Keep Your Hands to Yourself! Time for a Fidget Toy

Book bag, Ear buds, #2 pencils, Highlighters, Scissors, Crayons, Glue sticks, Calculator, Pencil pouch, Notebooks, Box of tissues, Fidget cube

Wait, fidget cube?

Alright – the fidget cube is not actually on the school’s back to school list for my kids.  It is on MY back to school supply list for my kids.  And I thought about why we use them as I was packing up book bags with new supplies for the school year ahead.

Here’s the thing, I have touchy feely kids.

Literally.

They cannot keep their hands to themselves.

When Bobby was in second grade his touching and hugging of other students became a problem.  According to the teacher, his touching and hugging was making the other students uncomfortable.  I didn’t know it was a problem.  The teacher didn’t tell me, but she did tell Bobby, “If you hug one more student, it is an automatic red and you will be sent to the principal’s office.”

Standing in line to leave the classroom Bobby smiled and lifted his arms to hug a friend in line.  He remembered he was not supposed to hug, so he put his arms down and did not hug her.  The teacher saw the interaction and told him, “You thought about it.  Automatic red.  Go to the principal’s office.”

I, of course, did not like the response.  Instead of being congratulated for stopping himself, he was punished.  And Bobby’s reaction was severe.  He began to self-destruct and support had to be provided.

And when the teacher and guidance counselor called home to tell me about the incident I again heard, “Bobby has a hard time keeping his hands to himself.”

Catelyn also has problems with touching others.  She drapes herself on friends.  Declan used to run into people for the impact.

When I think about it now, makes sense.  I can tell you all my kids are sensory seekers.  Their bodies crave input.

With enough redirection, Declan doesn’t run into people anymore.  He has learned other ways to gain sensory input, like jumping on his trampoline.

Bobby and Catelyn are active in sports, but what about when they are in the classroom or at home?

I was directed by a friend to the world of fidget toys, or really, fidget tools.

What are fidget toys? 

According to the article found here, fidget toys are often used to provide sensory input in a less distracting way. They can help improve concentration and attention to tasks by allowing the brain to filter out the extra sensory information (e.g. listening to a lesson in the classroom, paying attention to a book during circle time).

And for me, they helped my kids keep their hands busy when their hands and minds were not on task.

I started with the fidget cubes.  Something small they could keep in their pockets to fiddle with while standing in line, or listening to a teacher.

Fidget spinners came out next, but they became to distracting in the classroom, so they are no longer allowed in our schools.

But there are a ton of other fidgets out there.  Rubber bands, paper clips – Declan loves putty.  And of course, any time I have a stress ball the kids will play with one of those.  Another winner!

All of these items are small pocket-sized pieces that help keep idle hands busy AND help keep attention to tasks.

And if you are like me, tired of hearing yourself say, “Keep your hands to yourself!” Then a fidget tool may come in handy.  For school and down time at home!