Keep Occupied With the Best Fidget Toys

Buying Guide: Fidget Toys

Before purchasing a fidget toy, you may want to learn a little more about the different types of fidget toys available as well as what to look for in each type. Continue reading to see our advice on how to purchase the best fidget toy for your needs.

Types of Fidget Toys

Fabric blanket or cloth types

Fabric types of fidget toys come in various sizes. If you are looking for a fidget toy that can be used in the home, you can choose a large product. However, if you want a fabric fidget toy that can be used in school or the workplace, you should consider purchasing one that can fit into a pocket.

Fabric fidget toys may come with many of the attachments you will also find on plastic shapes, including squeezy balls and clicking buttons. Unlike plastic fidget toys, fabric fidget toys feel soft. They may also have tassels and pompoms.

When choosing a fabric fidget toy, ensure the stitching is strong and smooth. Look for a product with good customer reviews about durability. There are many different colors and designs you could purchase. The large variety of colors is one of the benefits of purchasing a fabric fidget toy over the other types. Fidget blankets come are made from different materials, and quite often, you will find a mix in one product. Some of the materials include:

Velvet

Velvet is a tactile material that you can rub. Some people love the feel of velvet and others hate it.

Satin

The silky feel of satin may be appealing to you.

Burlap

Burlap is often used to create a rough contrast to other smooth materials.

Polyester

Polyester is mostly used to make fidget blankets because it can be treated to feel soft. It is also durable and is easy to clean.

Plastic shape with attachments

Plastic fidget toys come in various shapes. Some circles, cubes, hexagons, pentagons, pyramids and dodecagons. Plastic fidget toys are available in the most symmetrical 3D shapes you can think of. You may want to look for a product that can fit in a pocket or on a work desk. The shape usually has different types of fidget toys attached to each side. These may include:

Buttons

Buttons come in a variety of types. You can get a round button that pops in and out, a switch like a light switch, a turning switch, a keyboard letter, and a diffuser switch. Consider whether you want the buttons to make a noise.

If you want a product to help you concentrate in the workplace, or help your child concentrate in school, ensure the buttons do not make a clicking noise. However, if this product will be used in the home, the clicking noise can feel very satisfying.

Flickers

Some plastic fidget toys may have shapes on the end of springs that you can flick. Ensure these are securely attached and the material isn’t too hard to flick comfortably.

Stress balls

The item may have mini stress balls attached. As the name suggests, squeezing them can be soothing and relieve anxiety.

Fidget spinner

Not so long ago, fidget spinners were all the rage. This product is held in one hand with two fingers and a third finger spins it. They are usually compact and quiet. However, you can get some fidget spinners that make a nouse and light up. This may be a more appealing sensory option for you.

Fidget cube

When we talk about a fidget cube, we are not talking about a square shape with additional fidget toys attached. Fidget cubes have many names, but they basically can be twisted, turned, and folded. A Rubix cube is a famous example. Some cubes offer some sort of mental stimulation by having a puzzle aspect, whereas, others simply offer movement and texture in the same way other fidget toys do.

Stress ball

Stress balls don’t always come in the shape of a spherical ball. They can also come in the form of a football, a plant, food, animal, vehicle, or building. A stress ball is available in most shapes and sizes, but if you have something specific in mind it is a good idea to begin your search there.

Bean bags

Small bean bags work in the same way a stress ball does but has a slightly different feel. Many people enjoy how moving the tiny beans around in the fabric feels. Bean bags are heavier than stress balls and may weigh down a pocket too much. However, many people prefer the feel of the heavier weight in their hands.

Like blanket sensory toys, beanbags can be made from a variety of textured fabrics. Decide if you’d prefer something smooth or something rough.

Why Use a Fidget Toy?

There are many benefits to using a fidget toy and many different types of people use them. Continue reading to see what you can achieve with a fidget toy.

Attention regulation

Fidgeting is often a sign that someone is not stimulated. It often happens when the mind wanders and maybe your mind's natural way to try and force itself to concentrate on something it has no interest in, but must do. Fidgeting helps many people concentrate on a task and stops them from completely zoning out. Some people who benefit from attention regulation include:

Adults and teenagers are boring tasks to accomplish.

• People with ADD or ADHD.
• Anxiety relief

Fidgeting can also be a sign of feeling stressed. Without objects to fidget with, people will often bite nails or skin, scratch, or pull their hair. Fidgeting toys are a great safety measure for many people with learning disabilities. Some people who benefit from fidget toys for stress relief include:

• Anyone with social anxiety
• Anyone who needs to do a work presentation
• Anyone getting married or divorced
• When changing jobs or moving house
• People with sensory overload issues such as people with autism