Why “fidget toys” stimulate the brain and give children better motor coordination

From time to time a toy appears that turns into a “fever” among children. Who doesn’t remember the Tamagotchis? The fashion of the moment is the fidget toys — sensory and colorful toys — that promise to help in the development of the little ones and also relieve anxiety and stress. If, on the one hand, there are moms and dads approving this way of having fun with their children, on the other, there are those who still have their doubts about the benefits of these toys.

It is for that reason that the awesome.club gathered some facts that can help you understand how these toys, which have been “stealing the show” for some time, work. Come find out!

Toys that aim, through repetitive movements, to alleviate the anxiety of both children and adults, is the proposal of fidget toys. By the way, “fidget” means, “restlessness” or “agitation” in English. Made with a flexible, textured and colorful material, these toys when handled, stimulate touch, and their sounds (like the pop of a bubble wrap) bring a momentary feeling of well-being.

Unlike in the past, it is possible to say that many children today do not have so much access to street games, such as: tag, marbles, dodgeball, among other ways to have fun, for several reasons. Full of energy and unable to socialize, it is common for them to become restless and stressed.

With their repetitive movements, texture and sounds, the fidgets toys, according to research, can contribute to the motor and sensorial development of children, in addition to helping in their concentration, since the constant handling and the relationship of the colors imbued in the objects can soften the flow of thoughts and, of course, bring about a certain sense of calm. In this process, not only the sensory sense or the mind is responsible, but also the vision. However, we must remember that despite these benefits, it is not a “therapeutic medicine” that will cure people with attention deficit, for example.

Some behaviors are so involuntary that most of the time we don’t even realize what we’re doing, like biting our nails or snapping our fingers. These new toys have the function of distracting and changing the thought and focus of what is somehow causing some annoyance or anxiety. Who doesn’t remember the good feeling when popping bubble wrap? With the famous Push Pop It, the feeling is the same.

In order to prevent children from being overly exposed to technologies such as smartphones and tablets, these toys keep them calm and entertained. The fact that they fit in the palm of the hand, are easy to squeeze and we can see their original shape coming back into place, all this provides a feeling of pleasure for those who handle them, promoting a mental slowdown.

Simplicity in handling is the secret of fidget toys: whether in bubble, spinner, magic cube or squishy formats. After all, your goal is to be squeezed repeatedly from one side and then the other and, with that, the brain begins to be stimulated, working with perception, controlling strength and improving motor coordination.

The humor octopus, in a playful way and cute appearance, is one of the fidget toys whose proposal seems to be quite effective: it shows both the happy and the angry or sad sides, in addition to changing color, and with that, it can reveal the emotional state of the child, through this interaction. For those who are less able to talk about their feelings, with the help of the plush toy, the way to express the mood becomes easier and more enlightening.

Despite all the benefits, experts point out that those responsible need to be aware that these hobbies do not drive the child’s consumerist desire to acquire the object and thereby aggravate the feeling of stress and anxiety, after all, there are several options and formats available on the market. . In addition, it is important that children under 2 years of age are monitored by an adult when handling these toys.

However, with responsibility and attention, fidget toys seem to be a good option to gift the little ones, right?! In addition to being able to have fun, their benefits go beyond what many imagine.

In your opinion, what is the best way to make children calmer? Do your children also like to play with fidget toys or do you prefer other means of entertainment? Tell us about your experience in this matter!