Do fidget toys really help people focus?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Brains On! – Do Fidget Toys Really Help People Focus?

Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Molly Bloom
Kid Co-Host: Penelope (Cambridge, MA)
Featured Expert: Dr. Julie Schweitzer (Psychologist and Neuroscientist, UC Davis)
Intern: Rebecca Rand

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the science of fidgeting and the rising popularity of "fidget toys." Molly and kid co-host Penelope investigate why people fidget, how it helps (or hinders) focus, and whether fidget toys are truly helpful. Expert Dr. Julie Schweitzer joins to share insights from neuroscience research, and the hosts discuss practical tips for students, teachers, and parents about using fidget toys responsibly.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is Fidgeting?

• Definition: Small, repetitive, and often unconscious movements, sometimes involving objects (e.g., pens, Rubik’s Cubes), sometimes just body movements (wriggling, tapping, twirling hair).
• Penelope’s perspective: The difference between a fidget and a toy is “just how you use it.” If you’re not focused on it, it’s a fidget; if you concentrate on it, it’s a toy. (04:22)

History of Fidgeting & Fidget Objects

• Fidgeting is age-old—people have always found things to twiddle, from ancient Chinese baoding balls (Ming dynasty) to Silly Putty and Rubik’s Cubes.
• Fidget toys themselves are a recent trend, only becoming widely known in the last decade. (06:10)

Why Do People Fidget?

• Possible Reasons:
  • Need to move when sitting still for long periods (“to get some of the ants out of your pants”—Molly, 08:16).
  • Boredom, anxiety, or to help self-regulate emotions or energy.
  • Sometimes, fidgeting is simply a symptom of being anxious, not necessarily a solution.

Fidgeting as Self-Regulation

• Rebecca Rand: “Fidgeting is a form of self-regulation.” (09:05)
  • Example: Putting cold on the face to ‘chill out’ before a stressful audition.
  • Self-regulation can be hyping up (dancing to Beyoncé) or calming down (holding cold tater tots).
• Fidgeting is one tool among many for regulating attention, energy, and emotions. (10:17-10:30)

Does Fidgeting Help with Focus?

• Rebecca Rand: Fidgeting, like doodling, can help some people stay alert and recall more information.
  • “Research has found that doodling can help people do better on certain tasks and even remember better compared to people who don’t doodle.” (16:41)
• But, it’s a balance: too interesting a fidget, and your mind drifts to the fidget rather than the task.
  • “It’s something that is just interesting enough that it stimulates our brain, but not so interesting it distracts us.” (17:12)

The Downside: Distraction to Others

• Fidgets can distract classmates or teachers, especially if they make noise or are visually conspicuous (e.g., clicking pens, tossing squishy toys).
  • “One person’s fidget can be another person’s distraction.” (18:38)

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Expert Interview: Dr. Julie Schweitzer (UC Davis)

When did you first notice fidget toys?

• Many people fidget unconsciously, even as adults. She recounts noticing a patient fidget with her desk objects without realizing it:
  • “I noticed they were grabbing things off my desk ... And I said, ‘What are you doing right now? You’re fidgeting.’” (22:29)

Are store-bought fidgets better than random objects?

• Not necessarily. What matters is individual preference for the feel and feedback of the object. For some, a pen is as good as a specialty fidget. (23:38)

Should only some kids get fidgets in class?

• It depends. Important to consider others in the classroom and minimize distractions.
  • “If they are going to have a fidget, I hope it wouldn’t be very distracting to others.” (24:13)

Should we address boredom/anxiety instead of just offering fidgets?

• Yes, root causes matter: “Let’s find out why these kids are anxious … Can we teach them some breathing exercises and stretching and do that first?” (25:14)

Do fidget toys help people with ADHD more?

• Evidence suggests yes, especially in tasks that are boring or repetitive. (26:07)

What does research say?

• Strong evidence that natural fidgeting (moving legs, hands) helps attention. The effectiveness of commercial fidget toys is less clear and can sometimes be a distraction. (26:32)

Favorite way to fidget?

• Dr. Schweitzer likes squeezing a ball; as a kid, she’d twirl her hair. Her brother was a big fidgeter which sparked her interest in the subject. (27:24)

Rules & Guidelines:

• Use common sense: fidget only if it helps you focus on your main task, not if it distracts you or others.
• Consider alternatives: movement breaks, stretching, or even chewing a healthy snack. “Don’t let the fidget overtake your life.” (29:01)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s kind of just how you use it ... if you’re fidgeting with it mindlessly ... it’s a fidget. But if you’re putting a lot of attention into it ... it probably becomes more of a toy.”
  – Penelope (04:22)

• “Fidgeting lets us move our bodies in a small way when we can’t move in a big way.”
  – Penelope (08:11)

• “Fidgeting is a form of self-regulation.”
  – Rebecca Rand (09:05)

• “It seems like probably the best fidgeting is something that is just interesting enough that it stimulates our brain, but not so interesting it distracts us.”
  – Rebecca Rand (17:12)

• “One person’s fidget can be another person’s distraction, especially if that other person can see it or hear it.”
  – Rebecca Rand (18:38)

• “Just because people fidget doesn’t mean that the fidgeting with the fidget tool is helping them. Sometimes they’re fidgeting when they’re anxious because that’s a symptom that they’re anxious.”
  – Dr. Julie Schweitzer (25:14)

• “We have really strong evidence ... that your natural behavior just moving your legs and your hands and so forth ... helps you manage your attention ... With fidget tools ... some of them are more distracting than helping.”
  – Dr. Julie Schweitzer (26:32)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro to fidgeting, personal experiences: 03:13–06:28
• The history and types of fidgets: 06:10–08:38
• Why we fidget/Self-regulation explained: 09:05–10:30
• Fidgeting & focus, doodling research: 15:06–16:41
• Downsides of fidgets & distraction: 18:31–18:56
• Expert interview with Dr. Julie Schweitzer: 22:08–29:01
• Guidelines for responsible fidgeting: 28:03–29:01

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Additional Fun & Kid-Friendly Elements

• Mystery Sound Game: Breaks up the episode and invites listeners to guess (11:03, 30:26).
• Mailbag & Listener Art: Engaging, creative touch with listener contributions (19:31).
• Light-hearted tone: Fun banter, playful jokes, and silliness throughout ("Cowchella" instead of "Coachella" – 19:07).

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Takeaways

• Fidgeting is normal and ancient! Many people find some movement helps them focus or feel more comfortable.
• Fidget toys are not magic: They might help some people, especially with ADHD, but can be distracting if they grab too much attention or disturb others.
• Self-awareness is key: Notice if your fidget is helping you, or just keeping you from paying attention to what matters.
• Kindness counts: Consider your classmates—quiet, unobtrusive fidgets are less likely to bother others.

Episode conclusion:
Fidgeting can help us self-regulate—wake up, calm down, or stay engaged. But not all fidgets are helpful to everyone, and classroom rules need to balance individual needs with group consideration.

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For Next Week:
Teaser: The next episode tackles electric cars!

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“Don’t let the fidget overtake your life. Use it constructively to help you, but don’t let it become more than what you’re supposed to actually be working on.”
– Dr. Julie Schweitzer (29:01)

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Transcript

[Molly Bloom]

Lemonade.

[Penelope]

You're listening to the Brains on Universe. You're listening to Brains on where we're serious about being curious.

[Molly Bloom]

If you've ever had the Wiggles or couldn't stop clicking a pen if you twirl your hair or tap your fingers, you know all about today's topic. Fidgeting. It's something so common, a lot of us don't even realize we're doing it.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

When I was talking with a patient and I asked them if they fidgeted, they said no. And I noticed they were grabbing things off of my desk. So they're grabbing my pencil, my stapler, other things on a desk. And I said, well, what are you doing right now? You're fidgeting with things on my desk.

[Molly Bloom]

We'll hear from someone who studies fidgeting and learn how sometimes it helps us and sometimes it doesn't. Plus, armpit farts, mouth trumpets, and a few theories on why we fidget in the first place. Molly here. We just moved into our brand new headquarters and it has that new headquarters smell and a lot of dust. We're still renovating. Part of why we moved is because our shows are now independent. That means for the first time ever, Mark Sandon and I actually own the stuff we're making. It also means we need your support. But helping is easy. Join Smarty Pass. You'll get ad free episodes, invites to special hangouts with us. You can even get a personal message from me. Go to brainson.org smartypass to sign up. Hi, boss. Here's the coffee you ordered, boss. Why, thank you, Sandon fellow boss. And here is the coffee you ordered. Oh, thank you, boss. That's right. Now that we're independent, we're both our own bosses and assistants who fetch coffee. We do it all, except being CEO. That's Gungador's job.

[Gungador]

Is a business monster now. But no worry. Gungador still love dance. Gangador dance and analyze pie charts. Pie chart tastes like paper. Blueberry pie tastes like blueberry analysis. Anyway, join Smartypass to help Brains on Universe grow big and mighty. Like a muscular elephant or a really tall cow. Or a giant strawberry rhubarb pie.

[Molly Bloom]

Go to brainzon.org to join and tell the world. Yes. I want more shows with real science, made by real people, and occasionally one very shouty monster.

[Gungador]

Thank you.

[Penelope]

Brainza.

[Molly Bloom]

This is Brainzonn from the Brainzon Universe. I'm your host, Molly Bloom, and I'm here with Penelope from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hi, Penelope.

[Penelope]

Hi, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

Today we're finding out about Fidgeting. Fidgeting is moving your body, but you're not really trying to do anything specific.

[Penelope]

Usually you're making a small movement over and over without really thinking about it.

[Molly Bloom]

Sometimes you fidget with an object like a pen. Other times you just use your body. Now, Penelope, this episode was inspired by a question that you sent to us.

[Penelope]

Yeah, I was wondering how and why fidgets help some people focus but distract others.

[Molly Bloom]

This is such a great question. Now, Penelope, when you say fidgets, what do you mean?

[Penelope]

Well, you know those things that have started to pop up in stores recently. Like, for a while, fidgets. Those metal fidget spinner things were really popular. And then those, like, colorful rubber. Rubber poppets that are supposed to be like bubble wrap and you would go like that kind of thing.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah. So do you find fidgets help you focus or do they distract you?

[Penelope]

Well, I really think they can do both. I particularly, like, sometimes, like, fidgeting with some of my Rubik's Cubes, especially the ones that have magnets in them so that they snap into place. I find that really satisfying.

[Molly Bloom]

That is very satisfying. So what do you think the difference is between a fidget and. And a toy?

[Penelope]

Well, I think it's kind of just how you use it. Like, once again, back to Rubik's Cubes. If you're just, like, fidgeting with it mindlessly while focusing on something else and not paying much attention to it, I think it's a fidget. But if you're putting a lot of your attention and focus into it and energy into it and trying to solve it, it probably becomes more of a toy.

[Molly Bloom]

That's a really good distinction. So you're saying that it's a fidget if you're just kind of not really thinking about it, but just kind of moving it, and then it becomes a toy when you're, like, concentrating on it. Yeah, that's really great. Do you fidget without fidget toys?

[Penelope]

Yeah, I think everyone does, even if they don't notice, like, just shifting in their chair or tapping their pencils on the desks or their foot.

[Molly Bloom]

When do you find yourself needing to fidget the most?

[Penelope]

Usually when I'm anxious about something, probably.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah. For me, I do it a lot when I'm kind of. But trying to focus where I'm like, okay, Molly, don't look at your phone. Do something else, and I'll take out some Silly Putty and I'll play with it, and it helps me a little bit. So you sent this question, and you said, why do some people find them helpful but distract others? And I'm wondering what made you think.

[Penelope]

Of that question in the fidget box? In fifth grade, I noticed that a lot of kids were trading them under the desks and stuff and getting distracted by them or tossing them around and things like that, and sometimes like, fighting over them. And they didn't seem to be very helpful, to be honest. So I was wondering, so you.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

You.

[Molly Bloom]

That distinction you made, they were using them in that way where they focus on them rather than just use them as a helper. And were there fidgets that were your favorites to use in class?

[Penelope]

I really liked these squishy rubber egg things, but they were taken out of the box after kids kept tossing them around the classroom.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, man. Yeah. You know, if it's shaped like a ball, someone's gonna throw it. The toys we call fidgets are actually pretty new. They've only gotten popular in the last 10 years or so.

[Penelope]

Well, for me, that's almost my whole lifetime.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, yes, they've been around as long as you can remember, but these fidgets are not something that your parents had in elementary school.

[Penelope]

But that doesn't mean fidgeting is new.

[Molly Bloom]

Absolutely. Sometimes people need to fidget. So there have been toys and other things to fidget with for a very long time. They just weren't called fidgets like baoding balls.

[Penelope]

They date back to the Ming dynasty in China.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes. That's over 500 years ago. Baoding balls are two metal balls that fit in the palm of your hand, and you can twirl them around, making them switch places with each other.

[Penelope]

Or yo yos. Those have been around for thousands of years.

[Molly Bloom]

Or even Silly Putty. You know, that rubbery gummy stuff you can stretch and squish? That's been around since 1943.

[Penelope]

Or the Rubik's Cube. It's a blocky puzzle with lots of colorful squares, and it was invented in the 1970s.

[Molly Bloom]

Even without toys, we find ways to fidget. Playing with your hair or your jewelry.

[Penelope]

Giggling your foot or tapping your fingers.

[Molly Bloom]

Twirling your pen, or even doodling. Lots of humans, young and old, fidget from time to time.

[Penelope]

But why? Why do humans feel a need to fidget?

[Molly Bloom]

Experts aren't 100% sure why we fidget, but one possible reason is that we fidget when we really just want to be moving our bodies.

[Penelope]

Yeah, at school, I see a lot of kids fidget when we've been sitting still at our desks for a long time. You might start to feel antsy and.

[Molly Bloom]

It makes a lot of sense why our ancient ancestors had to spend all day hunting and gathering food. They were always moving. And we're built to move a lot too. But these days, we spend a lot of time trying to be still.

[Penelope]

And fidgeting lets us move our bodies in a small way when we can't move in a big way.

[Molly Bloom]

To get some of the ants out of your pants.

[Penelope]

Yep.

[Molly Bloom]

Or wiggle out the jiggles.

[Penelope]

Sure.

[Molly Bloom]

So that's one big reason we fidget. We also fidget sometimes when we're bored. Like when we're daydreaming or just zoning out. Penelope, you said earlier that you fidget when you may be anxious. Do you ever fidget when you're bored?

[Penelope]

Oh, yeah, definitely. Don't we all?

[Molly Bloom]

Yes, I think we do. So when I'm feeling bored or fidgety, I like to play with something in my hands. I'm a big Silly Putty fan. Very squishy. I can make it into different shapes. And honestly, I think I've started using my phone as a fidget, which is not a good habit.

[Rebecca Rand]

I. Hi, Molly. Hi, Penelope. I hope I'm interrupting something.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, it's brains on intern Rebecca Rand. You are interrupting something. Actually, we're doing our episode about fidgeting.

[Rebecca Rand]

Perfect. I was hoping to interrupt that. I'm here to explain that fidgeting is a form of self regulation.

[Penelope]

I've heard of self regulation. It's a way you can control or regulate your energy level or your feelings.

[Rebecca Rand]

Exactly. I self regulate all the time. We all do. Like the other day, I was auditioning to play the mouth trumpet in my local body parts band.

[Molly Bloom]

Body parts band?

[Rebecca Rand]

Yeah, you know, the tricep triangle armpituba mouth trumpet. So I was doing the audition over my computer and my heart was beating so hard that I couldn't even hear myself. Mouth trumpet. So I told the person on the other line that I needed a quick break. I ran to the freezer, got a bag of tater tots and held it to my face.

[Penelope]

You put frozen food on your face? Wasn't that super cold?

[Rebecca Rand]

Yes, that's exactly the point. Having something cold on my face helped me. Well, chill out. I self regulated, and now I'm the first chair mouth trumpeter in the body parts band.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, okay. But sometimes instead of needing to calm down, I need to hype myself up. Like right before taping Smashboom best, I always put on spandex and dance to Beyonce's entire catalog. Is that self regulating too?

[Rebecca Rand]

Totally. These are just different ways of using our Bodies to regulate our thoughts and feelings. And fidgeting is just another way to self regulate.

[Penelope]

Especially if there's no Beyonce or frozen tater tots handy.

[Rebecca Rand]

Oh, I always have tater tots handy. Speaking of which, I've got some hot tots in the oven I need to take out. Be right back.

[Penelope]

Hey, Molly, while we wait, how about we do the mystery Sal?

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, yes. Okay, Penelope, let's get to it. Here it is. Wow, that mystery sound had a lot of parts. What is your guess?

[Penelope]

I have no idea. I definitely heard someone walking at some point, I think. And then it sounded like someone was eating something. But before it sounded like maybe they were like, spinning something, something and was knocking something over. Maybe something metal. I was thinking.

[Molly Bloom]

Good ears. Do you want to hear it again?

[Penelope]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, let's hear it again. Okay, so last time you're like, spinning something metal, Somebody chewing. What do you think now?

[Penelope]

Well, the first part sounded a bit like putting a lot of coins into, like, a vending machine or a claw machine.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, so you think maybe possibly a vending machine. And what do you think about the chewing?

[Penelope]

No idea. Maybe the person ordered a bag of chips and is eating them now.

[Molly Bloom]

I like that.

[Penelope]

Guess it also kind of sounded like those clickety clackety, you know, mechanical keyboards with the video games and stuff.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, yeah. Okay, I don't know what this is either. So I'm going to guess an excited baby alligator doing a claw machine at an arcade, and they got so excited they started just crunching on the handle because they're a baby alligator.

[Penelope]

That's kind of what it did sound like, right?

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, so we will hear it again. Get another chance to guess and hear the answer at the end of the show.

[Penelope]

So stick around.

[Molly Bloom]

Hey, friends, we're making a new mystery sound extravaganza with a twist. This time we're only going to feature sounds found in nature, and we want to hear from you. Get outside and record a mystery sound made by the natural world. Animals, perhaps water, the weather, whatever. Tell us what makes the sound in your recording and send it to us. Penelope, what's one of your favorite sounds found in nature?

[Penelope]

I really like the sounds of, like, water flowing down rocks in, like, a stream or a brook.

[Molly Bloom]

Yes.

[Penelope]

My school is near the woods, so sometimes I like to go there and just, like, listen to it.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, that sounds very peaceful. That's such a nice break from the school day. Well, listeners, share your nature sounds by heading to brainson.org while you're there, you can also send us your drawings and questions.

[Penelope]

Keep listening. You're listening to brains on. I'm Penelope.

[Molly Bloom]

And I'm Molly.

[Rebecca Rand]

And I'm Rebecca. Back with some sizzling spuds. Anyone want a hot and tasty tot?

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, of course I do.

[Penelope]

Yeah, sure.

[Molly Bloom]

So good.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Mm.

[Molly Bloom]

So good. Okay, today we're talking about fidgeting. Scientists aren't totally sure why we fidget, but one idea is that it helps us self regulate.

[Penelope]

Self regulating is what we do when we're trying to change how we feel. You can do it when you need to get hyped up or calm down.

[Molly Bloom]

So, Rebecca, you said fidgeting is a form of self regulation.

[Rebecca Rand]

Yep. Fidgeting is just another tool humans use to help ourselves. And to help me explain, I've brought none other than my body parts band. We've got Billy on the beatbox, Annie on the armpit farts, and Tina on the tummy. Tom Toms.

[Molly Bloom]

Cool. Nice to meet you.

[Rebecca Rand]

So one time when we might need to self regulate is when we're trying to pay attention in class.

[Penelope]

Paying attention is actually a lot of work. Sometimes.

[Rebecca Rand]

Totally. It takes a lot of energy to ignore random feelings and sounds and other distractions going on around you. And it also takes a lot of energy to follow what the teacher is saying and absorb all that information. And sometimes fidgeting can help give you the energy you need to do all that.

[Molly Bloom]

How so?

[Rebecca Rand]

Well, imagine you're in class and your energy levels are like this. The teacher is talking on and on about something and it's getting really hard to concentrate. Your head is getting heavy, it starts to nod, but you can't sleep now. There's a quiz tomorrow. You gotta pay attention. So you sit up in your seat and you start to doodle. Doodling is actually kind of fidgeting. The way the pencil feels in your hand, the way it sounds scratching against the paper. All of that information travels up to your brain and can kind of help wake you up a bit. And just like that, you're in the zone. Yup. Some people prefer to jiggle their leg. Others twirl a pen. A lot of times we do this without even thinking about it. Researchers believe that all of these behaviors can help us stimulate our brains and wake it up so that we can focus. We're self regulating.

[Penelope]

It's like telling your body band to kick up the tempo.

[Rebecca Rand]

Exactly. Remember how I mentioned doodling? Well, some research has found that doodling can help people do better on certain tasks and even remember better compared to people who don't doodle.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. So fidgeting can be super helpful sometimes.

[Rebecca Rand]

Yeah. Fidgeting is your body's way of trying to change your mental state, but it doesn't always work.

[Penelope]

Yeah, like, sometimes a kid might start doodling, but then they start drawing something really cool. But then they realize they've started to lose track of what's happening in class.

[Rebecca Rand]

Exactly. It seems like probably the best. Fidgeting is something that is just interesting enough that it stimulates our brain, but not so interesting it distracts us.

[Molly Bloom]

But wait, if we use fidgeting to make our minds more awake, then why do people fidget when they're nervous or uncomfortable?

[Penelope]

Yeah, that's like your brain is already going too fast. Wouldn't fidgeting make it go faster?

[Rebecca Rand]

Excellent question. And the short answer is, we don't know for sure. Fidgeting can sometimes be just a sign that someone is feeling nervous, but it's possible it might also help calm our brains down, too. Let's say you're at the doctor's office and you're waiting to get a shot, and you're really nervous. Your heart is beating fast, and all your thoughts are going off in different directions like this. But then you start to fidget. Maybe you find a clicky pen nearby, and the sound and feeling of the clicks travel up to your brain. The clicky pen gives your brain something steady to focus on. It helps distract you from any feelings and thoughts that might be overwhelming you. And all of a sudden, your thoughts have slowed down and you feel a little bit more comfortable.

[Penelope]

So lots of people fidget, and fidgeting can sometimes be helpful for us.

[Molly Bloom]

Right. It can rev us up or calm us down.

[Rebecca Rand]

But it's good to remember that one person's fidget can be another person's distraction, especially if that other person can see it or hear it, like if you're clicking a pen or tapping your foot. So be considerate of other people and try to fidget in ways that don't bother the folks around you.

[Penelope]

Well, thanks so much for telling us about fidgeting, Rebecca.

[Rebecca Rand]

No, thank you, guys. It's been a blast, but we gotta bounce. The Body Bin and I are heading to Coachella.

[Penelope]

You're playing at Coachella? The music festival?

[Rebecca Rand]

Oh, no, no, no. Cowchella. It's where we sit on the couch and eat snacks together. It's very exclusive.

[Molly Bloom]

Sounds fun. I love snacks.

[Penelope]

Bye, Rebecca. Bye, Body Band.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Bye.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, While we were moving into this new headquarters, the mail really piled up. So we've been making our way through all the questions, jokes, drawings, and cool Facts that you sent us. Let's see what's new by checking the mailbag. Okay, this one is a drawing. Let's open it. Oh, wow. This is. I have no words. I'm just kidding. I always have words. I'm going to describe this explosion of color and creativity. Cue the fancy, arty music. This one says, taping an episode from your biggest fan, Kate. So Kate drew the taping of an episode. So what we have here is. There's a table. There's me, Molly. I have a purple shirt on. So cool. It's my favorite color. There's a microphone in front of me. Then we've got Mark in a green shirt. Another microphone. We've got Manica in a red shirt. Another microphone. Hi, Manica. We miss you. And we got Sandon in a blue shirt and another microphone. Sandon's also wearing glasses, and so am I. And then we have Kate in a yellow shirt with a microphone. And standing off to the side, we've got Bob in a lovely plaid shirt and jeans. Gungador looks to be dancing with ballet shoes on. Incredible. We've got elevator saying, hi, I'm elevator. And then in the corner, we have a speaker that says, hi, I am Harvey. Oh, my gosh, Kate, this is so excellent. Thank you for sending it to us. Well, Kate, I hope I did your work justice. If you want to see today's Mailbag masterpiece, head to Brains On's Instagram to check it out. That's Brainson. And to send us your art, a science joke, or your idea for a new room at Brainson headquarters, go to brainson.org see you in the mailbag. Today we're talking about fidgeting. Lots of people do it, and fidgeting has lots of uses. It can help you when you feel antsy and need to move, or it.

[Penelope]

Can help you focus and calm down.

[Molly Bloom]

But fidget toys, the kind of toy that you asked us about, Penelope, those are fairly new. We've brought in an expert on fidgeting and fidgets to help us answer your question. Her name is Dr. Julie Schweitzer. Dr. Schweitzer also talked to us for our episode all about adhd. You can find it wherever you're listening to this episode.

[Penelope]

She's a psychologist at the Mind Institute at the University of California, Davis, and she's also a neuroscientist, which means she studies the brain. Hi, Dr. Schweitzer.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Hello, Penelope. Great to be here with you.

[Penelope]

Yeah, I'm excited to talk, too. My first question is, when did you first notice fidget toys being used by your patients?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

The first time I noticed it when I was talking with a patient and I asked them if they fidgeted and they said no. And I noticed they were grabbing things off of my desk. So they're grabbing my pencil, my stapler, other things on a desk. And I said, well, what are you doing right now? You're fidgeting with things on my desk? And the person said, oh yeah, my boyfriend complains about that all the time. I take their remote control and play with the remote control all the time. So sometimes people were doing it and they didn't even notice it.

[Penelope]

What kind of neuroscientist are you?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Well, I study the brain in relationship to development. So that is regarding how children's brains develop as they grow and also in relation to attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. So kids who wiggle a lot or have trouble paying attention or some challenges with self control, and we look at that over time also. So those are the main areas and attention we're trying to figure out where attention lives in the brain. So those are the main areas that I'm studying in the brain still.

[Penelope]

Are fidget toys more helpful than other objects you can fidget with? Like if at home you just found a zipper or a pen, are the ones that you buy engineered or designed in a certain way to be more helpful?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Well, I'm not so sure about that. I think that certain people like the way certain fidgets feel, and that's not always predictable. Some people really like getting feedback. So when you're clicking a pen and you feel what it feels like for the the pen to click up and down, some people really like that. Some people just need to rub something. So I think it really depends on the person, but I don't know if ones that are specifically engineered for that are really necessarily more helpful.

[Penelope]

Do you think it's okay because it's different for everybody, buddy, to only let some kids have fidgets in the classroom but not others?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

That is a really hard and good question. I think you have to consider who else is in the classroom and if the fidgets are distracting to other people. And I think people have to be really sensitive about what their needs are versus other people in the classroom too. So if they are going to have a fidget, I would hope it would be something that wouldn't be very distracting to others. So maybe it's just some material that they rub their fingers on, or maybe it's a band either on their wrist or on the chair or something like that, but not something that's so distracting. So if it's something that really helps people, I want people to find a way to be successful in the classroom. So I think we should try to find ways to accommodate them. But we have to balance out.

[Penelope]

So it sounds like fidgeting can be helpful for kids when they're bored or anxious. That's really cool. I was wondering, though, would they also fidget less if we help them deal with what's making them bored or anxious? And is that more important to get to the underlying problem, or is it okay to use fidgets in the long term?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

That is getting at something really important. I do think what really needs to be done is, yeah, let's find out. Why are these kids anxious? What's making them nervous is maybe what we're asking them to do too hard. Can we break it down into smaller steps? Can they start working on a problem, the easier part of it, and then go on to the harder part of it so they're not feeling so anxious? Can we teach them some breathing exercise and stretching and do that first? Because those. Once you learn those tools, you can take that with you anywhere. And in terms of anxiety, I think sometimes people are getting a little confused because I think just because people fidget doesn't mean that the fidgeting with the fidget tool is helping them. Sometimes they're fidgeting when they're anxious because that's a symptom that they're anxious. And so that's why you do need to go back to saying, okay, well, how can we help them feel less anxious?

[Penelope]

Do fidget toys help people with ADHD more than they would help someone else?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

I think so. We have a little bit of evidence suggesting that. That people with adhd, it tends to help their attention more. And I think we're learning now that it probably helps their attention more when they're doing a test that's not very hard, but maybe it's a test that's a little boring, kind of repetitive. But we're trying to learn more about that too.

[Molly Bloom]

Is there research that does show that fidgets can help us concentrate?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

The research on that is still mixed. And I think what's important to understand is that there are fidget tools or toys, and then there's your natural behavior. And what we have really strong evidence for at this point is your natural behavior just moving your legs and your hands and so forth. That seems to have pretty good evidence that it helps you manage your attention and so forth. When it comes to fidget tools Fidget toys. I think the variety of them is so diverse that we don't know enough about how will those help. And I personally am concerned that some of them are more distracting than actually helping. If you're spending so much time concentrating on your fidget rather than doing your work or thinking about other ways of calming your nerves, then I think that there's less evidence for that.

[Penelope]

What's your favorite way to fidget?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Probably now, in the past few years, I do have a little ball that I use that I squeeze, but when I was younger, I was just twirling my hair. I'm not a huge fidgeter, but my brother growing up was a huge fidgeter. And that's some of how I got interested in this. When we were eating dinner, the forks and knives were always clanging at the dinner table. So that. And then watching children in preschool really got me interested in it and seeing how sometimes when it did seem like they were trying to concentrate, that they were moving more, but that was moving themselves physically rather than actually having a toy or something like that.

[Molly Bloom]

Are there rules to help guide our behavior when we start to fidget?

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

I think some of it is really common sense. And if you're spending so much time concentrating on your fidgets, then what's happening around you or listening to what your teacher is saying or concentrating on your homework, then that's the time where you need to put your fidget away. Because sometimes what you can do is you can interact with your fidget in the beginning and then just put it off to the side. And every once in a while, maybe you touch it or get up and stretch. And I think it's really important to try to think of other ways to get movement in. So maybe that is taking that stretch break. Maybe it's also chewing on something. So maybe you have some carrots or some raisins, something, you know, some kind of healthy snack. Because we're starting to learn that also moving your mouth can be helpful. And then your hands are free. So if your hands are tied up by touching a fidget, you're not able to type as well. You're not able to write. So don't let the fidget overtake your life. Use it constructively to help you, but don't let it become more than what you're supposed to actually be working on.

[Molly Bloom]

It's really good advice.

[Penelope]

Thanks for answering Our questions, Dr. Julie.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

Oh, thank you so much. These were great, and I hope my answers have been helpful to you.

[Molly Bloom]

Fidgeting is very common. Lots of People fidget. From kids to grown ups, there are.

[Penelope]

Lots of ways to fidget. You can fidget with your body or with things around you.

[Molly Bloom]

Scientists aren't sure why we fidget, but one idea is that fidgeting is a form of self regulation.

[Penelope]

That means it's something we do to control how we feel.

[Molly Bloom]

Fidgeting can help you focus, but it can also distract others. So be mindful of your fidget. That's it for this episode of Brain Zot. It was written by Rebecca Rand and me. Editing by Shayla Farzon and Sandon Totten. Engineering help from Jess Berg with sound design by Mark Sanchez and fact checking by Nico Gonzalez Whistler. Original theme music by Mark Sanchez. Special thanks to Heidi Shin, Wesley Wong and Mr. Phan for letting Penelope take the day off of school. We also had production help from Rosie Dupont and Anna Wegel. And we want to thank our friends at Code of the north, especially Ken Taborski, for all of their help with our website. There are lots of ways to support the show. Subscribe to Brains on universe on YouTube, where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. Or head to brainson.org while you're there.

[Penelope]

You can send us mystery sounds, drawings, and questions.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Penelope, you ready to hear that mystery sound again?

[Penelope]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, here it is. What do you think?

[Penelope]

Well, still kind of the same ones from before, but I was also thinking, like, maybe a pinball machine.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh, a pinball machine. And then someone crunching.

[Penelope]

Yeah, nice.

[Molly Bloom]

I'm sticking with my baby alligator answer. Cause that's what it sounds like to me. You ready for the answer?

[Penelope]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, here it is.

[Penelope]

Hi, my name is August and I'm from Indianapolis. And that was the sound of me getting a gumball for my gumball machine.

[Rebecca Rand]

Oh.

[Penelope]

So the vending machine was actually closer.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, you were close. Like, honestly, throughout that whole thing, you were saying, like, vending machine putting a coin in. Correct. You said twisting something metal. Correct. You said pinball, which is almost like gumball. So I think I'm giving us partial credit. I mean, I'm giving you partial credit. I'm giving me no credit because no baby alligators were involved. Now it's time for the Brains honor roll. These are the incredible kids who keep the show going with their questions, ideas, mystery sounds, drawings, and high fives. Josiah from Walkerton, Ontario, and from Auckland, New Zeal. Matthew from Virginia. Saul from Chevy Chase, Maryland. Etta from Bellingham, Washington. Angie from Vaughan, Ontario. Liam from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Gabriel from Minneapolis. Liam from Binyan, Philippines Rao from Nottingham, England Eden from Eagan, Minnesota Jude and Ella from New Hampshire Zuri from Sacramento Maxwell from Colorado Charlie from Milwaukee Florence from Minneapolis Mariana from Sanford, California Quint from Brainerd, Minnesota Ellie and Edison from Portland, Oregon Rosie and Teddy from Falls Church, Virginia Eli from Cornwall, Ontario Gabriel from Salt Lake City Eli from New Orleans Violet from Champaign, Illinois Sanua from Minneapolis Weston from Latham, Ohio John from Cincinnati Theo and Isaac from Charlotte, North Carolina Dallas from Riverview, Florida James, Gus and Evelyn from San Angelo, Texas Jack, Thomas and Ann from Toronto Jeriah, Asher, Gideon, Hosea and Adelaide from Salem, Oregon Shirsha from Weaverville, North Carolina Cecilia from Minneapolis Genesis from Sierra Vista, Arizona Parker from Regina, Saskatchewan Jamison and Bennett, Florida from Monroe, Washington Amaru from Sebastopol, California Elias from Elverson, Pennsylvania Zachary from Newton, Massachusetts Zachie from Sydney, Australia Merlin from Mount Vernon, Washington Hugo from Indianapolis Benji from Houston Kaden from Oceanside, California Owen from Loveland, Ohio Elliot from Los Angeles, Asa and Levi from Tacoma Park, Maryland Backs from Los Angeles, Elijah and Levi from Seattle Liam from Binyan, Philippines Toby from Minneapolis Lola from San Antonio, Texas Abel from Tampa, Florida Meline from Woodworth, Virginia Liliana from Mississauga Jade from Waianae, Hawaii Fiona from Syracuse, New York Isabel from Sydney, Australia Umar from Kuala Lumpur, Milo from Minneapolis and Alder from Oregon City. High five. We'll be back next week with an episode all about electric cars when you might just hear this sound.

[Dr. Julie Schweitzer]

So I've got a lot of shush in my woosh.

[Penelope]

Thanks for listening.