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Rise of the Fidget Toys Fidget toys like NeeDoh are having a moment in classrooms—and for good reason. Many neurodivergent students fidget as a way to concentrate, yet they're often reprimanded for it, seen as "not sitting still" rather than as a helpful focus tool. As awareness of ADHD and autism has grown, occupational therapists have become more accepting of fidgeting in class, as long as it doesn't distract other students. Research even shows that movement can help kids stay alert enough to complete a task or follow a lesson, making a small fidget toy a low-cost way to support focus without pulling attention away from instruction. Fidget toys may also fill a gap in classrooms that have gotten more academic, leaving less room for hands-on, tactile play like Play-Doh or craft time. As schoolwork ramps up even in the early grades, tactile toys give kids a small outlet for the kind of hands-on, fine-motor play that used to happen more naturally throughout the day. Beyond the focus benefits, they can be social too—kids say having a fidget toy can be a natural icebreaker, giving classmates something to talk about or share. Perhaps most importantly, their popularity is helping normalize fidgeting altogether. What was once seen as a distraction or a sign a student wasn't paying attention is increasingly understood as a legitimate way to manage stress and stay engaged. As one researcher put it, people are realizing that different kids need different kinds of sensory input to do their best learning—and a $6 squishy toy might be one of the simplest ways to meet that need. Want to learn more about the history, science, and benefits of fidget toys? Check out this informative video! Special Education Update: What Parents Should Know The Trump administration recently split federal oversight of special education between two agencies: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). This is a shift from how special education has traditionally been overseen, and it's worth understanding what it could mean for families. Special education exists so students with disabilities can participate, learn, and progress in school alongside their peers. It's rooted in education law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Historically, it's been administered by an agency focused on educating students with disabilities—not one focused on health services. Some experts see potential upsides to a move toward HHS, like improved coordination with health and mental health services. Others raise concerns that it could shift the approach toward a medical model of disability (diagnosing and "treating" impairments) rather than the social/educational model schools currently use, which focuses on strengths and removing barriers to learning. There's also concern that splitting oversight across agencies could make it more complicated for parents to know where to file a complaint if they need to. What this means right now: It's still unclear exactly how these changes will play out. Importantly, nothing changes a family's core rights—every child is still entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This is a developing story, and we'll share updates as we learn more. For ongoing coverage, we recommend following @Understoodorg.
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