Fidget spinners. Chances are you've come across this little thing while you were prancing around the Internet at some point. And if you're like me, you're probably wondering what they are and what makes them so popular.
I don't know about you but when someone mentions fidget spinners, you're either greeted with
or
I low-key really want one for myself but I act like I don't. I have to keep my cool about these crazy trends you know. Wanting to keep up with the trends and pretending I don't wanna keep up with trends can be difficult. haha
Okay, I felt the need to make a kind of informative post about fidget spinners because I feel a lot of people are just treating the toy as a trend. While it's not happening in Malaysia (yet), many schools in the US have actually banned these toys because they are distracting without thinking about the many students who might benefit from such a gadget. There are also parents who believe that these toys can be harmful to their children.
I do believe these toys genuinely help people who need them and while kids and adults alike are going crazy for these things, we just have to remember that like every trend it will die.
I mean, remember Pokemon GO?
Despite that, I do have this overwhelming need to get me one of these. Not the fidget spinner per se, but one of those Tangles or a Fidget Cube. There's something calming about clicking things absentmindedly.
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What is a Fidget Spinner?
Believe it or not, the fidget spinner has been around since the 1990s. They only recently gained popularity among the public early this year. The first time I saw the fidget spinner was on Tumblr sometime last year. It was being marketed as a cool gadget to help people concentrate but it's more than that.
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Who is it for?
Contrary to what some people might believe. Fidget spinners are not just for helping with concentration. It was created for people with disorders such as autism, ADHD/ADD, anxiety and other neurodivergent (people whose brains are wired differently from the norm) groups of people to calm down and focus. It is not meant to be used by people who don't have these disorders as they can actually become more of a distraction.
So, if you haven't been diagnosed with any of these disorders and don't have trouble with concentration or anxiety, I seriously don't think you need a fidget spinner.
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How does a fidget spinner help people with autism, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, etc.?
There is a process called self-stimulation or "stimming" for short that neurodivergent people do to help them calm down and focus. Without gadgets like the fidget spinner, stimming can consist of repetitive actions such as shaking legs, pacing, twirling or clicking pens, nail biting, and tapping or any form of fidgeting in general.
Stimming is also a form of self-regulation that can be done in various situations. Some people stim when they are experiencing strong emotions or even during social situations like meeting new people or even just going to a party.
Sometimes, these repetitive stimming actions can be very distracting to other people. Of course, it depends on what kind of stimming action you do (yes, there are different types).
Fidget toys like the fidget spinner help in this way as they are more low-key and doesn't distract or annoy the people around you.
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What other types of fidget toys are available?
Nowadays, fidget spinners have become a sort of collectible toy. They come in a myriad of designs and are even made from a variety of materials, which make them highly collectible.
You can find a wide selection
of fidget spinners and more
here.
If spinners are not for you, there are also many other fidget toys for you such as:
**click the titles to get your own**
Here are a couple non-fidget toys that make great stims too!
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There has been quite a lot of controversy surrounding fidget spinners lately with them having been banned in schools overseas. If it isn't hate from schools or overprotective parents, your peers might be giving you a hard time about your obsession on fidget spinners. Honestly, I think that if you want something, you should go for it.
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