Does Liking Fidget Toys Make Me Autistic?

Periodically, we see people who ask a question like, “I enjoy playing with fidget toys, does that mean I’m on the spectrum?” They are often very nervous about this for some reason. But don’t worry, if you’ve ever thought this, the short answer is “No.”

Anyone can play with fidget toys, and many people do. Likewise, just because you are on the spectrum, it doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy using a fidget toy.

So let’s dive into why people, who aren’t on the spectrum, might like fidget toys, and what specifically is a fidget toy.

What is a Fidget Toy?

A fidget toy is a small, handheld object that people can manipulate with their fingers or hands to relieve stress, anxiety, or boredom. These toys are designed to provide sensory stimulation and help people focus their attention or calm their nerves. They often have small moveable parts that you can fiddle with to keep yourself busy during a boring or tedious task.

Some common examples include stress balls (which have been around forever and a day), fidget spinners, fidget cubes, poppers, and tangles. Fidget toys have gained popularity in recent years, particularly among individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or anxiety disorders.

Because you can “fidget” with them without thinking, it provides a wonderful outlet for someone who is restless, or otherwise has a lot of energy. Since they are usually quiet, they can be used in a place where noise may not normally be tolerated, such as a church, meeting, classroom, etc.

Our eldest has a Ono hand roller which he brings to church, and it gives his hands something to do while he is listening. It’s quiet so if you don’t know he’s using it, you’ll never know. It came with a small pouch, so he keeps it in his pocket and brings it out whenever he needs it. In fact, it is so well loved in our house, we now have several. One for our youngest, as well as one for mommy to use when she has to sit in long online meetings. They do come in different sizes if that helps.

By the way, if you get one, for yourself, only use it for short periods of time to start with. The first time I used it, I found out how much it used muscles I wasn’t used to using. My lower arms were sore for two days after I used it. but now I’m used to it, and can use it as long as my kids use it. In fact, I now use it periodically as an easy work out when I just have a few minutes and want to work on my finer dexterity. Usually while talking with my wife about something, as it requires no mental energy to operate.

Our youngest has a “popper”, shown in the photo to the right. Once again, it’s quiet, so he can take it on car rides, or while visiting grandma, and not disturb anyone.

We’ve seen our boys play with these toys for 20-30 minutes at a time, without stopping. Which is why we love them. But back to neurotypical individuals using these “toys”.

Why Might a Neurotypical Person Like Fidget Toys?

So let’s explore why someone who isn’t on the autism spectrum might still enjoy playing with a fidget toy, as there are several examples.

1. Increased focus: Fidget toys can help people stay focused and engaged in a task. They can provide a sensory experience that can help reduce restlessness or boredom, making it easier to concentrate on a task for longer periods. With our world full of constant distractions (cell phone notifications, email on work computers, etc) people find it harder and harder to focus. These toys can help with that.
   We were recently talking to an adult we know who was in a multi-hour training session. How easy it is to get distracted while listening to a 2 hour death by power point presentation?! However, they happened to have a fidget toy. They mentioned how much easier it was to stay focused because it gave their hands something to do that wasn’t fiddling with their phone which can be distracting.
2. Stress relief: Fidget toys can provide a calming effect that can help reduce stress and anxiety. They can serve as a form of stress relief. This is why squeezing a stress ball has been used for many years to help relax individuals. Given that our life is full of stress, and many people have not learned how to cope with it, this provides a simple and easy way to relieve one’s stress.
3. Improved dexterity: Fidget toys can also help improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Certain fidget toys, like Rubik’s Cubes or puzzle toys, can provide a fun challenge that requires manual dexterity and problem-solving skills. This is also helps children work with their fine motor skills, which is something that a lot of people on the spectrum have a challenge with.
4. Simply fun: Some people just find fidget toys enjoyable to play with. They can be a fun distraction or a way to pass the time during a boring or stressful situation.
   My mother simply enjoys fiddling with things, especially if she just has a few minutes to wait while cooking something for dinner, or waiting in the car while my father is driving her some place. It simply gives her just a little something extra to do.

Overall, fidget toys can be a helpful tool for anyone who needs a little extra stimulation or focus, regardless of whether or not they are autistic.