A Guide to Fidget Toys

With online classes and sitting in the same spot for days on end, I found myself getting restless (even more so than usual).

I’m the type of person who can’t sit still for very long without getting distracted. I’ve tried doodling, getting up and walking around my room, colouring, and just anything to help keep me on focus, although it didn’t work very well.

That’s when I decided to go online and buy a bunch of fidget/stim toys to use during class and whenever I feel anxious. They’ve been a lifesaver for me. I can use them as a way to get out anxious energy while also not being distracted from class.

Fidget toys have been used in the neurodivergent community for years, but I think it should become a thing for all of us. So I decided to make a list of my top 10 favourite fidget toys to get you through a restless day of classes.

1. Silly putty

Silly putty is a classic. You can get it anywhere.

Putty can be a popular choice because it doesn’t make noise and you can do many different things with it such as squeeze it or stretch it.

2. Marble fidgets

Marble fidgets are great for on the go as you can fit it in your pocket and move the ball in the tube around with only one hand.

3. Acupressure rings/spinner rings

A spinner ring was my first ever fidget toy. They are great because they can also be worn as jewelry. Recently, I’ve switched to acupressure rings that you can slide up and down your fingers which hit different acupuncture points on the hand leading to a reduction of stress.

4. Fidget stretch

These long, stretching, snake-line toys are great to fiddle around your fingers and spin around the room.

5. Rainbow ball

This rainbow ball is one of my favourites. It is similar to a Rubik’s cube in that you mix up all the different colours and then move the small balls around so that each one corresponds to the hole of the same colour. I find the monotonous motion comforting without the frustrations of hard-to-solve Rubik’s cubes.

6. Fidget chain

The fidget chain can be brought anywhere as it is discreet and soundless. I usually use this one at work in my pocket. All you do is take it in one hand and flip it around.

7. DNA stress ball/squish animals

Stress balls are a classic but these ones have fun twists. You can get little squishy animals such as my little frog or you can get ones with beads inside. So many options!

8. Rubik’s cube

Try and solve it or just move the colours around. Either way, it’s a great way to stimulate your brain.

9. Lava lamps/liquid bubble thing

If you are more of a visual person then colourful lava-lamp-like toys are great for you. It’s very relaxing to just watch the colours and bubbles move around.

10. Fidget pads/cubes

The fidget pad is my all-time favourite as it has so many things to do in the palm of your hand. There are buttons, switches, clickers, etc. It also can be used at a fidget spinner.

I hope these suggestions have convinced you to get one for yourself and see what a difference it’ll make in your classes. If you have a fidget toy that I didn’t mention and that you love, leave a description and picture of it in the comments.