Do Fidget Toys Improve Focus?

Curious about whether fidget toys could be the secret weapon for enhancing focus and attention? Imagine if a simple gadget could help you stay motivated and alert during mundane tasks. On "I Wonder," we explore this intriguing concept, inspired by a question from 13-year-old Annika. We unpack the science behind why small actions like spinning, clicking, or squishing these toys can give your brain a boost of dopamine, keeping your mind engaged and maybe even improving your fine motor skills. But are these toys the right fit for everyone? We discuss their potential, especially for those needing that extra sensory input, while also weighing the risks of distraction if not used wisely.

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Episode Transcript

I Wonder Podcast Host (00:03):
Hey there , Curious Minds, welcome to, I
Wonder, the show where weexplore the questions you've
been wondering about.
Today's question comes fromAnnika, who's 13 years old.
Annika asked how do fidget toysactually improve focus?
What an interesting question.
Fidget toys like spinners,cubes and putty have become

(00:26):
super popular, especially inclassrooms.
Make sure to check out ourwebsite, www.
iwonderpodcast.
com to see some examples of themany types of fidget toys, as
well as some do-it-yourselfprojects to make your own.
But the real question is how dofidget toys work?

(00:47):
Is there really science behindthem or are they just fun
gadgets?
Let's dive in and find out howthese small toys might be really
helping our brains focus.
Fidget toys are designed to besmall, easy-to-use objects that

(01:09):
keep your hands busy.
They can be as simple as astress ball that you can squeeze
, or as complex as a cube withdifferent clickable, twistable
and spinnable sides.
The basic idea is to give yourhands something to do,
especially during activitieswhere you need to sit still,

(01:31):
like listening to a teacher ordoing homework.
But why would keeping yourhands busy help your mind focus?
The science of fidgeting andfocus.
Let's start by understanding thebasics of how our brains pay
attention.
Our brains have somethingcalled an attention system,
which helps us focus onimportant tasks, ignore

(01:52):
distractions and stay on track.
However, this system isn'talways steady.
When we're bored, tired or havea lot on our minds, our brains
can start to wander.
This makes it harder toconcentrate, especially on tasks
that don't immediately grab ourattention.
Fidgeting may help, because itprovides a small amount of

(02:18):
sensory input, a kind oflow-level stimulation that
doesn't require a lot of brainpower.
When we fidget, we're givingour brains just enough
stimulation to prevent boredom,without fully distracting us
from the main task.
This extra input can act like agentle nudge, helping us to
stay focused for longer.

(02:39):
It's similar to how some peopletap their foot or doodle while
listening in class.
These small movements canactually help them concentrate
better.
.

How fidgeting affects the brain: the role of dopamine. (02:52):
undefined
Now let's get a bit deeper intothe science.
Fidgeting can activate certainparts of the brain, particularly
those that deal with dopamine,a chemical that plays a big role
in motivation, attention andeven our sense of pleasure.
Dopamine is sometimes calledthe feel-good chemical, but it

(03:16):
also helps keep our brains alertand engaged.
One of the reasons people mighthave trouble focusing is
because their brains might notrelease enough dopamine.
This could make it harder toconcentrate because their brains
aren't getting the stimulationthey need to stay alert.
So fidgeting helps because itcan create a small dopamine

(03:37):
boost that helps the brain stayinterested and focused.
Crazy, when you play with afidget toy, you're not just
moving your hands, you're alsohelping your brain feel slightly
more stimulated.
This can make it easier to stayengaged with the task at hand,
whether it's listening to alesson, working on a project or

(03:59):
studying.
howHow fidget toys improve brain
health.
Keeping your brain stimulated insmall ways, like fidgeting, can
also have overall brain healthbenefits.
When we concentrate for longperiods, our brains can start to
feel mentally fatigued, similarto how our bodies feel tired

(04:19):
after exercising.
Adding small bursts of sensorystimulation, like squeezing a
stress ball or clicking a fidgetcube, can give our brains a
quick reset without taking awayour focus completely.
This means our brains might notfeel as drained or fatigued,
which could improve overallfocus and mental stamina,

(04:42):
Additionally, fidgeting uses apart of the brain called the
sensory motor network, which isinvolved in processing movement
and sensory input.
Engaging this part of the brainhelps us stay alert,
particularly during tasks thatare repetitive or might
otherwise make us feel drowsy.
Keeping the sensory motornetwork active with the fidget

(05:03):
toy may even improve fine motorskills over time, which are the
small, precise movements we useto write, type or do crafts.
This isn't the primary reasonfor using fidget toys, but it's
a cool added benefit that canhelp our brains stay healthy and
coordinated.
Different types of fidget toysand how they work.

(05:24):
There are many types of fidgettoys, each providing a different
kind of sensory input.
Fidget spinners, for example,involve rotation, which can be
soothing because it provides asmooth, continuous motion.
Stress balls are great forsqueezing, which helps release
tension in the hands and can berelaxing.
Helps release tension in thehands and can be relaxing.

(05:46):
Fidget cubes often have buttons, switches and dials, which
offer a variety of ways toengage your hands.
While each fidget toy isdifferent, they all serve the
same purpose to keep your handsand senses occupied in a way
that helps your brain staybalanced between boredom and
full distraction.

(06:06):
Some people find that aparticular type of fidget toy
works better for them thanothers, and this often depends
on their personal needs andpreferences.
Experimenting with differenttoys can help you find the one
that gives you just the rightlevel of stimulation without
drawing too much of yourattention away.
But how about when fidget toysmight not help?
It's worth noting that fidgettoys aren't a magic fix for

(06:30):
everyone.
For some people, fidget toyscan be flat-out distracting,
especially if they're used insituations where movement isn't
appropriate, like during a testor in a very quiet environment.
If you're more focused onplaying with the toy than on the
task, then the fidget toy isn'thelping.
Using fidget toys responsiblyin situations where a bit of

(06:54):
movement is okay can help youget the most benefit.
And if you find fidgeting helpsyou stay focused remember it's
all about balance.
You want the toy to give youjust enough stimulation to keep
your brain engaged without fullytaking your attention away.
Fidgeting in everyday life.
Why movement helps us focus.

(07:17):
It's not just fidget toys thathelp with focus.
Any kind of fidgeting so small,repetitive movement can have
similar effects.
For example, many people taptheir pencils, bounce their legs
or even chew gum when they'reconcentrating.
These small actions are oftenunconscious, but they work in
the same way as a fidget toy byproviding the brain with

(07:39):
low-level stimulation.
Scientists believe that thiskind of movement is actually
part of human nature.
Think about it.
People have probably beentapping their feet or drumming
their fingers whileconcentrating for centuries.
.
Think brains are wired to lookfor movement, and small,

(08:00):
repetitive actions help preventboredom and keep us focused.
Fidget toys are just a modernversion of these age-old
behaviours behaviors, giving usa convenient and quiet way to
Perfect.
So, to answer Annika's question, fidget toys can help improve

(08:20):
focus by providing a small,controlled amount of sensory
input that keeps the brainstimulated.
When we fidget, we're givingour brains a bit of extra
dopamine, which helps withmotivation, focus and staying
alert.
This is especially useful forpeople who find it challenging
to concentrate for long periods.

(08:41):
By giving our hands somethingto do, fidget toys help our
brain stay engaged withoutbecoming fully distracted.
And while fidget toys aren'tfor everyone, they're a great
tool for anyone who benefitsfrom a little extra sensory
input.
Thanks again to Annika for thequestion and remember, if you

(09:02):
have a question you're curiousabout, send it our way to www.
iwonderpodcast.
com and we might just feature itin our next episode of I Wonder
.
Until next time, stay curiousand keep wondering.