Fidget Toys to Improve Focus and Reduce Anxiety for Children and Adults

What Are Sensory Fidgets?

You may have heard the buzzword sensory fidgets being used or advertised in the media lately. What’s all the buzz? Why have these tiny toys been increasing in popularity so much as of late? Read on for some insight as to why sensory fidgets work, who they may benefit, and suggestions of some of our favorite fidgets out there!

Fidgets help individuals of all ages direct excess energy by making small, repetitive movements which can calm the body, improve focus, relieve stress, and provide a functional distraction in an overstimulating or understimulating environment. The largest concentration of sensory receptors in the body exist in the hands and in the mouth. Most fidgets provide sensory input to the hands, which is one of the most efficient ways to streamline regulation for improved attention and concentration. Some fidgets also provide regulating visual input and research has shown simple, repetitive actions are regulating and therapeutic. Many fidgets also require the use of small muscles in the hand and finger isolation, which can help to improve fine motor strength and coordination in adults and children alike. 

There is no age limit or requirement of a diagnosis for an individual to utilize a fidget item, as it can be beneficial regardless. Some fidgets may prove to be more distracting than regulating depending on its mechanism. It takes some trial and error to select a few fidgets that achieve the outcome of regulation you desire. Luckily, many are inexpensive and available online, check out our list below to view a few of our favorite fidgets!

Squish Balls

These soft, pliable handheld squish balls provide proprioceptive input to the hands. They also provide calming visual input and can be stashed in various locations around the house, car, or classroom. They can be used in various ways, using one or both hands.

This squish ball variety pack provides different textures on the outside and different fillings on the inside. Each ball provides a different tactile and visual sensation for a wide variety of sensory experiences.

These color changing squish balls provide a consistent textural experience, but different visual experiences. The outside offers one color, while squishing it reveals a different color.

This pop it squish ball combines the popular pop it fidget, with a hand held squish ball. This ball provides endless entertainment and promotes finger isolation and strengthening to push in each of the bubbles, similar to bubble wrap. They can be manipulated with one or two hands and also provide a satisfying visual experience.

Fidget Spinners

These little spinning toys are anchored to a stable axis and can be spun with one hand, two hands, or set on a surface and spun. They provide tactile and visual stimulation and can calm or alert the body depending on the individual. There are endless varieties and styles, and they can double as a game spinner by drawing an arrow or using a sticker to become a pointer.

These traditional fidget spinners come in a variety of colors.

Pop It fidget spinners combine the satisfaction of Pop Its, with the visual and tactile inputs of spinning. They come in different shapes and sizes for a variety of visual experiences.

Customize your own fidget spinner with these robot fidget spinners that have 6 adjustable arms. Bend them in any direction to create your own visual and tactile experience in endless combinations.

Table and Surface Fidgets

These fidgets can be used on surfaces like a table, laptop, cell phone, or in the car for quick and easy access to sensory regulation.

These rolling spiked fidgets provide deep pressure and tactile input when rolling it on a surface. Use a hand to roll it on the table, or a foot to roll it along the floor. Provide input to legs and hands simultaneously by rolling them along the tops of the thighs while seated.

Stick these textured fidget strips to any flat surface and run your fingertips or nails along them for a soothing effect. These come in a variety of colors and can be cut to fit the size of any surface such as the edges of a phone case or sides of a computer mouse.

Suction these Flick Sticks to surfaces around your home or car. They come in different colors and offer a silent sensory fidget that can be flicked, squeezed, or rubbed to sooth busy hands and beat boredom.

Auditory Fidgets

Sometimes auditory input is the key to regulation. These fidgets offer fun, auditory stimulation that can help soothe, or alert our bodies. They also offer a variety of input to the hands and improve fine motor and bilateral coordination.

Hold these snapper fidgets in the palm of your hand or try these silly shaped snappers to squeeze two suction cups together for proprioceptive, auditory, and deep pressure stimulation. Use them with one or two hands and get the benefit of upper body and grip strengthening as you squeeze.

Wrapper snappers or pop tubes are a great way to improve bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, and visual motor skills with endless entertainment and sensory input. Pull these tubes apart to produce a fun snapping sound at different pitches, and push them together for an entirely different auditory sensation. Bend one tube in any direction or link a few together to create any shape or structure you can think of.

And finally, for the person or family who wants to try a little bit of everything. This fidget toy variety pack contains many of the fidgets suggested on this blog, as well as a few other great ones like these marble sacks or this flippy chain.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Comment below with your suggestions if we did!