“Fidgeting is our body’s way of releasing restless energy,” according to the Flushing Hospital Medical Center of New York City. We channel this fidgeting energy through fidget toys. It also said, “fidget toys are self-regulation tools to help with focus, attention, calming, and active listening.”
At PFMS, teachers recognized that fidgeting is something students are doing in class, so they had Mr. Boyer, PFMS Tech Ed teacher, teach 6th graders how to use TinkerCad to 3D print their own fidget toy. “The Fidget Project is meant to be a challenge for 6th-grade students,” Boyer said.
“They are just learning to use the program Tinkercad and this project pushes the limits of what they have learned. One of the requirements for the project is that the device needs to have a moving part. Students need to figure out not only how the part will move, but they also need to figure out how to draw the parts so they will fit or work together.”
The Fidget Project challenges students to be creative and make something of their own. It gives them something to help them concentrate in class, it gives them a sense of pride and self-satisfaction, and it gives them something to show off to their friends and family. However, it is difficult for some people to persevere and learn to use something new. “Most students struggle with the Fidget Project and in the beginning, they may think it seems too hard or impossible,” Mr. Boyer also said. “When they finish and realize that they have successfully overcome the challenge and created something useful, it brings a sense of accomplishment and helps to build confidence in their abilities to design and create.” Making a fidget gives students a chance to be creative and make something designed specifically for them, by them.
The best part of the Fidget Project is that it helps students concentrate.
“I find fidgets to really help focus in class and shut out distractions,” said Anna Searle. Searle just finished the fidget project. She described her tool as a cube with something to play with on each side. Searle thinks fidgets are more tools than toys. And, in part, Ally Swager (6th grader) agrees. “Some fidgets are easy to just fiddle with in my hand, and help me focus,” she said. But she also thinks they can be quite a toy. “Some fidgets are more for looking at while you play with them, and are a little more distracting.” Some students use fidgets as toys, and some use them as tools. Either one is fine, however, using tools in school is the more appropriate option.
Making a fidget tool in the Tech Ed project gives students a little piece of plastic to channel their fidgeting energy, feel pride after their hard work, and make something creative and completely of their own.