What Are Fidget Spinners for - Everything you Need to Know

What Are Fidget Spinners for - Everything you Need to Know

Fidget spinners are the hottest toys selling out these days. They are not only toys for kids, but you will see a lot of adults passing time with this stress relieving tool as well. It’s amazing to see a fidget spinner rotating on its own for several minutes uninterruptedly. They not only relieve stress, but they are known to deal with a variety of mental disorders as well. This oneHOWTO article is going to discuss the most common questions these toys generate: what are fidget spinners for? How do they work? And why are they sometimes dangerous?

So what is a fidget spinner for?

A fidget spinner is a palm-sized, flat gadget usually with 3 to 6 arms spinning on a ball bearing. It’s fun to flick it and watch it spin quietly for several minutes. No doubt, a fidget spinner is much more than just a toy. Experts think that it can be helpful in reducing stress and dealing with boredom as well. Whenever you feel anxious or upset, you can take out your fidget spinner and play with it to feel relaxed. People of different ages are spinning a variety of fidget spinners that are available in varied colors and shapes. With so many designs and style available, they have become collectible materials for enthusiasts as well. Some retailers of fidget spinners also make sweeping health claims about their ability to relieve anxiety, stress and even ADHD symptoms. However, there are no studies that confirm that these claims are true.

With practice, one can perform several fun tricks with a fidget spinner, such as balancing it on a finger, nose or toe, catching a rotating spinner from one hand to the other, making a spinning tower with more than one fidget spinners, etc. This is the main reason why it has become so popular among children and Youtube is full of fidget spinner videos that show you the latest and most difficult tricks.

How does a fidget spinner work

Basically, a fidget spinner contains ball bearings which reduce friction and allow it to rotate with speed for several minutes. The ball bearings use kinetic force to rotate themselves.

When they are placed in a fidget spinner and connected to the cap, you are able to spin the bearings without the need to directly touch them. The fidget spinners have weights on each of their ends, which add on to the force of the bearings, as a result of which the spinner keeps spinning for several minutes. This is the reason why a heavier fidget spinner will rotate for longer, but will require more strength.

To use a fidget spinner correctly, hold the center wall with your thumb and index finger. You can either spin it with your free hand or flick it with your middle finger.

One of the most basic tricks you can do with a fidget spinner is to flick it and hold it with just your index finger. It's pretty simple, you just need to make sure your index finger is comfortably balanced on the ball bearing. Another popular trick is to throw it from one hand to the other, with the spinner still spinning. This will take more practice but you can easily master this trick.

Why a fidget spinner can be dangerous

Although fidget spinners are wonderful toys and they are helpful in relieving stress and anxiety as well, they have been banned in some schools and lots of parents are not allowing their children to play with them as well. There are obvious and practical reasons for that.

First of all, they are addictive and distracting. According to a study by UCF (University of Cerntral Florida) it can actually work agaist children who suffer from ADHD. In fact, it can be addictive to watch a spinning toy rotating on your finger for several minutes. With a target to rotate the spinner harder and longer than the last time, you may feel encouraged to keep spinning it again and again, and you may be deviated from your studies or other useful works.

Fidget spinners contain tiny parts like ball bearings and metal parts, which may come out while spinning and may hit your eye or enter your mouth. Small children may feel anxious to put these parts in their mouth, thus resulting in a choking hazard.

Moreover, there has been questions on whether fidget spinners contain quantities of lead that could be harmful for health. Non-official studies have determined that a light-up fidget spinners contain 19.000 ppm (parts per million), even though the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that a safe product should contain 90 ppm in children's toys. However, this is just applicable to certain brands and models of fidget spinners, as not all of them have been tested and amounts can vary highly.

Precautions to avoid dangers of fidget spinners

The most important recommendation for parents who are thinking of buying their children a fidget spinner si not to give a fidget spinner to a child less than 5 years of age. After this age, children become responsible enough to not put small parts into their mouth.

Other than that, get rid of a spinner that is broken, as small metal parts or ball bearings can come out and cause hazard. For the first few days, keep watching your child and supervise him to make correct use of the spinner. Even though it relieves stress, don’t become addicted to it. Stay motivated to concentrate on your studies and work, and use this toy only when you feel low or want something to pass time.

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