Fidget Toys for Middle School
Fidget Toys?
When kids are little, their lessons tend to be highly interactive. We build time into our lessons to let them get up, move around, and burn off some energy. In elementary school, students are given recess where they get to go outside and play for a while after lunch. But, once students get into middle school, they are often expected to sit down and focus for longer periods of time. A fidget toy can help!
As middle school teachers, we work hard to keep our lessons interesting and interactive, but there is so much content that we have to get through that it can be difficult. These long lessons are where students with difficulties maintaining focus are going to struggle. I am a firm believer in fidget toys.
No, I am not recommending that awful spinner that was all the rage last year! But, there are fidget toys that would be beneficial for students who struggle with hyperactivity.
Frick Frack Fidgets
These fidget toys are my favorite, I personally find myself playing when them when I have one around. They are very simple and discrete. When I give these to a middle school student to use in class I tell them that they have to keep it in their pocket while they play with it or under the desk if they don’t have a pocket. The purpose of this is so that they are not distracting their peers with their toy but they are still able to use it during a class period.
12-sided Fidget Cube
This is another fidget toy that can be discrete. This is similar to the fidget cube that you will see later in this post. But, it has a few more options than the cube. This is a small toy that has all sort of buttons and knobs on the sides providing the students with things to fiddle with or provide them with some sort of sensory stimulation.
Wacky Tracks
This fidget toy is a little more simple and old-fashioned. It is just a toy that they can move around and make into different shapes. This one is a little less discrete than the previous two as it is bigger and is harder to play with without attracting attention. This would not be as beneficial in a full classroom setting. Maybe for use during small groups or a one-on-one meeting or counseling session.
Tangle
This one is very similar to the previous one, but it is personally one of my favorites. This one is also less discrete and would not be as beneficial as some of the smaller fidget toys in a classroom where you are trying to avoid attention. But this one can also be useful in a smaller setting where distracting other students is not a concern.
Fidget Cube
And finally, the fidget cube. This one is small enough for large groups. When used appropriately it will not draw attention from classmates.
Pick what works for you!
There are so many different types of fidget toys. Not every toy is going to work with all students. It is best for you to have a few options for students to be able to find what works best for them. I leave them in a common place where my students know that they can borrow them when they feel as though they need it.
What fidget toys are your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
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3 Comments
Erin Sadler
One of the wonderful things about teaching science is that I can still do interactive things most of the time. However, when I have to do direct instruction the kiddos drive me bonkers. I feel so bad for them because I know that they look forward to my class as a break from lecture.
Fidgets are great. I had a box in my old classroom that kids were allowed to grab. Unfortunately I forgot to bring them when I left. This is a great list.
Bobbi Bates
Wow! Love all these ideas!
Shannon: Life Between Summers
I agree that fidgets can definitely be helpful for certain students. Thanks for the list, I haven’t seen some of these before!