Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys That Help With Anxiety And Help Kids Focus
Homeschool-friendly fidget toys can come in a wide variety of forms, such as spinners, cubes, spikey balls, and more. As a homeschool mom, no doubt you understand that for some children, movement, and fidgeting are how they learn best!
As a working mom, some days, it is important for your child to focus on their homeschool work because you only have so much time to sit and teach them.
When I worked full time out of the house, I had a few hours blocked off each week for seat work, and if the kids were full of energy bouncing off the walls, getting them to settle down and focus was a challenge.
Fidget toys are perfect to add to quiet boxes and are a wonderful way to help your child cope with anxiety and help them focus!
Watch or Listen: Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys
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How Fidget Toys Work
I still remember the first time I saw a fidget spinner in the wild. A young boy was chatting away with me at the speed of light all about his newest obsession while mindlessly spinning the lime green spinner. I was fascinated!
How did it work? What did it do?
Fidget toys can provide focused redirection that not only relieves stress but contribute to concentration. Some people find that moving, spinning, or handling an object can help soothe or calm them.
Keep in mind that what works for one child may not work for another. However, I have noticed that almost all children like to fidget in some form or another.
You know, the kid who chews on the pencil while trying to do math? The kid who likes to hang upside down off the sofa while you are reading aloud? That is perfectly normal!
When I was in public school, fidget toys weren’t a thing. Instead, we had kids who clicked pens, flipped pencils, and got dentation for wiggling in their seats.
One of the things I love about homeschooling is that we can provide our kids with the tools they need when they need them. And for some, those tools come in the shape of fidget toys!
How We Use Fidget Toys For Anxiety And Focus
I started researching how to use fidget toys outside the homeschool setting when my youngest started experiencing anxiety due to her medical situation.
As a mom, I wanted to help her find a way to cope with the stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. We have found that different fidget toys, along with coping tools, have helped.
Grounding exercises have also helped both of my children. We found the 5 Senses exercise super helpful.
If you have a child that shows signs of not being able to focus paired with possible learning disabilities or learning difficulties outside of a fidgety student, you may want to have your child evaluated for other learning challenges.
What To Consider When Choosing Your Fidget Toys
A quick Google search, and you will be flooded with different options for fidget toys. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing homeschool-friendly fidget toys for your family:
1. The age of your child
When choosing one for your child, the first thing I would recommend is keeping your child in mind.
My youngest was a teen when we began looking for fidget toys. She started with your typical fidget cube, and while it worked for her anxiety, it also ended up causing her more anxiety.
She said that when she brought it out, people around her would notice and react. Friends and family would ask her repeatedly if she was okay. This unwanted attention was not good!
We ended up looking for other types of fidget toys that were less noticeable such as a worry stone, fidget ring, and these pea keychains.
Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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What about younger kids?
Fidget toys are great for children of all ages. If you are using fidget toys and tools with younger kids, make sure they are non-toxic since they are probably going to end up chewing, sucking, and biting on them.
Make sure the size is large enough not to cause a choking hazard. Stay away from small fidget toys such as spiky balls, bouncy balls, and anything with small removable pieces.
2. Durability
These toys are going to be used during anxious and stressful times. You want them to be able to stand up to wear and tear.
Look for fidget toys made out of tougher materials, such as plastic or metal. I find Amazon does a great job of listing what they are made of and if they are long-lasting.
For example, these Octopus Pop Fidget Toys say in the description they are “100% safe and non-toxic for kids. It is lightweight, durable, and not easy to damage.”
Octopus Squishy Balls Soft Octopus Stress Balls for Kids, 4 Pack Squeeze Toys, Stress Relief Ball for Children, Sensory Toy for Autism, Valentine’s Day Gift for Kids, Classroom Exchange PrizesZion Lifestyle Octopus Reversible plushie, Cute Baby Toys 0-12 Months, Reversible Double-Sided flip Octopus Doll, Mood Octopus, Octopus Plush, Octopus Fidget Toy, Gift for Kids and Adults24 packs octopus Funny Small Summer Gift Unique Mini Item Assorted fidgets Toys for Kids Children Students Gift from Classroom Teacher,Birthday Party Bubble Favors Supplies
The happy/sad octopus my daughter has one of each size. The one shown above goes everywhere with her and are a great conversation starter.
3. Environment they will be used in
If your child is using their fidget toys in a public setting, you may want to opt for something quiet such as putty or a ball.
As mentioned above, your child may want fidget toys that do not look like fidget toys. We have had great success with these coil elastics on wrists. No one looks twice!
Another thing to keep in mind is no scent zones, such as hospitals or medical clinics. Some fidget toys come scented, such as playdough will help calm a child but may set off allergies for others.
Where To Find Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys
Where is the best place to look for ideas on what fidget toys work best? I like to ask the ones who use them.
Abigail started a great conversation in my Facebook group when she was looking for a fidget toy for her son. She said, “I’m looking for fidget toy recommendations for a tween kid who tends to fidget in a somewhat destructive manner. My kiddo loves to scrape the wax off of crayons, chew shirt collars, roll things in his fingers, drag stuff along the floor with his feet, etc.”
She knew these working moms who homeschool would understand she needed something to help her son that would be affordable and homeschool friendly.
The best places to get homeschool-friendly fidget toys for kids are:
- Local second-hand stores – check for wear and tear
- Amazon -can’t beat shipped right to your door
- If you want to save some money, here are DYI Fidget Toys you can make at home!
24 Great Affordable Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys
They shared a list of homeschool-friendly fidget toys that helped their kids focus during their homeschooling and reduce anxiety.
Would you like to see the list of ideas?
Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys
Here are the top recommendations from working moms who are homeschooling. I created a quick list here on Amazon if that makes it easier for you. Click here: Fidget & Focus Toys For Kids Of All Ages
These bubble pop-it toys have been a hit among my children. We use this one at home. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. We love the key chain pop it for on-the-go.
If you have a child who likes to scrape wax, maybe they would enjoy “picky” stones. They’re probably super cheap and easy to DIY, too.
We love using balance balls for kids to bounce around and sit on while working on homeschool work or release some energy during rainy days when they can’t get outside to burn off energy.
Similar to a balance ball, a Wiggle Seat enables students to move while working, increasing concentration and allowing longer focus time quietly.
If you have pre-teens or teens, beanbag chairs are a big hit! A great place to relax, wiggle, and do homeschool work, read or play video games. Beanbags come in all sizes and colors.
This retro wooden puzzle is a favorite among pre-teens and teens. Sturdy wooden construction holds up under hours of play and keeps both kids and adults entertained. In fact, the mom who recommended this one said she likes to play with it as much as her girls.
Crinkle tubes are a fun way to help your kids fidget and wiggle. Available in 4 different sizes, they pop, snap, stretch, connect, and keep fingers busy for hours!
A twist on the classic fidget cube, the Orbit Ball is a nice alternative. Perfect for kids who prefer to roll and twist. The Orbit ball can be twisted to switch the race track.
If your child likes to scratch or pick, scratch art is the perfect solution. Under the black coating, there are bright colors to be revealed when scratched. Your child can jot down notes, etch doodles, and create cool illustrations and designs.
My son has always had these porcupine balls on his person since he was a little boy. I never knew they were helping him deal with anxiety and stress. It was just his thing.
As he got older and continued to take them everywhere, it clicked for me that he was anxious in crowds, and instead of talking with me, he used these balls.
He likes that they are small, fit in his pocket and he can use them wherever he goes without drawing attention.
Worry stones have always been a hit in our home. My kids collected rocks from the beach that caught their eye. I always said our house would never blow away in a wind storm due to the sheer amount of rocks in our house! Your child can carry worry stone easily in a pocket, perfect to hold in hands, daily carry, wrap, place in grids, or any place else you wish to.
Fidget controller pads are great for the game-loving kids in your life. Portable and affordable, great for fidgeting on the go. Teens and pre-teens really like this package because it is small and, while noticeable, fun!
Putty, or in this case “thinking putty” gives busy hands something to do while the brain works out problems. Stretch it, bounce it, pop it, tear it, and sculpt it!
While chew necklaces have always been a great tool for teething babies, they are also a great fidget or worry tool. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Be sure to double-check that they are safe for your child’s age.
Copper gear spinners are a great alternative to the original fidget spinner toy. These metal gear spinners are small, perfect for older kids. This mini fidget toy is easy to carry, your child can carry it in their pocket, wallet, or backpack anywhere to help release anxiety and help your child to concentrate and focus on school work.
Coil Elastics are one of my personal favorite fidget tools to help me release stress without drawing undue attention to the fact I am freaking out. I keep one on my wrist while doing live sessions for my membership and mastermind communities or hosting challenges. My teen daughter has also found them helpful. Any coil elastic will work.
Stress balls not only relieve stress but also help with anxiety. If your child spends a lot of time on the computer, stress balls can help to enhance grip strength and blood circulation.
Squish balls differ from stress balls in that you can squeeze, pull, or stretch. These Squishy Stress Balls for Kids have two textures, both smooth and spiky.
One of my daughter’s favorite fidget tools! Rubik's Cubes come in a variety of shapes, from the classic 3x3x3 shape, Pyramid shape, or Windmill Cube. Although I’ve included the Rubik’s cube as a fidget toy, you’ll find that the Rubik cube helps with memory, fine motor skills, improving problem-solving skills, and more!
Many of our medical trips have been to the background noise of a clicking fidget cube. I have learned to block out the noise and the cube has continued to be a favorite de-stressor during car trips.
The fidget toy that started my whole deep dive into toys and tools to help with anxiety – the fidget spinner. A fairly quiet tool that comes in a multitude of colors.
When these Spiky Sensory Rings were recommended, I could only think of one word -OUCH! But users say that is not actually the case. These rings are used for message and help with blood flow. One Amazon reviewer kindly points out that the ones shown above “they’re not…spiky.” These are the perfect sensory/fidget tool if your child likes to pick or poke instead of spin.
Our last recommendation is Magnetic Fidget Sphere! These are stackable, shakeable, snappable, and delightfully distracting. If you have a child who likes to take things apart and build, these magnetic fidget toy is for you.
We used Magnetics in our house for years and included them in our homeschool lessons. I remember the kids snapping them together and pulling them apart while I read aloud to them.
Activities For Kids
Activities for kids can help them burn off energy, change the pace and help them focus.
Homeschool-Friendly Fidget Toys For Kids
Fidget toys are a great tool to help your child cope with anxiety and stay focused!
I hope this list of ideas will help you find what will work for your child. Does your child use fidget toys? Let me know, and I’ll update the list.
As parents, it’s our job to learn how to help our kids with anxiety and get the tools they need. I hope these ideas help!
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Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!
