The fidget spinning craze has become more and more popular lately - just this morning even Dollah was playing with one!
How much do you know about these fidget spinners? Some praise its ability to keep children quiet, while others complain about the distraction and annoyance it brings. So today, I’ve done my research, and will answer the questions about fidget spinners from the what’s to the who’s to the why.
What’s a fidget spinner?
A fidget spinner is a small gadget with a ball-bearing device at the middle. The user can rotate the fidget spinner and the momentum would bring it to spin. The fidget spinner has been marketed as a tool for the treatment of ADHD, anxiety and autism. It serves as a distraction for kids or patients with these mental illnesses, and it can also be fun to fiddle with among kids especially.
The positives about fidget spinner:
- Can act as a distraction of patients with mental illnesses like ADHD
- Can be a fun gadget to play with for kids and adults
- A potential tool for relaxation or to release stress
- Kids can learn about ball bearings
The negatives about fidget spinner:
- Can be distracting in conversations or in a classroom setting
- Can be addictive
- Can be used for wrong purpose
- Can cause social pressure
Who uses the fidget spinner?
The majority of fidget spinner users are children or kids. However, there are also some adults who find it fun. It is widely claimed that fidget spinners were invented and designed for mental illness therapy for patients with ADHD, anxiety and autism, but there are no solid studies to support this claim as yet. The main function of a gadget that can help in mental illnesses is one that encourages movement or motor activity of the user. In this case, the fidget spinner actually doesn’t require much movement by the user, as it moves and spins on its own largely due to momentum.
While the distraction and movement of the fidget spinner may be able to help in mental illnesses like ADHD or autism, there are no scientific studies supporting this as of now.
When did the fidget spinner become popular?
The origins of the invention of the fidget spinner is still disputed, though there is a strong claim that it was created by Catherine Hettinger as early as the 1980s.
The fidget spinner became popular in the early 2017, and is now one of the top searched words on the internet. Prior to December 2016, Google searches for fidget spinners were almost zero.
Where is the fidget spinner used?
The fidget spinner can be used anywhere as it is a handheld device. It’s size is about the palm of our hand or smaller, and can be brought anywhere we go. Recently, fidget spinners are also fitted onto the back of smartphone covers or bags.
However, the place where fidget spinners are currently creating problems are in classrooms. Children and students are bringing their fidget spinners to class and teachers have hard times getting them to focus on the lesson rather than the spinners. In some countries, fidget spinners have been banned in schools.
Why has the fidget spinner become so popular?
The fidget spinner is sold as a tool to provide mental therapy for ADHD and autism patients. Like the fidget cube, the fidget spinner provides a medium of focus for patients so that they can lay their focus on a device rather than having to control their emotions and activity.
The marketing of the fidget spinner has also attracted non-mental illness patients to take this as an amusement toy to fiddle with, much to the distress of those who view this device as a therapy tool.
Sometimes, social pressure can also be a reason why the fidget spinner’s popularity has skyrocketed. The simple need for us to not fall behind when among peers cause a rise in sales of the fidget spinners, both among mental patients on non-patients.
Dollah: Check out my fidget spinner, it glows in the dark!
So how should the fidget spinner be used? As a tool or as a toy?
As of today, there is yet to be any confirmation on the use of the fidget spinner as a mental therapy tool. What we hear around, on the various usage of this spinning device, are mainly opinions of both users and non-users, marketing messages, and rumours rather than scientific facts.
The fidget spinner can indeed be a fun gadget to fiddle with, and it can be a distraction or a therapy tool for ADHD, anxiety, or autism patients, even though there are yet to be conclusive studies on the effectiveness of this device in treating the illnesses.
And finally...
What's your take on fidget spinners?
What we know, is that the fidget spinner is currently in an upward trend, so what do you think of the fidget spinner?
Does your child have one? We all know of the moment when our child comes crying “mum, dad, all the other kids have one. I want one too!” - what would you do?
Let us know in the comments below!
Juliet’s Reminder: If you're looking for a gadget as a mental illness therapy tool, it is best to get professional advice from a specialist doctor. Find a specialist doctor in psychiatry near you to leave an enquiry, and you’ll get a reply from the clinic within 3 working days.
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