A fidget spinner is a toy that is marketed as relieving stress. It consists of a bearing in the center of a multi-lobed flat structure made from metal or plastic. The toy has been advertised as helping people who have trouble with focusing or fidgeting (such as those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety) by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or psychological stress. Experts are divided, with some supporting this claim and others disputing its scientific basis, arguing that the toy may be distracting.
Fidget spinners became popular toys in 2017, although similar devices had already been invented in 1993. Often marketed with claims of health benefits, the toy became popular among schoolchildren. Some schools banned the spinners for being a distraction, while other schools allowed the toy to be used discreetly.
When fidget spinners rose in popularity in 2017, many publications discussed their claimed benefits for individuals with ADHD, autism, or anxiety. As Money detailed, fidget spinners were "created and marketed as a calming tool used to stay focused." Some fidget spinners sold on Amazon were advertised as "stress relievers." Hettinger accounted her knowledge of "a special needs teacher who used it with autistic kids, and it really helped to calm them down." James Plafke of Forbes explained, "Ultimately, though, there isn't enough research regarding whether or not these spinners can actually help people from a mental health standpoint." Experts themselves were polarised on this claim, as some supported the notion of its benefit for those with ADHD and autism, while others argued the spinners could actually be more distracting than helpful with focusing.
When reporting on their effects for individuals with ADHD, CNN cited Elaine Taylor-Klaus, the co-founder of ImpactADHD, a coaching service for children with attention disorders and their parents. Taylor-Klaus stated "For some people [with ADHD], there's a need for constant stimulation. What a fidget allows some people — not all people — with ADHD to do is to focus their attention on what they want to focus on, because there's sort of a background motion that's occupying that need." U.S. News & World Report referenced two occupation therapists interviewed by WTOP, Katherine Ross-Keller and Stephen Poss. Ross-Keller stated, "Fidgets are great tools for kids who need them, as long as there are ground rules set up with the child and educator in advance, and as long as the child can follow the rules." Poss offered a more critical view of the spinners, "the spinner toys, in my opinion, and that of teachers I've spoken to, are just that — toys," adding, "fidget objects are meant to be felt, so that visual attention can be focused on the teacher. Spinner toys are visually distracting, and I think that's their major drawback."