My Favorite Fidgets
If you're neurodiverse (or have a neurodivergent kiddo), you know the power of the fidget toy. In somewhat of a paradox, having something to mindlessly or meditatively fidget with can help calm and focus someone who's autistic or has ADHD. Here are a...
Choosy About Chews
Oral stimming is a common trait of many neurodivergent people. Here are some of my favorite fidgets for your mouth.
Oral stimming can be a great way to self-regulate, but also a great way to hurt your teeth or ruin clothes if you choose the wrong object to chew. These silicone “chewelry” chew stims are a great solution!
Tired of destroyed t-shirt necklines? These necklaces are made of upcycled tees, AND you can choose the color combos and length of the wearable fidget.
In pretty, trendy colors, these leaf shaped silicone chew necklaces are great to adults and older kids and teens.
The thing I love about the pencil-topper chew stims is how unobtrusive they are.
Squish It...Squish It Real Good!
For a lot of us, smooshy fidgets bring the calm satisfaction that our nervous systems crave.
This squeezy ball provides super smooshy satisfaction.
Slime comes in all different textures, colors, scents, and even with embedded items to pick at. It's a great fidget or stim device!
Speks are fun, tiny rare earth magnets that let you mold, form, and build smooshable sculptures and shapes. Very satisfying and no mess.
Squishy and mesmerizing to watch the sparkly glitter float in the goo. A great silent fidget.
If you tend to stim by picking at things (your skin, clothes, etc.), these silicone picky pads are fabulous. You get the satisfaction of picking little items out of the silicone, and it won't hurt your skin or belongings.
I like the portability of these squishy stickers.
Puzzletastic Fidgeting
Fidgets and stimming don't have to be mindless. Sometimes, focusing on a puzzle or similar solve can bring about the same results.
These are so much fun and so relaxing. It's like a puzzle cube meets a perpetual motion thingy-ma-bopper. Just trust me. You'll like it.
A fun puzzler of linked chains that are also fun to fidget with as you solve.
This cool little fidget is fun as a mindless object, but you can also solve a puzzle aspect to it by grouping colors and making patterns.
The OG puzzle fidget. My older son got into speed-cubing, and it's been such a good brain workout mixed with a fidget.
Push the marble through the maze with this soft, soothing fidget that gives your brain a teeny workout while providing sensory input.
It's a cool infinity cube with additional buttons to fiddle and fidget with. Love it.
Growing up, I loved to play string games, mindfully weaving a looped string between your hands in set patterns to create puzzles. I love that a new generation can learn these same string puzzles!
Tactile Tactics
A lot of fidgets are designed to keep your hands busy in a simple, repetitive way so your mind can focus. These are some of my favorites.
These minimalist marble fidgets are super simple, but they really do help get nervous energy and anxiety out.
Some of the best fidgets mimic actions you're already taking. (For instance, rolling your finger over your computer mouse's roller ball.) So don't break your mouse or accidentally click on a link. Use these silent roller ball fidgets instead.
It doesn't get much simpler than this textured sticker that leads you through calming breathing exercises.
Why Fidgets?
Fidget toys come in tons of different shapes, sizes, and types depending on what sensory input you find calming. I love learning the scientific why behind it.
A good explanation of why fidgets are calming to the nervous system.
Another good article with more info geared toward adults and teens.
Good book on the benefits of fidgeting and how to maximize those benefits.