Most kids have these things and they're supposed to reduce stress and help with concentration, but do they work?  

My daughter brought home a fidget spinner last week after scoring one from a classmate who had extras.  She loves it and thinks it's the coolest thing ever.

Jen Austin - Townsquare Media
Jen Austin - Townsquare Media
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I said, "So, what do you do with it?"  And she said, "Mamaaaaa!  You just spin it, see?" Got it.  Sometimes Mamas try to make things more complex than they should be.  Just fiddle with it.

There are different ways to spin these things and different holes you can put your fingers in to make it happen in different ways each time, and you can get both hands involved if you want the little windmill to go really fast.

The goal is to reduce stress and give fidgety kids something to fidget with to help with concentration, and there are supposed to be special benefits for kids with ADHD and Autism.  There are cheap ones and expensive ones, and they're all pocket-sized and fit nicely in kids' little hands.  Some moms might be will to admit that they like to fiddle with them too.

If these little gadgets can hold kids' attention and they are not attached to screens of any kind, I'm all for it.  My kids think they work, but I'm not sure they understand fully what benefits are supposed to come from spinning.

Nonetheless, there is something odd, but incredibly satisfying that happens when we're whirling these things around.  They might even help adults at work get through conference calls and meetings.  Some classrooms allow them to help kids with test anxiety.

Do you think they work?  Maybe the biggest problem with fidget spinners is the potential distractions they offer to everyone else.  Have teachers banned them at your child's school?  Are they a passing fad, or a solution to attention issues?  We'd love to know what you think.

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