Fidget Spinners and Fidget toys – the new trend is sweeping the nation, much to the delight of middle-schoolers and the chagrin of some of the adults who interact with them. What is this new trend? Fidgeting!

Seemingly out of nowhere, a specific type of fidget toy called a fidget spinner found its way into the hands of nearly every preteen around, and even some grownups. These pronged devices spin in their fingers, and the people who use them say they’re great for focusing distracted minds.

Fidget Toys / Fidget Spinners – new trend or an old remedy?

But are fidget toys really a new trend? Not so much.

While it is a relatively new phenomenon to see objects on the market made specifically for fidgeting, people have been keeping their hands occupied by playing with makeshift fidget spinners for ages.

Think of stress balls, silly putty, rulers on top of pencils, and that coworker who constantly twirls his pen is his hands or clicks the pen tip in and out. The concept of people focusing their busy minds by occupying their hands is nothing new.

The original fidget spinner pic.twitter.com/xfoFWw3Sqj — Lauren Longworth (@love_lauren_rae) June 2, 2017

real ones know this is the original fidget spinner pic.twitter.com/RbSsDmbtUT — Julia Renegade Angel (@yungqueenj) June 5, 2017

Categories of fidget toys

There is a huge variety of fidget toys that will be sure scratch your itch to fidget. A few of these categories include:

History of fidget toys

Recently companies have capitalized on the fact that people NEED to fidget with something throughout their day.

The first brand to market a fidget toy device was Antsy Labs, who created a 6-sided Fidget Cube. They marketed their fidget toy invention on Kickstarter in August of 2016 and it became one of the highest backed crowdfunding projects in history.

Creators of this fidget toy said they wanted the… “Fidget Cube to be a premium desk toy that can be used discreetly in any setting – from the classroom to the boardroom.”





Then came the next phenomenon in fidgeting: fidget spinners.

In a few months, fidget spinners went from relative obscurity to being in the hands of millions, specifically the hands of middle school-aged children, who chose to trade, collect, and play with these fidget toys constantly.

Fidget toys in schools

This new phenomenon makes for a frustrating situation for teachers. While student argue that fidgeting helps them focus in class, many teachers and group leaders find their presence distracting.

Not all fidget toys are silent, and if many students are using them, the volume can be more of a distraction than the unfocused kids were in the first place.

Can fidget toys and fidget spinners be used for special needs students?

One exception to the frustration is that those who work with special needs students, particularly children with ADHD, find fidget toys to have real and tangible benefits.

In fact, some students with learning disabilities who go to school where fidget spinners are banned have been given special permission to use them as a means of concentration.

Studies are inconclusive as to whether science backs the claims of these fidget toys being effective at increasing focus or reducing anxiety.

Fidget toys as stress relief for adults

While the craze may have taken over junior high classrooms, that does not mean adults have not gotten in on the action.

Where many adult chronic fidgeters felt that their constant motion was stigmatized as meaning they had a lack of self control, these new fidget toys open up a conversation about adult fidgeters needing a productive channel for their subconscious nervous energy.

Now, instead of foot tapping, pen clicking, or any other number of nervous habits, professionals are taking their fidget cubes and spinners to the office and many claim the increase in focus is drastic.

Fidgety Toys – fad or lasting focus device?

Will fidget cubes and fidget spinners still be a hot-selling item a month from now? What about five years from now? It’s hard to say if the demand for these items will stay so high.

It’s almost certain that while the hype is high, other sellers will try to get into the action by creating their own versions of fidget toys.

It does seem to be, though, that fidgeting is nothing new, and that the need for a way to channel that energy could equate to a product niche that stands the test of time. Until then, fidget away with your cube, spinner, or whatever device you choose!

All Fidget toys and fidget spinners featured in this article

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