Scots primary school bans fidget spinners over injury fears

I don’t think they let children just be children.

A gadget created to help kids with ADHD focus has become so distracting that it’s being banned in many schools. “I know my kids have been wanting to get one so we went searching to get one”, said Courtney Fries, who purchased a Fidget Spinner.

One of the most common types available in the market so far is the “Fidget Spinner”, which has a bearing in the centre. “I am told they can be of help to stop smoking as well”, said David.

The fidget spinner was invented in the 1990s but it was only towards the end of 2016 that its popularity increased and people began uploading videos of them performing tricks with the gadgets. Several area principals said the fidget spinner craze hasn’t become a problem. They’ve existed in some form since 1993, but lately they’ve grown so popular that retailers can barely keep them in stock.

“Like any fad, yes, we’ve had some in our schools”, said district spokeswoman Susan Arensman.

Schools are saying the sound of the spin and movement can be distracting to other students.

“I haven’t seen any”, Davis said.

Head of School Wyayn Rasmussen from Academy of Whole Learning says it’s important to find the right fidget to meet your sensory needs. Not because we enjoy confiscating toys (most days), but because we value a distraction-free environment. “At that point, teachers just have to make those decisions themselves”. “And that’s hard for these kids to sit still that long”.

Charley McKenna, a seventh-grader at Coelho Middle School in Attleboro, said she’s relieved that her school chose to ban the spinners in class unless it is used for a specific goal, like managing ADHD.

Fidget spinners banned from some schools © 2017 Cox Media Group.

He added the shop is “on top” of the high demand for fidget spinners. “It seems a bit much”.

She also encourages the use of “old school fidgets” like pressure balls and pipe cleaners to help kids focus on their work.

Garland owns one herself – she became interested in the doodads after her son talked extensively about them.

Her pro-fidget toy stance is a good thing for her students, now that the gadgets are all the rage among kids. “Out of sight, out of mind, which is how most of the kids feel toward them now”. Marketers say the spinner, which whirs hypnotically with the twirl of a finger, can provide comfort in stressful situations and improve focus. Or become distracted by something else.