Hand Fidgets A Focusing Tool

What Are They?

Fidgets uses the sense of touch for the hands. It is often a small object
that children can hold and fidget with using their hands. Examples are a
stress ball, Koosh® ball or a small textured object or toy.

Who would benefit from the use of a hand fidget?

Children with attention and focus difficulties.
 Using a fidget may help during activities requiring a lot of concen-
tration such as waiting in line, watching a movie, listening to a lec-
ture, or sitting during a visit.
Children with a strong need to touch everything
Stress Ball
Why use hand fidgets?
Hand fidgets help keep your child’s hands busy and out of trouble. They
provide a small, quiet object to meet your child’s need for touching without
harming or distracting others. By giving your child something to hold in his
or her hands, you allow him or her to focus on the activity while meeting Tip:
the need to touch with his or her hands. Fidgets are not expensive!
Many can be purchased at
dollar stores or made at
home.
Tips for Use: Make at home:
Try filling a balloon with sand
Use small, quiet, safe objects as fidgets
or flour to make a stress ball.
Fidgets come in different textures, shapes, and sizes.
Ask your OT for suggestions on fidgets that may work
for your child.
At the beginning, keep fidgets with you to give your
child when he or she is having trouble focusing or keep-
ing their hands to themselves. Teach them how to use it
correctly. Over time, he or she will become more inde- Koosh® ball
pendent with its use, and learn to ask for one or find
one him/herself.
Remind the child that the fidget is not a toy and should This Tip Sheet has been
not be bounced or thrown. provided by your Occupa-
Your child should not play with the fidget or distract tional Therapist. The
others by using it. Remind them it is a tool for helping therapist can be con-
them concentrate, not a toy.
tacted if you have ques-
Keep the fidgets in an accessible area
tions!

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