J Atten Disord. 2020;24(1):163-171. doi:10.1177/1087054718770009

Soares JS, Storm BC.Putting a negative spin on it: Using a fidget spinner can impair memory for a video lecture.Appl Cognit Psychol. 2020;34(1):277-284. doi:10.1002/acp.3610

Cohen EJ, Bravi R, Minciacchi D.The effect of fidget spinners on fine motor control.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3144. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21529-0

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