From fidget spinners to NeeDohs, fidget toys have turned from classroom tools to everyday necessities. Marketed for stress relief and better focus, they are found in pockets, desks, and backpacks. But is their ever-increasing popularity a result of their cognitive benefits, or are fidgets simply the latest example of overconsumption?
Initially, fidgets were created as a way to relieve stress and calm nerves. Studies have shown that using fidgets during class helps stimulate the brain and allows students to focus more. When the brain is stimulated, the tasks at hand are easier to engage in and complete. Fidgets are a useful tool to tune out distractors, especially for people with conditions like ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. Archie Williams Wellness Coordinator Katrina Southard notes that fidgets can be helpful in learning environments.
“For some students who might have a hard time focusing on a lecture or focusing on content, it can be helpful for them to have a stimulus… I think it really depends on the individual and how their brain works, and what’s going to be supportive for them,” Southard said.
While fidgets are helpful for focusing, they are also increasing in popularity as a trend. Teens and influencers online are starting to collect fidgets for fun, a practice dubbed “fidget hunting.” Consumerism is strongly present in this trend, as collectors will try to accumulate as many fidgets as they can.
Fidgets are not limited to classroom help and focus; they can also help with growing out of bad habits. Sophomore and avid fidget user Charlotte Andalib uses fidgets to distract from her bad habits
“I like to play with [fidgets] because I’m always doing something with my hands. I’m playing with my ring right now, but otherwise, I pick my nails,” Charlotte said.
Using fidgets can be a great way to stray away from bad habits like picking or biting nails, peeling skin, and pulling out hair. The need to have a fidget is understandable, but for some, it gets a little out of hand.
Recently, the fidget industry has had a boom in business, as people have taken to apps like TikTok and Instagram. They show off, experiment with, and collect their fidgets, documenting every part. More often than not, these people who see fidgets online are only buying them to follow the trend.
The main fidget that has everyone in a chokehold is the brand NeeDoh, a certain brand of stress ball fidgets that have skyrocketed in popularity across the country. Sydney Boldt, the assistant manager at Five Little Monkeys Toys in Corte Madera, has noticed the recent demand for fidgets, especially NeeDohs.
“I know the NeeDohs craze has been in part due to TikTok and their popularity on TikTok. I’ve worked in the toy industry for over 10 years now, and NeeDoh has been around for 10 years, and it has never, ever sold quite like this,” Boldt said.
To capitalize on the newfound popularity of NeeDohs, Five Little Monkeys decided to do a big drop, with all their NeeDohs restocking at once. Unfortunately, the drop did not go as planned. People were lined up out the door for over three and a half hours, according to Boldt. The customers were impatient and slightly rude, creating tension, which was not the environment Five Little Monkeys was hoping for.
“We’ve decided we are no longer doing drops at our stores, because of how poorly that one went, unfortunately for the staff. But even so, anytime we get a restock now, it just overtakes the entire day,” Boldt said.
Despite the chaos surrounding the restocks and demand, fidgets continue to serve as a useful stimulant for students, especially for students who have a harder time focusing or have conditions that don’t allow them to be fully attentive. The Wellness Center at Archie Williams is a great place to grab a fidget when in need, just don’t forget to bring it back.
