Have you ever heard of a Fidget Spinner?
If you have a school-aged child, maybe you have, If you do not maybe you have seen them in stores or vendors hawking them in parking lots or corners of busy streets.
Fidget Spinners are the new craze for children and adults alike. Yet the question in the minds of many wonder, what are they, where did they come from and what are they being used for? I would like to note that that I have no intention to judge the use of these toys or express opinions for or against this product.
I found out about Fidget Spinners a month ago from my 8-year-old nephew, who has several of these toys in his possession. I was surprised to find Fidget Spinners are not a new product. In fact, they have been around for several years, but only recently became nationally popular earlier this spring.
A Fidget Spinner is a small ball-bearing device that fits in the palm of your hand. They come in many different designs. By balancing the toy by its bearing or holding the toy between one’s fingers the individual can fidget or spin the toy anywhere from one to five minutes. Some custom designed toys have been known to rotate upwards of 10 minutes from a single spin.
Retailers have made claims, without scientific proof, that there are health benefits to the Fidget Spinners, making them more of a tool than a toy. They claim to benefit those who are afflicted by the following ailments:
- Stress
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- Autism
- Anxiety
- Nervous habits such as nail-biting or leg-jiggling
Despite its renown, the humble origin of the toy may surprise you. A woman named Catherine Hettinger created the Fidget Spinner in the early ’90s. She had an autoimmune disorder and wanted to be able to play with her daughter. With the spinner she could be a mother to her child despite her struggle. Catherine lost the patent for the Fidget Spinner in 2005 due to lack of funds. Although she has made no profit from her invention’s sudden surge to fame, she remains positive about the fact that something she designed is making people happy.
Circumstances around the sudden rise of popularity of a product made by a woman who lost her patent do to financial struggle may put the ethics of our current economy into question. But the more pressing dichotomy of these twirling gadgets is that some say they are a distraction for kids in school and others say that they help kids with special needs. Schools have gone as far as to ban the Fidget Spinners and others are embracing them as tools as a positive alternative to more disruptive behavior. There is no universal recommendation for a specific toy to help a child with special needs or focusing issues. Usually, when such a general statement is made a parent or guardian would use wisdom and educate themselves on the subject at hand before claiming if the child is using the Fidget Spinner as a tool or a toy.
If you find yourself out shopping for a Fidget Spinner here are some suggestions to consider before you purchase.
- Buy from a licensed retailer, in case you want to return or there is an issue with the product.
- Average prices range from $3 to $30 dollars. Some prices for unique designs can cost hundreds of dollars.
- If you are buying for a child, make sure the child understands the rules at school.
- If you are choosing one that is going to last a while make sure it is made out of solid material, like metal. There are lots of videos on YouTube to do your research.
- Have lots of fun with your new Fidget Spinner!
For more information about the author visit Misty Green’s website at agelessyogis.com or you can email her at m@agelessyogis.com
