We’ve all seen it, heard of it, spoke about it and even played with it…but what can we make of it? Are fidget spinners doing more harm than good for your child…?
With the fidget spinners gaining popularity worldwide and retailers have been cashing in on the trend. Nearly every child uses the fidget spinner regardless of whether they actually need to.
Fidget spinners are not a replacement for a toy. I have to emphasize the fact that if this ‘toy’ is a trend, it may help a child’s self esteem by giving the child a sense of belonging on the playground, but what happens to the child’s learning in the classroom, when he is consumed with the fidget spinner under his desk? Perhaps self- induced Attention Distraction Hyperactive Disorder?
Let’s look at the word ‘Fidget’. It is loosely defined as a change in the physiological state of the physical body. I came across a psychology journal article published by Farley, J, Risko F et al. (2013). It explains that fidgeting is an overt physical indication of the internal minds state.
The study was done on students who were required to sustain their attention in the studies test. Students generally attend to, listen to and retain information in a lecture room. Fidgeting, like doodling or leaning forward was seen as their body’s’ natural response, otherwise known as a self regulation tool, to respond to the incoming stimuli, before they could sustain their attention. Fidgeting behaviour was also seen as an indication for inattentiveness such as excessive eye blinking.
When a child’s sensory regulation system is not processing correctly, it becomes difficult for children to focus their attention. Certain principles are used by O.T’s to regulate the sensory system. One of the many principles involve sensory modulation tools. Lets not confuse a fidget tool with a fidget spinner. Find out more in this informative video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfxDz9Zc2k8
Perhaps a fidget tool can be effective when used correctly for the appropriate need. For example, when a child is hyperactive due to poor sensory modulation of his body, a fidget tool can help to calm him down, focus and complete a task. Let’s be careful to generalise this notion, as what can intervene for one child may work oppositely for the next – Overstimulation, and distraction from learning can easily occur when the self regulation tool is used incorrectly.
There have also been claims that fidget spinners help with Autistic children. There has yet to be scientific research done to support this claim. Fidget spinners may feed into the fixation autistic children already have. Fidget spinners as an in intervention for autistic children may be more harmful than helpful.
Fidget spinners itself is not the cure or an intervention for behavioural disorders in children, there is no sensory stimulation for the child. There is no universal recommendation to show effectiveness that this toy has in treating stress, anxiety or depression. Thus the fidget spinner remains to be a fad, with no bases to any benefit in childhood development. Parents and caregivers can do their part to make sure these fidget spinners don’t ‘spin out of control’
*Recommended sensory activities for appropriate ages will be posted in future blog posts
Reference
Farley, J, Risko F et al. Everyday attention and lecture retention: the effects of time, fidgeting and mind wandering, Frontiers in Psychology 4(4):619 · September 2013
Fun with my O.T 