Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably seen the growing obsession with the fidget spinner. Kids think it is the greatest invention ever while teachers think they just cause distractions in the classroom. Some say they are more than just toys and actually help people focus and even aid some people who are dealing with PTSD and other disorders, but other experts disagree, saying the claims are not backed by science. Love them or hate them, nobody can deny the fact that fidget spinners are the new “must-have” gadgets of 2016 and 2017. But do you think you know everything there is to know about this spinning toy? Read on for some facts you probably do not know about fidget spinners.
6) Its inventor is not making any money.
Chemical engineer Catherine Hettinger, the creator of the fidget spinner, is not making any money off her invention as she could not afford the $400 required to renew her patent. Hettinger came up with the idea of the fidget spinner 20 years ago as a toy to occupy her daughter and help reduce anxiety among ADHD sufferers as well, but it has only been recently that it has become popular and started flying off the shelves. The 62-year old chemical engineer had a patent from 1997 to 2005. Unfortunately, she was not able to renew the $400 patent due to financial constraints at that time.
5) Some experts do not believe that fidget spinners aid in anxiety, stress and ADHD.
Fidget spinners have been touted everywhere as a miracle toy that will help people focus. It is also marketed to people who are suffering from conditions like PTSD, ADHD, anxiety and stress. Not everyone agrees that the toy can deliver, though. Scott Collins, a professor and clinical psychologist at Duke University disputes the claims, saying that while the toys may serve as some distraction from troubling thoughts, there is no scientific evidence to prove their therapeutic value.
4) Not everyone loves the ban of the toys from schools.
As surprising as this may sound, not all parents are happy with the fact that spinners are now being banned by many schools throughout the land. Although it is true that the toy is undeniably noisy and distracting, parents who really did feel that fidget spinners offer benefits to their children are unhappy with the widespread ban.
3) Fidget spinners top the list as the most dangerous among summer toys.
A consumer watchdog group based in Boston called World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) is warning parents to think long and hard before buying the season’s hottest toy. According to the group’s summer safety report which names the top 10 summer hazards, fidget spinners top the menacing list of toys that are highly likely to cause an injury. The list includes toys like hoverboards, baby pools, scooters, trampolines, bounce houses, water guns, swords and toys with small parts and batteries.
2) Fidget spinners have cousins and they are called fidget cubes.
If you think you have just come to grips with fidget spinners, think again. Introducing the fidget cube, a cuboid that offers many more ways you can occupy your restless fingers. You can roll your fingers on one side, slide a dial on another, click, rub, glide or flip on each other sides.
1) Fidget spinners’ popularity.
According to a report by google trends, recent worldwide searches for “fidget spinners” have outnumbered searches for “kim Kardashian” and “Donald Trump” combined. Countless variations of the spinner are now also available at the market with their own set of unique traits, colors, sizes and features.
