Classroom fidgets are everywhere—especially this time of year. Chances are, some of your students (or your own kids) just unwrapped new fidget toys as stocking stuffers. Kids love them, but teachers often find classroom fidgets to be too distracting for regular use—especially when they’re more toy than tool.
Parents are understandably caught in the middle, wanting their kids to have access to tools they need to be successful, especially if they struggle with ADHD, anxiety, or other sensory input needs, but are often informed they are not allowed in their child’s classroom.
If you have experienced mixed messages about fidgets, I have good news and bad news.
The Good News – There IS a happy medium to finding Good Fidgets that will enhance kids’ ability to learn, without taking away from a teacher’s ability to make the most of instructional time.
The Bad News– There are a lot of toys out there that are marketed for classroom use, but really need to stay at home. And that can cause confusion and frustration when we don’t have the big picture.
I want to help you understand the pros and cons of fidgets in the classroom, identify types of useful fidgets vs the toys that don’t belong in the classroom, and I’ll share some research-based information to share with families about fidgets so teachers can feel better about setting boundaries, and parents know they are advocating in the best interest of their kids.
The Pros and Cons of Classroom Fidgets
Let’s get right into the science behind fidgets to explain what works and what doesn’t. According to this article from Scientific American, all kinds of fidgets have been studied and shown to be beneficial for adult use. For kids, the broad evidence is not definitive, but there are clear connections between specific kinds of fidgets and improved focus/decreased anxiety during learning.
Classroom fidgets are often removed by teachers because, while they may appear helpful, they often act more like toys that can distract both the user and their peers. Many fidgets marketed to kids are designed with bright colors and fun features, which can lead to increased distraction in the classroom. Unlike adult work environments where fidgets can be beneficial for independent work, classroom fidgets do not work universally; what calms one student may distract another. However, there are effective methods to integrate fidgets into the classroom that can accommodate everyone’s needs.
There are a ton of therapeutic fidgets that have been in use in the classroom for years! These cut down on distraction and anxiety discreetly and don’t require hand-eye coordination, so attention can be fully focused on instruction. These include tools like:
- Therapy putty
- Single sided Velcro
- Stress Balls
- Hand loopers,
- Tactile tools
- Exercise balls
- Weighted lap pads
- Coiled keychains
Providing tools like this decreases anxiety and increases attention to instructional tasks without distracting other students, so they can be used with a lot more frequently throughout the day.
How to Tell if it’s a Useful Fidget or a Toy
The purpose of classroom fidgets is to support kids with focus and sensory regulation so they can engage more fully in academic tasks.
These toys can be good for reducing anxiety but are not great for focus during a lesson. A fidget is inappropriate for the classroom if it:
- Makes noise
- Takes attention away from instruction
- Pulls in the attention of other students nearby
- Doesn’t meet your student’s sensory needs
- Is more advanced than your student’s fine motor skills
- Is flimsy or easily broken
How Parents and Teachers can Work Together to find Solutions
Parents and teachers can work as a team when it comes to the task of choosing appropriate fidget toys for their child. Oftentimes, it will take some trial and error to find a good fit for each child, and there may also be a period during the day when a child can use a non therapeutic toy to ease anxiety during breaks or other times during the day. Ultimately, the teacher should be entrusted to find what works best and when certain classroom fidgets can be used effectively throughout the day.
Need help setting clear, consistent boundaries around tools like fidgets? This simple management hack breaks down practical ways to keep your classroom calm and productive—without constant reminders.
Find Fidgets
If you’re looking to build a collection of teacher-approved classroom fidgets, here are some top picks that can support focus and engagement without becoming a distraction.
Fidget Spinners
You can incorporate fidgets into math and word work centers by having students spin or balance them to select numbers, stations, words, or letters for quick, engaging rotations.
Pop-its
Use these to practice addition and subtraction, sound out words, or blend sounds together, among other things.
Fidget Rings
Have students use these rings when sounding out or blending sounds, or when retelling a story.
Twist & Pinch Fidgets
Students can use these fun fidgets to create letters, numbers, etc.
Play Dough
Play Dough can be used as tap out sounds, create math manipulatives, and so much more!
Bonus Fidget Idea
One way to get students to properly use fidgets is to incorporate them right into learning! Use a fidget spinner to review skills such as math facts or sight words. Students place the fidget spinner on the mat, give it a good spin and see how many review questions they can answer before it stops.
Looking for more classroom wins?
Check out our growing library of classroom management resources to save your time and sanity.
