You have surely heard of fidget toys, fidget spinners, fidget cubes… Maybe you have tried them and don’t get the appeal or maybe you can’t seem to find the right one for your child. Well here is a list of my favorite fidgets based on type of sensory input.

The general purpose of fidgets is to regulate stimulation coming in from the outside world. Sometimes the brain is under-stimulated (bored, low-energy) and needs help to stay more engaged; other times the brain is over-stimulated (stressed, high-energy) and needs help to feel more calm. Depending on the way the brain experiences various senses, certain fidgets will be more helpful than others. Take a peak at our Sensory Processing Checklist for some insight into how your brain might experience sensory input.

TYPES of FIDGETS

Tactile
Acupressure and Deep Pressure
Oral
Visual
Auditory
Olfactory/Gustatory

TACTILE FIDGETS

Therapeutic Putty

Comes in multiple strengths. I prefer quality of the physical or occupational therapy putties.

Aaron's Thinking Putty

Comes in multiple colors and textures. I enjoy the glass and water colors.

Flexible Fidget Sticks

The exact-right balance of bendy and firm.

Fidget Worry Stones

Comes in different sizes and textures.

Squishy Stress Balls

Comes in different strengths/firmness.

Squishy Stress Toys

There are all sorts of cute animals and themed squish toys.

A tactile fidget focuses on your sense of touch. It is helpful for concentration or relaxation as it assists your brain in narrowing the amount of sensory information being digested.

While I do enjoy fidget spinners and cubes, I much prefer therapeutic putty, flexible fidget sticks, worry stones (the silicone type are cool), baoding balls, and classic squishy stress balls and toys.