Issue 2
Reflect
AMJ 2017
Mind
Fidget Toys
Calming Device or a Fad?
Trendy little toys spinning between little
fingers is a common sight in schools
across the developed world. Since it hit
the markets in March, Fidget Spinner -
and its partner toy, Fidget Cube have
captured the imagination and playtime
among kids and youth. According to a
recent article by CNN, the fidget spinners
and fidget cubes held the top 49 of 50
spots in Amazon’s rankings.
They are positioned as a toy that can
help kids relieve stress and help with
concentration. While there is a divide
among practitioners on this claim, some
teachers found the toys to be a
distraction in the classroom. Many
schools across the world have banned or
are considering a ban on the toy for its
choking hazard or disruptive nature.
While skeptics brush them off as fads, the
toys and everything related to them on
the net - a free app, scores of YouTube
videos, related music videos, news, even
nail art and philosophical lessons
derived from the toy are going viral.
Unconfirmed stories of the origins of this
infectious toy are also interesting.
Ca t h e r i n e H e t t i n g e r, a c h e m i c a l
engineer, was initially credited by some
news stories to have been the inventor of
the fidget spinner based on her patent
filed in 1993 for a spinning device. Her
idea for the toy came as she saw young
boys throwing rocks at police officers in
Israel. In response to that she wanted to
develop a soothing toy that could help
children release pent-up energy and
promote peace.
Engineer Scott McCoskery invented a
high quality, precision spinning device,
termed as the iPhone of desk toys -
Torqbar - in 2014. Many thousands of
Torqbars, manufactured at his garage
workshop, have been sold. He claims
that the fidget spinners are actually a
flimsy spin off of his Torqbar.
Whether the spinners are here to stay or just a passing fad, only time
will tell. For now, if you have a crazy fan of the toy at home, direct the
interest into making - creating their own toys, and their curiosity into
understanding the technique - physics behind it. Check our website
for leads and links.
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