Guest Blogs
Return to "Where Do Kids with ADHD Come Down on Fidget Spinners?"

"Where Do Kids with ADHD Come Down on Fidget Spinners?"

Fidget spinners are marketed as improving focus, but a focus group of 7- to 14-year-olds reveals that they derive a host of other benefits from these gadgets.

2 Comments: "Where Do Kids with ADHD Come Down on Fidget Spinners?"

  1. The issue with fidget spinners is they are a toy pure and simple. While they may help ADHD kids with focusing issues, most of the kids I see with them are neuro-typical using them as toys. This is why most schools have now banned them out right. A true fidget should be manipulated with one hand and not need constant attention to work.

    An example would be my keyboard. When working on a project, while thinking I have one hand constantly tapping out rhythms on the keyboard. This is done automatically, but it helps me focus thinking my way through a complete thought. For a long time, my son used his shoe laces. Fidgets can be any number of things, but spinners? I put those more into the gimmick category.

  2. Personally, I don’t find fidget spinners helpful. I’m 24, but have small hands (7 inches from tip of thumb to tip of pinky when hand is stretched open). I think because of this, I can’t spin the spinner with one hand. They’re too big, and I’ve tested a few different ones, they all seem to be about the same size. Since I can’t keep it continuously spinning with one hand, it’s more of a distraction than help. I need to either consistently use both hands or one hand for my fidget, not sometimes two and sometimes one. It doesn’t bother me when other people use them, and once I get it spinning it’s not too bad, I just can’t keep it spinning easily. Doodling, coloring, knitting or crocheting seems to be my fidgets that work best.

Leave a Reply