Ever notice how some kids seem to have a built-in motor that never stops? If you’re a teacher or parent, you know exactly what I’m talking about—especially when it comes to teens with ADHD. It’s well known that many students with ADHD have a hard time staying in their seats or sitting still - this is perhaps the most obvious symptom of hyperactive ADHD.
Even if they do sit still, ADHD teens often struggle with maintaining focus. The effort it takes to keep themselves still (aka, masking) reduces the ability to focus on the lesson.
Fidgets can be a great tool for students with ADHD, particularly when using ADHD fidget toys designed to provide the sensory input necessary for focus.
The science behind ADHD and fidgeting
ADHD is associated with lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These are neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, involved in attention, focus, and impulse control.
This neurochemical imbalance leads to:
- Understimulation. The ADHD brain often seeks additional stimulation in order to boost dopamine when levels are running low.
- Hyperactivity. Excess energy manifests as physical restlessness, especially in those with the hyperactive subtype of ADHD.
- Difficulty with attention and self-regulation. These challenges are often a result of low dopamine in the brain.
Fidgeting is believed to be a subconscious attempt to increase stimulation in the brain, which boosts the levels of those crucial chemical messengers, potentially helping to activate the part of the brain responsible for focus and attention. In other words, fidgeting and restlessness seen in people with ADHD might actually be their way of trying to stay focused and alert.
How fidget toys help ADHD teens focus
We all know the classic classroom setup - in most schools, it hasn’t changed much since you were that age. Desks in rows, teacher at the front, everyone expected to sit still and listen...
For teens with ADHD, that’s like asking a fish to climb a tree. It’s just not natural.
Even if the student has a strong desire to follow instructions in these settings, they may struggle due to having different needs, lower impulse control, or a feeling of restlessness when trying to focus with too little stimuli.
A classroom that is a perfect learning environment for a child who does not have ADHD may be very under-stimulating to their ADHD peers. In the same way that body doubling can provide the right amount of input to help ADHDers with executive functioning and focus, fidgets can help with physically staying in one place and focusing.
There isn't enough research behind the effectiveness of fidget toys in ADHD to be certain that they work. Some studies show a benefit, and others find no benefit. However, the idea behind them—using controlled sensory input to help people focus—fits well with what we already know about managing ADHD. Ultimately, whether or not they help your teen may take some trial and error.
When fidgets are not available for ADHD students
Without access to fidgets, students may engage in maladaptive behaviors, which are common ADHD symptoms in teens. For example:
- Picking at skin
- Biting pencils
- Fidgeting with clothing
- Tapping feet
- Moving around in their seat
- Getting up at inappropriate times
These are all common signs of ADHD in teens, which may be reduced with the use of fidgets.
One common argument against fidgets is that their use may be distracting to other students; however, the behaviors above may be even more distracting to peers—and there are many ADHD fidget toys that are small, quiet, and unobtrusive. Ultimately, when students are provided an appropriate outlet for fidgeting, it fosters a better learning environment for them and their peers. It can also be very validating for a student to be accommodated and accepted as they are.
Choosing the best fidget toys for ADHD in teens
Whether or not fidget toys will be effective to help your ADHD teen focus can vary depending on the individual and the type of toy used. Simple fidgets like stress balls or putty are often better than toys that light up or make noise, which may become a distraction.
An ideal fidget should be:
- Quiet enough to avoid disrupting others
- Stimulating enough to aid focus
- Not overly stimulating to the point of distraction
- Available in multiple forms, like hand-held items, chairs, or desks
Luckily, there are tons of great options that parents and teachers can browse through online. Options range from hand-held fidgets, like these magnetic beads from Speks, to different types of chairs, desks, and even computer mice. Every child is different, so trying multiple options to find a good fit—as well as having alternatives to add novelty—is key. A teen ADHD coach could be a great resource to discover whether fidgets may help, and if so, which type may be most beneficial for your teen.
It is important to note that many neurodivergent people focus better when they are not looking at the person talking or lecturing. Therefore, visual fidgets may also be a good option. However, they do require the educator's knowledge that the student is still focused on what they are saying despite their eyes being somewhere else.
Fidgets beyond the classroom
Fidgets' functionality goes far beyond grade-level classrooms. Fidgets can help with focus in college lecture halls, remote and in-person work meetings, or even when enjoying a movie or reading a book.
ADHD teens have different sensory input needs. Living in a world that was not made with these needs in mind is difficult, so accommodations like fidgets are a necessary and worthwhile addition to any ADHD toolbox.
So, the next time you see a student squirming in their seat, try to imagine how tough it must be to sit still when your mind is racing at a hundred miles per hour - then hand them something to occupy that busy mind so they can focus on what matters.
