Fidget Toys in Classrooms

 

     It is rather challenging for any child to attend and focus through the entire day of school. For some children it is even harder, especially if they struggle with Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD, Dyslexia, processing issues and other learning challenges. Sitting still in a classroom setting can be difficult for the child to learn. Especially when the child can not filter out noise, struggles with the clothes that they are wearing, can not copy the notes from the whiteboard, and also has difficulty with fine motor skills. Children who suffer from poor gross motor skills, bad posture, vision issues and low muscle tone, could also contribute to their attention and their lack of focus in school.

     The author talks about how movement engages the brain for higher learning. Fidget toys frees up students brains for critical thinking, reading concepts, communication, getting their thoughts on paper and making their skill set automatic. Many people are very surprised to find that more movement actually helps control the body and improves learning. Even people without disabilities are buying fidget toys. They buy these fidget toys as stress relievers. The 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.