Why might you use a fidget toy in the classroom?
Sensory fidget toys (also known as sensory fiddle toys) are commonly recommended by occupational therapists or tried out by teachers for children who fiddle with their pens or other items on their desk. For some children, a fiddle toy might just mean the difference between concentrating and attending on what the teacher is saying or missing much of the lesson. They don’t work for every child though and in some cases can cause more of a distraction! In this post I will cover

Why might you use a fidget toy in the classroom?
Sensory fidget toys (also known as sensory fiddle toys) are commonly recommended by occupational therapists or tried out by teachers for children who fiddle with their pens or other items on their desk. For some children, a fiddle toy might just mean the difference between concentrating and attending on what the teacher is saying or missing much of the lesson. They don’t work for every child though and in some cases can cause more of a distraction! In this post I will cover
Sensory fidget toys (also known as sensory fiddle toys) are commonly recommended by occupational therapists or tried out by teachers for children who are constantly fiddling at their desk. For some children, a fiddle toy might just mean the difference between concentrating and attending on what the teacher is saying or missing much of the lesson. They don’t work for every child though and in some cases can cause more of a distraction!
Which children might benefit from a sensory fidget toy?
Let’s explore my main tips for choosing sensory fidget toys.

Choose a silent fiddle toy
The sensory fiddle toy must be silent. If the toy makes noise this can be distracting for the student. It also creates a distraction for the other children in the class and the teacher! When choosing a fidget toy make sure it doesn’t make any noise. You might need to squeeze and shake it in the shop to be sure.
Find a fidget toy that don’t leak
Avoid any fidget toys that could leak if punctured. Unfortunately there are a number of sensory fiddle toys/fidgets on the market that are not very robust. Some of them can leak quite easily if they get a hole. It’s important to look for a sensory toy that will withstand being squeezed and pulled and pushed over a long period of time. I also recommend avoiding fidget toys that have liquid or slime inside them just to be safe.
Consider the texture of the sensory toy
Choose a sensory texture that your child prefers – not all fidget toys suit all children! Every child is an individual. There is not one fiddle toy that will be suitable for all children. Some children prefer soft textures, like fabric. Other children like something that they can pull. Sometimes children like something they can squeeze. Or it might be that your child likes something that moves when they fiddle with it. It’s best to involve the child when choosing a fiddle toy rather than just making a choice for them. You might also find they already have something they are using which would be suitable like a piece of blu-tack or their watch strap.
Check the fiddle toy doesn’t create a distraction
Ensure the child is not zoning out due to the fidget toy. This one is particularly important to remember. The goal of the fiddle toy is to help with attention. Therefore, if it is causing the child to zone out it’s not helping with their learning. Fidget toys such as fidget spinners sometimes distract the child from their learning. Using a favourite toy as the child’s fidget (e.g. a Lego man) might also be distracting. Link in with the child’s teacher and use the tips for monitoring fidget toys below.
Parents, check with your child’s school before sending in a fidget toy
This tip is for parents. Ensure that your child’s school is happy for them to use the fiddle item (e.g. some schools ban blu-tack/fidget spinners). If your child likes to fiddle with something and you know it helps with their attention make sure you check with their teacher before you say they can use it at school. If your child has an occupational therapist they can help to choose an appropriate sensory fiddle toy. In cases where they don’t, you could link in with the school’s special education needs coordinator (SENCO) to see what the school would recommend and be happy for your child to use.
It is important that you are are monitoring the fidget toy to ensure it is helping. If it is becoming more of a distraction then it’s not the correct sensory strategy for that child.
Make sure you monitor the fidget toy!
It is super important to make sure the sensory fiddle toys are helping rather than creating more of a distraction for the child or their classmates. Don’t expect the child to necessarily look more at the teacher when they are talking. Do, however, expect to see some of the following signs that the child is getting some benefits from their sensory fidget toy:
What if the sensory fiddle toy is not helping?
For some children, fidget toys don’t make a lot of difference or can make them more distracted. In this case, remove the toy, or try a different fidget toy.
It is also important to use basic behaviour management strategies with fiddle toys. If the child is creating a distraction with they toy, this is not OK. Teachers should make sure the child is using the sensory toy appropriately. The toy should remain on the student’s desk. It must not cause a distraction to other students. The fidget toys must also be used how they are designed to be used. A toy designed to be squeezed should be squeezed. If it’s designed to be stretched it should be stretched. Even if the fiddle toy has been recommended by an occupational therapist it still needs to be used appropriately in the classroom.
Indications that the fidget toy might not be helping:
When could fidget toys be used at home?
When talking about sensory fidgets most of the information is typically related to the classroom. Fidget toys, however, can be helpful at home and when out and about as well. Some examples include:
What can I use as a fidget?
Many different items can be used as a fiddle toy. These also don’t need to be expensive shop brought toys. Sometimes children find something as simple as blu-tack a great fidget! One child I worked with liked a small piece of soft material. As noted above it is important to find a fidget toy that works for the individual child. There is no one size fits all sensory fidget! Every child is different. Some other ideas are below:
Date last updated by Kim: 26th May 2024