Check Table of Contents
- Fidget Toys Come In All Different Shapes And Sizes
- Top 3 Fidget & Stress Toys
- They May Help Relieve Stress
- They Can Improve Fine Motor Control Skills
- Browse More Articles
- There Is Controversy About How They Affect Attention
- Did You Know That The First Fidget Spinner Was Created By Catherine Hettinger?
- Fidget toys don’t appear to be fading in popularity anytime soon.
Fidget toys appeared to take over the world a few short years ago. Everywhere you went, children and adults of all ages would be playing with them.
Here, we are going to share with you a few fun facts about your favorite toy.
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Fidget Toys Come In All Different Shapes And Sizes
When most people think of fidget toys, they most likely imagine the fidget spinners that boomed in popularity not too long ago.
However, many people may not realize that fidget toys actually come in a large variety of shapes and sizes.
From cubes, to popping toys, pens, and more; different fidget toys can offer different benefits to people of all different ages.
Top 3 Fidget & Stress Toys
Our top pick: 24-Pack of Sensory Toys by Toyly
Second place: Fidget Cube by Appash
Third place: Sensory Stress Balls Set
They May Help Relieve Stress
While the research regarding fidget toys in particular and relieving stress still has a long way to go, previous research has suggested that they could act as great stress relievers.
For example, one study found that children who participated in a distraction intervention showed relief in ruminating over stressful events or thoughts.
Fidget toys can be a great distraction for those who find themselves ruminating over stressful things.
They Can Improve Fine Motor Control Skills
One study examined the effects of fidget toys on fine motor control skills.
They did this by asking participants to trace a spiral before and after using a fidget spinner, which is a fidget toy that spins around its center axis.
The results of the study found that participants who used the fidget spinners did, in fact, show a significant improvement in their spiral drawing skills.
Fidget toys, specifically fidget spinners, require a certain level of coordination in order to keep them moving.
This could be the reason that fidget spinners are beneficial to improving one’s fine motor skills.
There Is Controversy About How They Affect Attention
Some people love fidget spinners, while others hate them.
Fidget toys, particularly fidget spinners, have had quite a few controversies arise in the past few years.
The most well-known controversy is whether or not they are a distraction in the classroom.
A few studies have found that movement can be associated with improvements in symptoms of ADHD.
Because of this fidget toy fact, many people have drawn the conclusion that fidget spinners must be beneficial to those struggling with ADHD.
However, the science is just not there to back it up.
As a matter of fact, one particular study found that fidget spinners may actually do more harm than good in one’s attention.
Did You Know That The First Fidget Spinner Was Created By Catherine Hettinger?
Catherine Hettinger patented her design for the fidget spinner in 1997.
The idea for the fidget spinner came to her when she was trying to think up an invention that would be perfect to entertain her seven-year-old daughter.
According to The Guardian, Hettinger was suffering from an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness one summer that affected her ability to play with her daughter.
Because of this issue, she decided to try to think up a creation to entertain her daughter, leading to her genius invention of the fidget spinner.
Fidget toys don’t appear to be fading in popularity anytime soon.
Like everything else in the world, they have their pros and cons. Ultimately, they can be a fun distraction for those looking for one, so why not try it out?