To think fidget toys aren't the same as glasses and wheelchairs?

[IroningThrone]

Came across a discussion on Facebook -one poster said the fidget toys in the vid were plastic tat. Another person replied that they're necessary and in the same class as glasses and wheelchairs.

They're not though, are they? The majority of them seem to be bought by kids who use them for a few weeks then they break and go in the bin. And they didn't seem to exist until a few years ago!

Are you not aware that ND and disability varies. My daughter’s glasses are far less important than her fight aids.

To be fair having a personal room would have been perfect for me as a child. But I would need a teacher obviously. I'd still need to have an education. But yeah a personal room with a personal teacher would have been amazing. I'd definitely sign up for that!

As a child, one of my junior school reports said ''Oakleaffy always has to have something to play with''..It was true- a tiny felt mouse, a strip of satin ribbon, a smooth pebble.
Just holding them in left hand while writing at school helped.

These things were quiet and relatively unobtrusive.

Nothing like wheelchairs of glasses- that's absurd.

Only on MN!

I hear you!

My DS has ADHD and was begging for fidgets. I did a bit of research and found some recent studies showing that while they reduce appearance of inattentiveness i.e. you look like you're focusing and being calm, they actually don't improve attention. They just stop you invading others' space in the classroom. So I've said no as he just sits and plays with them and doesn't actually listen.

As I said my DD’s fidget aids are more important than her glasses.

@ParrotPirouette what an absolute toss pot! I'm sorry you had that experience.

I hope you gave a good retort !!

Whereas my dd does listen more as without she’d be walking round the room.

Why not let him try them? Why do you get to overrule what may or may not help him?

for many people they do make a massive difference, people’s lived experiences show they do help many people.

I'll be honest, I had this exact experience today. The fidget type behaviours keep me looking 'socially acceptable' so they're basically a masking tool for me. They allow me to stay in the room rather than need to leave. My attention was still all over the place.

@F1reLine

you aren't going to 'win' or 'educate' here, you're wasting your time. I'd say more but would get banned 😩

im going to take my own advice & abandon this thread.

🍹join me? Cup of tea if you prefer xx

Is a person unable to evacuate specifically because they don't have a wheelchair or because they are unable to walk?
There are other aids to use and many wheelchair users aren't paralysed, many can walk holding walls/furniture, pulling self along with arms, bum shuffling.
People have no sense of danger during a meltdown, I have worked with people who have ran in to busy roads, tried to exit a moving car, put their head through glass and many who freeze and/or fall to the floor. There's no reasoning with someone during a meltdown.
I have worked with people who will not leave the house without a fidget or a special item or will meltdown if this is removed. If you prevent the meltdown or reduce a person's stress with a fidget their life could be saved in an emergency situation just as a wheelchair could save a person's life in an emergency situation.
Yes an autistic person may possibly still evacuate without a fidget but a wheelchair user may also evacuate without a chair. Why is one more important than the other?

Do we need to compare them? They are all aids which help children (and adults) mitigate the effect of a health condition on their lives, education and opportunities.

I’ve seen fidget toys keep children in classrooms and help them out of a panic attack in the school day. I’d say they are making an important contribution to those children’s health and education.

Some children who don’t need them will also want to play with them but that doesn’t negate the important role they have in helping people get through the day.

The OP reads like a boring rehash of the old mental health isn’t as important as physical health trope. And I’m not here for it.

For some children they can be as important as glasses; autistic or ADD children for example. I know a severely auristic 16 year old boy who needs a string to fiddle with everywhere he goes or meltdown guaranteed.

God I hate fidget toys (I’m a teacher). Once one kid has one, the whole class has them. I’m yet to see anyone who they actually help, because they’re only ever a distraction with the kids I teach - I don’t have any with needs who use them. Heads of year hand them out to kids as if it’s going to solve any behavioural issues, which then leads to kids arguing with me that they’re allowed to be throwing it at the wall because their head of year has told them it will help them concentrate. Annoying things.

I know it’s not the point of the thread but no one’s picked up on this comment.

My cane is absolutely as necessary as a wheelchair. I can’t walk without it. How is it not necessary? Or “like sunglasses”?? It’s a mobility aid - literally enables people to walk… like a wheelchair???

Again, not commenting on the fidget toy comparison but this comment is just ridiculous to me.

My 10 year old has autism and uses fidget tools. He has different tools for different occasions, depending on who is around and we have worked really hard to make sure he doesn't upset anyone else when he uses them.

It is a daft comparison.
Wheelchairs, Walking sticks, reading glasses are essential physical items to help one get around.{Driving glasses}

Plastic or metal tat that has been marketed to be distracting is nothing but a fad- sold in toy shops.

Years ago they made lithographed metal ''Clickers'' that kids used to have - spread around like a virus according to mum {who was a teacher}
''Who clicked!!'' No one was allowed to click one in class, or ''Miss'' would confiscate it. {see pic for vintage clickers}

Top Trumps {cards} were a big thing years ago- there are always classroom trends, and probably always will be.

In my experience (in schools) some children do need them and find them helpful, others do not.

Parents rarely know what works for their child in school, but will scream and shout that they need x, y & z. They don't.

We have all sorts sent in; light up noisy toys, slime, massive pots of cloud dough, soft toys so big the child can barely carry them, you name it! No one is interested in anyone else or the disruption caused to lessons, just their own child's wants/needs. We only allow school issued aids now, but some parents give us daily abuse about this.

Some of our most complex children absolutely do need aids to stop them biting themselves and putting everything into mouths (for example) or for regulation. And I don't really want to get drawn into comparing 'need' with wheelchairs etc.

It's a massive juggling act to balance everyone's needs!

@WhappleBee apologies I meant those walking canes Iike people use for hill walking or hiking.

It's almost as if parents are ''out competing'' each other with requests.

No wonder it's so hard recruiting teachers these days.

Report what exactly? Wow censorship at it's finest, should someone potentially be offended. This is getting beyond a joke, the level of attempted censorship of this kind of debate. Debate is healthy, shutting it down because your world view is different, isn't.

I agree about the Blu-Tak. I used to use an old lump of it for children in my class. 'Just squeeze this for me so I can use it' none of the children ever realised what I was doing.