Once considered elementary-school novelties, fidget toys are now popping up in M-A classrooms. Whether it’s a NeeDoh, Pop-It, or fidget cube, these toys have become trendy items that aim to help students concentrate.
“I was first introduced to fidget toys in elementary school,” sophomore Maddie Mosso said. “Teachers would say, ‘If you need them, you can come ask,’ but they weren’t for everyone, just the kids that needed them. Now, I see so many more high school students using them.”
Mosso uses a NeeDoh—a stretchy, gel-like toy—and other squishies in class. “Fidget toys are really helpful to keep me focused,” she said. “They’re kind of an outlet—something I can do with my hands so I’m not tempted to be on my phone.”
She’s not alone. As students juggle increasingly packed schedules and digital distractions, tools like fidget toys have found new relevance. Studies show that Gen Z’s attention spans have decreased over the past decade, which many link to the fast pace of social media. Constant scrolling trains the brain to expect constant stimulation, making it hard to focus on slower-paced lectures.
In this context, fidget toys offer a middle ground for students—a way to challenge restlessness without turning to more disruptive behaviors like phone use or chatting with classmates. Small, repetitive movements can help anchor attention for some students, especially those with ADHD, anxiety, or sensory needs.
However, not all educators and researchers agree on the effectiveness of fidget toys. Some research suggests these toys can become distractions rather than aids. While fidget toys are intended to help with focus, they can sometimes divert attention away from the task at hand, especially if they are visually stimulating or noisy. This can lead to decreased academic performance and classroom disruptions.
Sophomore Juliet West has experienced both sides. “I think fidget toys help me stay focused during lectures, especially during tests,” she said. “But sometimes my friends ask to play with them, and we end up talking and not focusing.”
Still, their popularity continues to grow both in and out of school. At Cheeky Monkey, a toy store in downtown Menlo Park, employees have noticed an increase in adolescents purchasing fidget toys. “I’d actually say it’s mostly older kids buying them,” employee Helen Anyer said. “Tweens, teens, and even young adults. The NeeDoh Ice Cubes are definitely our best seller.”
panish teacher Angelica Rodriguez is among those who have embraced the trend, keeping a few fidget toys of her own. “I have a group of students that I see playing with NeeDohs, and I have some myself. We’ve bonded over that,” she said. “I let students use them if they need to, and I see their value because I use them myself.”
For Rodriguez, fidget toys serve multiple purposes. “I use them for physical therapy, but also just to reduce anxiety or keep me entertained,” she said. “Especially when my students are taking exams, I’ll walk around using one.”
The appeal of fidget toys isn’t random—it taps into a much broader need for physical movement while staying mentally engaged. Cynthia Yang, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, said that fidgeting is a natural form of self-regulation. “There have been fidget toys around for ages,” she said. “People used to spin their pencils, bite their nails, pick at their fingers. Now, with fidget toys, that behavior is just more visible, and more accepted.”
Fidget toys may stick around for a while, at least in some form. “For students with ADHD, anxiety, or sensory needs, these toys can be genuinely helpful,” Yang said. “As awareness of mental health grows, we’re becoming more accepting of different ways people stay focused. Sometimes a little squish can go a long way.”
