Fidgeting has sometimes been considered a bad habit associated with ADHD, but it’s actually a natural response to boredom, stress, or anxiety (NIMH). This may explain why fidget toys have risen in popularity among both children and adults (Schoenen et al., 2024). These small, handheld objects appear fun and enjoyable and are now commonly seen in schools, offices, and waiting rooms, providing a constructive outlet for restless hands and minds.
Their growing ubiquity might lead educators, occupational therapists, and healthcare providers to wonder if there’s scientific support for any benefit of fidget toys. In response, we decided to explore what research has to say about these fun and engaging objects.
This article examines the potential brain benefits of fidget toys, exploring how they may help with stress relief, focus, and symptom management in conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Overall, healthcare providers may find that fidget objects can offer playful, useful strategies for patients who experience difficulties with attention, anxiety, or self-regulation in various settings, including classrooms and workplaces.
What are Fidget Toys and How Can They Help?
Fidget toys, also known as fidget tools, are small toys designed to help individuals with attention or anxiety issues, such as ADHD, autism, and sensory processing disorders (CHADD). These toys provide a discreet and quiet way for individuals to release excess energy, anxiety, or stress, allowing them to focus and concentrate on tasks.
Fidget toys can be used in various settings, including classrooms, offices, and homes, to help individuals with seated computer-based tasks or other activities that require sustained attention.
Fidget toys come in various forms, such as fidget spinners, fidget cubes, and stress balls, each offering unique sensory experiences. For example, a stress ball can be squeezed to release tension, while a fidget spinner can be spun to provide a calming visual stimulus.
Even common activities such as chewing gum or clicking a ballpoint pen can be considered fidgeting behaviors, as they offer a simple yet effective way to self-regulate and stay engaged.
Fidget Toy Examples
- Fidget cubes (multiple buttons, switches, and textures)
- Fidget spinners
- Squishy stress balls
- Kinetic sand, dough, resistive putty
- Tangle toys (twistable, bendable links)
- Pop-it toys
- Clicker pens
- Spinner rings
- Stretchy noodles
- Thumb rollers
While fidgets may appear fun, they serve as valuable tools for regulating attention and behavior, particularly from a therapeutic perspective.
Potential Benefits of Fidget Toys
The psychology of fidgeting is rooted in the human need for movement and sensory stimulation. People often fidget when sitting for prolonged periods, experiencing stress, or struggling to maintain focus. While fidgeting is not necessarily a bad thing, some may find that it can interfere with productivity or attentiveness in structured environments.
Some individuals may find that fidget toys help manage stress, reduce anxiety, and improve concentration (Son et al., 2024). In educational settings, previous research indicates that students who use fidget toys may stay more engaged during lessons, particularly those with ADHD (Aspiranti & Hulac, 2021). The same principle may apply in office settings, where fidget toys can provide a quiet outlet for nervous energy, allowing individuals to maintain focus during meetings or complex tasks.
Fidgeting may also contribute to improved memory retention. In a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, subjects were shown a 40-minute lecture and asked to rate their level of attentiveness at 5-minute intervals. After the video, researchers also measured the participants’ retention of the lecture content. As expected, attention to the content declined over the course of the video while fidgeting increased. However, those who fidgeted had better retention overall regardless of attention, suggesting that fidgeting may support working memory processes (Farley et al., 2013).
Beyond cognitive benefits, fidgeting has also been linked to physiological processes. Engaging in repetitive movements can stimulate the release of endorphins, natural mood boosting chemicals that help reduce stress and anxiety (Narukawa et al., 2023; NeuroLaunch, 2024). Additionally, some research suggests that fidgeting may improve circulation, as well as improve or maintain executive functions, particularly after extended periods of sitting (Fryer et al., 2022; Pettit-Mee et al., 2022).
Fidget Toys and Stress Relief
While everyday stress is common, chronic stress can negatively affect cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and impulse control (Marin et al., 2011; Girotti et al., 2024). Anxiety disorders, which involve persistent worry, can also interfere with daily activities.
Although fidget toys may not be considered a formal treatment for stress or anxiety, evidence suggests they may serve as useful tools for managing anxious thoughts and feelings. For example, a patient waiting for a medical appointment might find that squeezing a stress ball helps reduce nervousness. In a recent study, 51 healthy adults were either given a fidget ring or a non-fidget ring and asked to self-report anxiety, stress, attention, and engagement with the ring. After one week, those who received a fidget ring reported decreased levels of anxiety while the non-fidgeting control group did not demonstrate any change (Persia, 2023).
As mentioned above, fidgeting, repetitive movements, and acute bursts of exercise have been linked to the release of endorphins, which might help to reduce overall stress (Basso & Suzuki, 2017; Narukawa et al., 2023;).
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Fidget Toys for ADHD Management: Attention or Anxiety Issues
Fidget toys may be particularly beneficial for individuals with ADHD, a condition characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulse control (Aspiranti & Hulac, 2021). Essentially, fidgets are intended to help individuals regulate their emotions and concentrate better. These toys can provide structured sensory input to redirect restlessness, allowing individuals to concentrate more effectively on tasks.
This may explain why the use of fidget toys is becoming increasingly popular in ADHD symptom management. In one study of children with ADHD, those who were allowed to fidget while performing a flanker test of cognitive control demonstrated better performance than those whose movement was restricted (Hartanto et al., 2015). While research specifically on the benefits of fidget toys for adults with ADHD is limited, a recent study suggests that certain types of fidget toys can enhance problem-solving abilities in this population (Hanchate et al., 2025).
By providing engaging sensory input, fidget toys can give individuals with ADHD a place to channel excess energy, which can reduce distraction and improve overall focus. When used appropriately, they may complement prescribed medical, behavioural, and psychological interventions.
Cognitive Tools for ADHD Assessment
While research suggests that fidgeting and fidget toys may help to manage symptoms of ADHD, they should primarily be used as a supplement to formal mental health care. Combining the use of fidget toys with evidence-based assessments and whole-person treatment approaches can lead to improved patient outcomes.
The Creyos ADHD protocol offers a comprehensive assessment tool with objective, data-driven insight that can help healthcare providers accurately diagnose and understand the specific challenges of people with ADHD.
This scientifically validated tool measures cognitive markers that align with diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Providers can administer assessments in person or digitally, improving accessibility and patient experiences, while offering immediate insights into patient performance trends over time—all in one platform.
By integrating tools like the Creyos ADHD protocol, providers can develop effective treatment plans that address the unique needs of each individual.
Common Misconceptions About Fidget Toys
Despite their growing popularity, fidget toys are often misunderstood or misjudged. One common misconception is that fidget toys are a distraction or a toy, rather than a tool designed to help individuals with attention or anxiety issues. Another misconception is that fidget toys are only for children, when in fact, they can be beneficial for adults as well.
Fidget toys are not just a passing trend. By recognizing their potential benefits and dispelling common myths, we can better appreciate the role that fidget toys play in enhancing the wellbeing of individuals with attention or anxiety issues. Whether in a classroom setting, an office environment, or at home, fidget toys can benefit those who use it.
So, Are Fidget Toys Good for Brain Health?
Overall, research suggests that fidget toys may offer slight cognitive and psychological benefits, particularly by reducing stress and improving focus. While the science continues to develop, studies indicate that fidgeting can positively impact mood, anxiety levels, and attention, particularly in individuals with ADHD.
By far, fidget toys are not a primary treatment or intervention, and any effects will naturally vary from person to person. Instead, fidget items can be used in conjunction with other strategies including comprehensive cognitive assessment and therapeutic interventions.
A Better Understanding of Fidget Toys
Although research on the benefits of fidget toys is still evolving, available evidence suggests they may help individuals manage stress, reduce anxiety, improve focus, and alleviate some ADHD symptoms. Healthcare providers can evaluate their patients’ overall well-being to determine whether fidget toys might be a helpful supplementary tool in a broader care plan.