ADHD Hand Toys: Fidgeting may help some students focus and self-regulate. In this post, we provide tips on how to use fidgeting devices effectively in the classroom. We also review some examples of fidget toys that you may want to consider.
To fidget is commonly defined as the act of making continuous, small movements, especially if they do not have a particular purpose and you make them without meaning to, for example, because you are nervous or bored.
A more scholarly definition describes fidgeting in similar terms: “ …engaging in manipulations of one’s own body parts or other objects, such actions being peripheral or nonessential to central ongoing events or tasks.” Source: Mehrabian, A., & Friedman, S. L. (1986)
Fidgeting is the way your body signals:
- anxiety
- boredom
- discomfort
- restlessness
Many people associate fidgeting with the fidget toys that have become popular in recent years. But fidgeting is a very common behavior that may present as:
- Body movements like biting one’s lip, playing with one’s hair, rocking while seated
- Object manipulations like playing with one’s watchband or chewing the end of a pen.
Some research has shown that kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may find fidgeting beneficial, as physical movement may help concentration and focus.
There is also research that doesn’t back this type of claim, especially in the case of typically developing children. And specifically, there is not much scientific evidence that backs the use of fidget spinners.
Some of the benefits attributed to sensory fidgets include:
- Focus and attention
- Help calm down
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve fine motor skills / Eye-hand coordination
- Provide sensory feedback / tactile awareness
Some teachers complain that fidgeting devices cause distraction in the classrooms
One of the hypotheses can be that kids don’t see a fidget spinner or a fidget cube as a tool for focus but as a toy.
But the fact is that all of us, who know about the dynamics in special education settings, have observed the benefits associated with fidgeting devices.
So, let’s explore different types of fidgeting devices and identify when to use them and how to make them work for you in the classroom or at home.
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Best Hand Sensory Toys for Kids with ADHD
Students with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or sensory processing disorder may benefit from the use of fidget toys.
For this post, I sought support from a behavior therapist with extensive experience working with kids who required the use of fidget tools. Her inputs are especially relevant in the next section, where she shares tips and advice on how to use fidgeting devices in the classroom.
List of the best fidget toys for the classroom:
1.Sensory Rings are a great way to keep your students in their seats with minimal distractions to others. These rings come in different colors in a pack of 3 and are perfect for strengthening little hands and calming little bodies.
Why I like them: A stress ring offers a way to meet children’s sensory needs in a classroom setting while still sitting at their desks. They’re easy to keep clean and can be used by as many children as needed. They may help reduce stress and anxiety in many students who struggle with this.
Pro Tip: Some children choose to put these in their mouth. If this an acceptable behavior for teachers and parents, it doesn’t harm them in any way, as it is made of non-toxic material. It could even work to tackle some ADHD symptoms.
2. Stress Balls offer children another great way to relieve stress without affecting their classmates. Many ADHD students enjoy the feeling of smoothness in their hands. These particular stress balls are made out of durable material that allows for them to be stretched, poked, and squeezed as much as needed (they are actually called stretch balls!).
Why I like them: They’re minimally intrusive and offer a sense of comfort to students. The material is better than the ones they give away for free or used in the early 90s.
Pro Tip: These should not be offered to young children, as they will put them in their mouths. It is a choking hazard, and they are not made for this purpose.
If you are a DIY person, this post shows different ways to prepare your own stress balls in just 3 minutes.
3. String Fidget Toys (Monkey Noodles) are perfect for children looking for some sensory input while doing classwork. Many students choose to take multiple stretchy strings and wrap them around their non-dominant hand (fingers) for some added pressure. Others choose to wrap these around their pencil to make them a more comfortable hold for them.
Why I like them: These fidget toys can be considered a toy, but their versatility is a bonus because children are relieving their stress through play and work. They’re super stretchy and entertaining to make different shapes.
Pro Tip: Children with ADHD tend to lean towards these toys because they subliminally offer stress relief and increase focus, which allows them to absorb the class material better.
4. Pop Fidget Toys are a classic sensory fidget toy that many children and adults have loved them throughout the years. These particular ones are bracelets that allow a child to always have them with them without the fear of losing them or having to carry them around. They’re perfect for reducing stress, allowing for tactile stimulation, and improving focus.
Why I like them: Pop toys give you the feeling that you’re challenging yourself without stressing you out. They’re entertaining but not overstimulating.
5. Fidget Finger Rings are absolutely perfect for high schoolers who need to relieve stress and anxiety. They are very discrete, stylish and priced well. Your high schooler will have tons of stimulation by using these spinning rings to clear their mind.
Spiky sensory rings are a similar concept (but less stylish 😉!)
Why I like them: Fidget rings discrete and go with you wherever you go. No need to carry anything with you except what is on your finger. They come in different designs, and they do not deter students from completing work.
Pro Tip: Be sure to know your size because a tight ring may not be comfortable.
6. Spiky Textured Stress Balls are a perfect combination of spikey, smooth, and squishy. While children manipulate these balls, they are constantly strengthening their hand muscles and also receiving tactile stimulation.
Why I like them: They’re colorful, spiky, stretchy, and squishy. It has a little bit of each texture to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Pro Tip: Do not allow children to put these in their mouths. It may be better suited for older elementary students and middle schoolers. Although the materials are marketed as non-toxic, swallowing water beads is not safe.
How To Use Fidgeting Toys in the Classroom Effectively
If you’re a teacher who is new to the concept of using fidget toys in your classroom, it may be easier to get to know your students in the first few weeks and then assess who may benefit from using a fidget toy.
Some children’s IEPs include the requirement to provide a fidget toy.
However, that doesn’t mean that other students without IEPs cannot benefit.
Here are a few tips to streamline this process.
- Does this child have trouble focusing on any specific subject? If the answer is yes, then they might benefit from using a fidget toy for this particular subject.
- Does this child get bored during a specific subject? Do they get their work done faster than the other students? If the answer is yes, they may benefit from using a fidget until the rest of the students complete their work.
- Ideally, fidgets will be desensitized in a way that other students aren’t bothered (or too interested) by their sight or sound. To get to this stage, you may consider structuring a time for your entire classroom to explore the different fidget toys. This will destigmatize the idea that only children with “problems” need them.
- Outlining basic expectations for the fidget toys in an age-appropriate manner is crucial for introducing fidget toys into your classroom. You may even consider having children sign a “behavior contract” for using them.
- Tip: For our older kids (4th and 5th grade) who could understand the concept of a behavior contract, we wrote out contracts as though the students were renting property. We included each fidget toy that they enjoyed and what they could and couldn’t do with them, and what would happen if they did xyz. It worked out pretty well with minimal reminders.
- There are different levels when it comes to fidget toys in terms of invasive vs. non-invasive.
If you are a high school teacher who spends the majority of your time in front of the class lecturing, there’s no reason why students can’t doodle or play with a spinning ring. They can listen, take notes, and still absorb information.
If you’re an elementary school teacher, and students tend to work in groups or close together, bringing out the string fidget toys may not be a great idea because they can get distracting.
The benefit may not be worth the distraction. - Stress balls and spiky stress balls are perfect fidgets to use while students do individual work at their desks such as worksheets or writing.
- Try to limit the time that your children use fidgets to about 15 minutes, or however long a particular subject/work assignment takes to get completed.
- Sometimes, the student’s IEP may require all-day access to the use of a fidgeting device. In this case, an Occupational Therapist or Behavior Analyst may have deemed this necessary for learning.
- Bear in mind that restricting access to fidgets once they are introduced can have a profoundly negative effect on your student. It will feel like you’re restricting water or bathroom time.
Instead, limiting the time that it is used will be much easier.- In our personal experience, we had many behavior outbursts when we restricted fidgets indefinitely rather than just restricting their time of use.
- Around the 15-minute mark, you can go to your students’ desk and ask them to attempt doing their work without the fidget. Slowly increase the time that they have without the fidget as the school year progresses.
Conclusion
Research doesn’t seem to back the use of fidgeting devices with neurotypical students, but they may help kids with ADHD focus and to stay on task.
There is also anecdotal evidence that a fidgeting device may work well as a self-regulation tool in the special education setting.
When kids are experiencing excess energy, a stressful situation, or need sensory stimulation, the right fidget toys can be great tools to manage the classroom.
We have focused on fidget toys, but there are other creative ways to support your student’s need for fidgeting, like doodling on a piece of paper, stretching and squeezing silly putty, using a discreet calm strip or supporting leg movement with bouncy bands.
Other ADHD Resources
If you are interested in resources that suggest ways to help kids with ADHD focus and self-regulate, you may enjoy the following posts:
