16 best fidgets for school, according to teachers
These sensory tools help kids stay focused in the classroom
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Fidgets offer a wide range of benefits for kids with sensory needs and are commonly recommended by therapists for use in the classroom. “Fidgets are an important tool in a teacher’s toolbox,” explains Annie Lamb, a teacher of 19 years with extensive experience reviewing educational manipulatives.
“Encourage a student to remain engaged and productive in their lessons by relieving stress and anxiety through the appropriate sensory input,” she says. Lamb also warns that “fidgets can quickly become a toy or distraction if there are audible noises, lighting effects, or if a student chooses to toss it in the air.”
So, what should a parent consider when selecting a fidget for their child? Lamb recommends that “the best fidget for a student with sensory needs is one that will address the needs of the student and the needs of the other people around them by being quiet, unobtrusive, and simple.”
Knowing that there are an overwhelming variety of fidgets on the market, we worked with Lamb to sort through the options and put together this list of 16 teacher-approved fidgets for the classroom so that this school year can be successful for all.
1. Tom’s Fidgets Flippy Chain
This fidget is constructed of stainless steel so even if accidents occur, it won't stop working.
Offering multiple movements and textures, Tom’s Fidgets Flippy Chain is one of Lamb’s favorite fidgets for the classroom. A popular fidget with over 7,000 Amazon reviewers giving it 4.4/5 stars, this tailored chain is great for any age student, Lamb says, even those in college.
2. Kick Bands for chair
The Kick Band isn't noisy or distracting to others, so it would make a clever classroom addition.
“Kick Bands are great for kids whose impulse control causes them to want to get up from their seat,” explains Lamb, which is why Kick Bands are often used in special education classrooms. Fitting around a chair’s front two legs, the bouncy band works as a gross motor fidget and also helps increase muscle tone, Lamb notes.
3. Marble Mesh Fidget
Tug, roll, and stretch the Marble Mesh Fidget all day and it still won't break.
The Marble Mesh Fidget gives little fingers lots of movement opportunities including bending, rolling, and squeezing. Lamb loves that it’s “quiet, durable, and small.” Small enough, in fact, to fit in a child’s pocket, this fidget was made for on-the-go sensory stimulation.
4. Modrsa Fidget Rings
The fidget ring looks no different from a regular ring, so it's incredibly discreet.
Sleek, stylish, popular, and discreet, each ring in the Modrsa Fidget Rings set offers a different sensory feeling. With over 3,500 Amazon reviews at 4.3/5 stars, these are ideal for older kids or high school students, and our teaching expert highly recommends them.
5. Mini Pop Fidget
A fun way to make the Mini Pop Fidget more interactive is by swapping with friends to mix and match new colors.
Lamb loves Mini Pop Fidgets in the classroom because they aren’t as large and distracting as other poppable fidgets. Arriving in a 30-pack, each one has a keychain attachment that can be clipped to a bookbag, so they are less likely to get lost, even by kiddos with executive functioning struggles. If you want something lightweight and quiet, this fidget is a good pick.
6. Mr. Pen Spikey Sensory Rings
Your child can place these Spiky Sensory rings in their pocket when they're on the go.
A popular fidget on Amazon, with 4.3/5 stars from over 4,500 reviewers, Mr. Pen Spikey Sensory Rings offer an excellent “tactile and compact” fidget option, says Lamb. Mimicking the style of a common hair band, these fidgets are a great option for teens who may want their tools to remain discreet.
7. Fidget Slug
Even a colorful slug can be used as a handy fidget device.
Lamb appreciates that the Fidget Slug is a tool that can be used to deescalate emotions in an aesthetically pleasing way and notes that the rustling sound it makes when shaken helps incite Zen-like feelings of being in a calm space. Fourteen hundred happy Amazon reviewers agree this fidget hits the mark.
8. Stress Balls
Squeeze out every emotion from anxiety to excitement with this soft-feel stress ball.
A soothing fidget that offers a pressure-release sensation, Stress Balls make Lamb's list because they also encourage hand stretching and strengthening. This is a huge benefit for kids with low muscle tone and those whose hands crave sensory movement.
9. Yogi Fidget Spinner
The Yogi Fidget Spinner is a classic.
Definitely a teacher-approved classroom fidget, the Yogi Fidget Spinner is one of Lamb’s favorites because it’s appropriate for all grade levels. “Even middle school or high school students wouldn’t be embarrassed by it,” she says, and over 1,000 pleased Amazon reviewers couldn’t agree more.
10. Textured Sticker Strips
If texture is something that eases your mind, try these sticker strips.
Textured Sticker Strip fidgets are tactile fidgets that can help with mental stimulation and focus. They’re also discreet and can be easily stuck and hidden under or on the side of a desk. With 36 sticker strips in a package, you can easily place them in multiple places if needed.
11. Ono Roller Jr.
The Ono Roller Jr. can relieve your stress one roll at a time.
Lamb loves the Ono Roller Jr. fidget not only because it looks like it belongs to an athlete rather than a student with sensory needs, but also because it’s quiet and sized for small hands.
She’s not alone in that assessment, because 5,000 Amazon reviewers back it with 4.7/5 stars, claiming “you can’t go wrong” with this fidget, calling it the “Lamborghini of fidget toys” for older students or kids with ADHD or autism.
12. Multi-Colored Quiet Fidget
Get in the zone with this quiet yet colorful fidget.
“The Multi-Colored Quiet Fidget would be great for a Zen zone,” Lamb says, understanding that, for some children, part of their school day is spent in a sensory room outside of the classroom. Bendable, twistable, and crafted with eye-catching bold colors, these fidgets come in a 20 pack that offers great bang for your buck.
13. Sensory Water Beads
Place this water bead fidget in the freezer to add an extra layer of sensory satisfaction.
Appealing to young children while being large enough not to pose a choking hazard, Lamb loves that Sensory Water Bead fidgets are great for fulfilling sensory needs and encouraging hand-eye coordination. They come in basic geometrical shapes, and over 3,000 Amazon reviewers give the six pack 4.2/5 stars.
14. Anti-Anxiety Fidget Spinner
This unique fidget spinner's sleek design won't embarrass older students or adults.
Lamb appreciates that the Anti-Anxiety Fidget Spinner can be used with just one hand, leaving the other hand free to write or work. A favorite on Amazon, with almost 3,000 reviews giving it 4.3/5 stars, the spinner has a sleek design that will leave other students wanting one too. It’s a great pick for older students.
15. Tilcare Chew Chew Sensory Pencil Necklace
Now there's no need to leave bite marks on classroom pencils.
Our expert can’t stop raving about how much she loves Tilcare Chew Chew Sensory Pencil Necklaces. Not only do they encourage safe chewing for students with oral fixations, but they also look like a simple piece of jewelry, leaving others unaware that it’s actually a sensory tool. With over 4,000 positive Amazon reviews, these necklaces have the approval of parents and students alike.
16. Fidget Dodecagon
The Fidget Dodecagon does it all.
The Fidget Dodecagon is multi-faceted and is one of Amazon’s most popular sensory fidgets. “I really like that you can do multiple things with it. It’s quiet and definitely hits different sensory needs,” Lamb says, which is a huge asset for kids who need several types of tools. However, Lamb cautions that you’ll want to ensure your child won’t use the loop to spin it around, which could be distracting.
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