If there’s one thing that’s a sure thing, it’s that toys of the moment change from year to year. Lately, one toy that’s been getting a lot of attention (and making a lot of sales) are fidget spinners.
These toys – some of which twirl, some of which do other actions designed to keep fingers moving – have ended up having an unexpected benefit. Many educational professionals have found that fidget spinners are great tools to help kids in the classroom deal with bouts of nervousness, anxiety, or restlessness. They help to improve concentration and therefore improve results.
Fidget toys take a number of different forms, from bouncy bands (think the feet resting and moving up and down) to cubes with different experiential sides. They’re great because they’re a fairly non-disruptive way for kids to deal with bouts of sensory overload or anxiety. How can they be used in the classroom? This graphic (click to enlarge image) details some ideas.
Dennis Relojo is the founder of Psychreg and is also the Editor-in-Chief of Psychreg Journal of Psychology. Aside from PJP, he sits on the editorial boards of peer-reviewed journals, and is a Commissioning Editor for the International Society of Critical Health Psychology. A Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society, Dennis holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Hertfordshire. His research interest encompasses blog psychology and social media. You can connect with him through Twitter @DennisRelojo and his website.
