I’ve never been the best at keeping up with trends. For instance, I only just bought a pair of those buttery soft leggings recently, and I had no clue that bottle flipping was an actual trend until I found myself repeatedly shouting at my kids to stop or they’d drench the kitchen. As for Orbeez? Still baffled by their allure.
More often than not, I discover the latest crazes through fellow parents venting about them on social media. This means I usually find out about these fads long after they’ve reached peak annoyance. So it wasn’t shocking when I first encountered fidget spinners last week — multiple parents mentioned them online, a neighbor’s child was spinning one in the car, and my son suddenly declared he needed one, despite the fact that fidget spinners have been around for quite some time.
What Are Fidget Spinners?
If you’re in the dark like I was and are curious about what fidget spinners actually are, let me break it down for you. (Is “break it down” still a thing?)
Interestingly, fidget spinners aren’t merely a fleeting trend. They’ve been utilized as sensory tools for children on the autism spectrum, as well as those dealing with anxiety, OCD, or ADHD, for quite a while. Similar to stress balls, fidget spinners provide restless hands and anxious minds with an outlet, allowing children to concentrate more effectively. Plain and simple, they spin. You hold the disc and give it a whirl, which is supposed to help you find your center.
I can’t explain the science behind it, but it seems to work. Just take my word for it.
Fidget Spinners for Adults
Adults are getting in on the action too. Forbes recently highlighted the growing popularity of fidget spinners among grown-ups. Rather than gnawing on your nails, clicking a pen, or tapping your foot incessantly, you can use a stylish fidget spinner. However, while children’s spinners cost between $10 and $20, those designed for adults can run up to a few hundred dollars.
Mental health professionals have employed similar gadgets for ages. According to Dr. Lisa Johnson, the Slinky is one of the original fidget toys. Who knew? Despite the fact that fidget spinners and related toys aren’t exactly new, their recent surge in popularity has been astonishing. The Fidget Cube, touted as the ultimate fidget spinner, raised nearly $6.5 million on Kickstarter and was the ninth-most funded project. Forbes even dubbed fidget spinners the “must-have office accessory for adults” in 2017.
The Impact on My Household
It seems that fidget spinners have gone from a well-kept secret to a hot commodity. I recently purchased one on Amazon to see if it could assist my older son with his focus issues. Although he’s neurotypical, he sometimes struggles to concentrate and tends to fidget, transitioning rapidly from one activity to another. In fact, unlike his peers, he often prefers to stand at a table instead of sitting at a desk. So I figured trying a fidget spinner was worth a shot.
When my son was at school, I decided to test the spinner myself. Let me tell you, there’s something captivating about it. It’s a simple spinning disk, yet I found it surprisingly soothing. For a moment, the noise in my head quieted, and my general anxiety faded.
That was until my son got home. Since he received the fidget spinner, it has become a major source of distraction in our household. Within just six hours, I had to intervene in 15 disputes between him and his brother over whose turn it was to spin, and I’ve already threatened to take it away numerous times. He spins it everywhere — at home, at the dinner table, and even in public. While it may aid in his focus and calmness, it’s driving me absolutely up the wall.
Frustration Among Parents
I’m not alone in this frustration. Many parents and educators are equally exasperated. The sudden influx of fidget spinners means they’re being used as mere toys by kids who don’t necessarily need them for therapeutic purposes (like my son), and they may be causing even more distractions in classrooms than they alleviate. While the jury is still out on whether the fidget spinner enhances my son’s concentration during reading or homework sessions, one thing is clear: I definitely need my own spinner to manage the chaos his has introduced.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fidget spinners have taken the parenting world by storm, and while they may serve a genuine purpose for some, they also come with their fair share of distractions and annoyances. If you’re interested in exploring more topics related to home insemination, check out this blog post about the BabyMaker Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit. For those on a fertility journey, Couples Fertility Journey for Intracervical Insemination is an excellent resource, as is the CDC’s information on infertility.
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