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A '''fidget spinner''' is a type of stress-relieving [[toy]]. A basic fidget spinner consists of a [[bearing (mechanical)|bearing]] in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. The toy may help people who have trouble focusing or [[fidgeting]] by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or [[stress (psychological)|stress]].
A '''fidget spinner''' is a type of stress-relieving [[toy]]. A basic fidget spinner consists of a [[bearing (mechanical)|bearing]] in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. The toy may help people who have trouble focusing or [[fidgeting]] by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or [[stress (psychological)|stress]].{{Citation needed}}


Although they were invented in the 1990s, fidget spinners became a popular toy in 2017, as fidget toys in general began experiencing mainstream popularity.{{Dubious|date=May 2017}} Often marketed with health benefits, the toy began being used by school children, resulting in some schools banning the spinners, arguing that the toy became a distraction in classrooms.
Although they were invented in the 1990s, fidget spinners became a popular toy in 2017, as fidget toys in general began experiencing mainstream popularity.{{Dubious|date=May 2017}} Often marketed with health benefits, the toy began being used by school children, resulting in some schools banning the spinners, arguing that the toy became a distraction in classrooms.

Revision as of 03:55, 12 May 2017


Fidget spinner
An example of a plastic Tri-Spinner
Typestress-relieving toy
Inventor(s)Unknown
Availability1990s–present
Materialsincl. brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic

A fidget spinner is a type of stress-relieving toy. A basic fidget spinner consists of a bearing in the center of a design made from any of a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper and plastic. The toy may help people who have trouble focusing or fidgeting by acting as a release mechanism for nervous energy or stress.[citation needed]

Although they were invented in the 1990s, fidget spinners became a popular toy in 2017, as fidget toys in general began experiencing mainstream popularity.[dubious – discuss] Often marketed with health benefits, the toy began being used by school children, resulting in some schools banning the spinners, arguing that the toy became a distraction in classrooms.

Design

Fidget spinners are often designed with the intent to relieve stress.[1][2] Basic fidget spinners consist of a two or three pronged design with a bearing in its center circular pad.[2][3] An individual holds the center pad while the toy spins.[3] Designs are made from various materials including brass, stainless steel, titanium, copper, aluminum, and 3D printed plastic.[1][2][4] The types of of bearings generally used are ceramic, metal (stainless steel or chrome), and hybrid designs. Additionally, bearings can be different to adjust for the design's spin time, vibration, and noise, leading to unique sensory feedback.

Origin

Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer by training, was widely cited to have been the inventor of the fidget spinner, including by media outlets such as The Guardian[5], The New York Times[6] and the New York Post[7]. Invented in the early 1990s, Hettinger told the New York Post that the idea for the toy came as she saw young boys throwing rocks at police officers in Israel - she wanted to develop a soothing toy that could help children release pent-up energy and "promote peace".[7] She told The Guardian, meanwhile, that the origins of the fidget spinner came when she was suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness. Unable to play with her daughter, she started "throwing things together with newspaper and tape" in an effort to entertain her. It soon gained moderate popularity as she began small-scale manufacturing from her home and sold her invention around art fairs in Florida. With a patent granted in 1997[8], Hettinger pitched her fidget spinner to toy manufacturers; Hasbro, after market testing it, declined to pursue a deal. Hettinger let her spinning toy patent lapse in 2005; but even if it was maintained, it would have expired in 2014, 17 years after it was filed.[9]

A Bloomberg News article, however, disputes the claim that Hettinger is the original inventor of the fidget spinner, citing two patent lawyers who saw little resemblance between the fidget spinners currently (as of 2017) popular and Hettinger's spinning toy, as described in the patent. Hettinger herself acknowledges there is no direct connection between her own spinning toy and fidget spinners in their current form and does not make any claims on being the inventor of the product, telling Bloomberg News: "Let's just say I'm claimed to be the inventor. You know, 'Wikipedia claims,' or something like that." It is unclear which patents, if any, cover fidget spinners, and their inventor is currently still unknown.[9]

Rise in popularity

On December 23, 2016, James Plafke of Forbes published an article describing fidget spinners as the "must-have office toy for 2017."[4] In late March, users on social media websites such as YouTube and Reddit began uploading videos reviewing and performing tricks with fidget spinners.[10] The Boston Globe reported that fidget toys in general "entered the mainstream" with the related Fidget Cube toy also rising in popularity.[1] Several sellers on Etsy were reported to be creating and selling customized spinner designs.[1]

A fidget spinner consisting of one blade

In spring 2017, the fidget spinner's popularity began to increase greatly; Money reported that Google searches for "fidget spinner" spiked in April.[11][12] By May 4, variations of the spinner occupied every spot on Amazon's top 20 best seller list for toys.[11] Many publications referred to the fidget spinner as a fad, with some journalists comparing it to water bottle flipping's rise in popularity from 2016.[13][14] The New York Post detailed, "so-called fidget spinners, low-tech, low-price stress relieving toys, are a huge fad sweeping the country, and stores can't keep them in stock."[13]

Responses from schools

With the rapid increase in the spinner's popularity in 2017—combined with the spinner's often advertised benefits for individuals with ADHD and autism, among other conditions—many children and teenagers began using it in school.[15] Some schools also reported that kids were trading and selling the spinner toys.[11][16] The Boston Globe cited a sixth-grade teacher from New Hampshire, who stated, "when we got back from Christmas break, a couple of kids had them, then a couple more kids had them, and then they were definitely en vogue."[1] In some cases, the fidget spinners were reported to assist some kids with focusing in school.[17] In regards to a broader context of fidget tools in general, the Chicago Tribune reported, "today, it's common to see kids using some kind of fidget or other tool to help them settle and focus."[15]

As a result of their frequent usage by school children, many school districts have been reported to ban the toy.[18][10][19] Cited reasons for their banning were often teachers arguing that the spinners distracted students from completing their school work.[11] Taylor-Klaus stated, "there are definitely times that kids don't know how to use a fidget and it becomes the primary focus instead of the background focus", adding that, "spinners are visually distracting, and they can make some noise, so it's not an ideal fidget for the classroom. But still, not allowing them in schools is probably throwing the baby out with the bath water."[19] Illinois' Plainfield District 202 discussed possibly banning the spinner, with the district's assistant superintendent for student services, Mina Griffith, stating, "We have students who use them as an accommodation. They've been taught how to use them. But they're becoming a distraction for some kids. For students who don't have a disability, it's a toy, and that's never been allowed."[15]

Health effects

When fidget spinners rose in popularity in 2017, many publications discussed their claimed benefits for individuals with ADHD, autism, or anxiety.[15][19][20][21] As Money detailed, fidget spinners were "created and marketed as a calming tool used to stay focused."[11] Some fidget spinners sold on Amazon were advertised as "stress relievers."[20] Hettinger accounted her knowledge of "a special needs teacher who used it with autistic kids, and it really helped to calm them down."[18] James Plafke of Forbes explained, "ultimately, though, there isn't enough research regarding whether or not these spinners can actually help people from a mental health standpoint."[4]

When reporting on their effects for individuals with ADHD, CNN cited Elaine Taylor-Klaus, the co-founder of ImpactADHD, a coaching service for children with attention disorders and their parents.[19] Taylor-Klaus stated "For some people [with ADHD], there's a need for constant stimulation. What a fidget allows some people – not all people – with ADHD to do is to focus their attention on what they want to focus on, because there's sort of a background motion that's occupying that need."[19] U.S. News & World Report referenced two occupation therapists interviewed by WTOP, Katherine Ross-Keller and Stephen Poss.[20][22] Ross-Keller stated, "Fidgets are great tools for kids who need them, as long as there are ground rules set up with the child and educator in advance, and as long as the child can follow the rules." Poss offered a more critical view of the spinners, "the spinner toys, in my opinion, and that of teachers I've spoken to, are just that – toys," adding, "fidget objects are meant to be felt, so that visual attention can be focused on the teacher. Spinner toys are visually distracting, and I think that's their major drawback."[20]

See also

Further reading

  • Tuttle, Brad (April 24, 2017). "How to Get a Free Fidget Spinner". Money. Time. Retrieved May 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Arnett, Dugan (March 30, 2017). "Need to focus? Fidget toys may help". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Tuttle, Brad; O'Brien, Elizabeth (April 21, 2017). "Meet the Fidget Spinner, the New Toy Craze Entrancing Kids and Grownups Alike". Money. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Verstegen, Dominic (April 21, 2017). "Your kid probably has a fidget spinner already, but let me tell you about it anyway". USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Plafke, James (December 23, 2016). "Fidget Spinners Are The Must-Have Office Toy For 2017". Forbes. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  5. ^ Luscombe, Richard (2017-05-05). "As fidget spinner craze goes global, its inventor struggles to make ends meet". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  6. ^ Williams, Alex (2017-05-06). "How Fidget Spinners Became a Hula Hoop for Generation Z". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  7. ^ a b Miller, Joshua Rhett (2017-05-05). "Woman who invented fidget spinners isn't getting squat". New York Post. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  8. ^ "Spinning toy". 1993-05-28. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ a b "How the Fidget Spinner Origin Story Spun Out of Control". Bloomberg.com. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  10. ^ a b Williams, Alex (May 6, 2017). "How Fidget Spinners Became a Hula-Hoop for Generation Z". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e Calfas, Jennifer (May 4, 2017). "Here's Everything You Need To Know About Fidget Spinners". Money. Time. Retrieved May 6, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "fidget spinner". Google Trends. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Fickenscher, Lisa (April 27, 2017). "The hottest new toy fad is a spinning piece of plastic". The New York Post. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  14. ^ Simmons, Brandon (April 27, 2017). "Fidget spinners: the new quiet distraction in the classroom". WKYC. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d Fox, Paige Fumo (May 5, 2017). "Educators put their own spin on fidget devices in classrooms". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  16. ^ "Many Schools Ban Hot Toy For Being Distraction". CBS Los Angeles. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  17. ^ "Fidget Spinners For Kids: Reports Say It's Distracting, Parents Say Not So". CBS Miami. May 2, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  18. ^ a b Luscombe, Richard (May 5, 2017). "As fidget spinner craze goes global, its inventor struggles to make ends meet". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  19. ^ a b c d e Willingham, AJ (May 5, 2017). "All your questions about fidget spinners, answered". CNN. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d Oliver, David (April 25, 2017). "Health Buzz: Do Fidget Spinners Help With ADHD?". Health Buzz. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved April 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Bowen, Cat (May 5, 2017). "Does The Color Of A Fidget Spinner Matter For Kids With ADHD?". Romper. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  22. ^ Augenstein, Neal (April 24, 2017). "Kids, parents in search of fidget spinners: Do they help?". WTOP. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
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