Do fidget toys really help people focus?

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Brains On Universe

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.4 • 13.5K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Fidget toys are everywhere. There are ones you can squeeze, or click, or spin. Others are puzzles or have cool textures to touch. Some classrooms even have fidget toys for students, but do they help kids concentrate or are they just a distraction? Molly and co-host Penelope team up with an unconventional band to learn why we fidget in the first place.

Plus, neuroscientist Dr. Julie Schweitzer, from the UC Davis MIND Institute, answers questions about the science of fidget toys.

All that plus a brand new Mystery Sound and peek into what's happening at the brand new Brains On Headquarters!

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Nothing's better than a good debate, except maybe a good debate live.
0:06.5	That's why we're bringing Smash Boom Best to Princeton, New Jersey, Sunday, October 26th
0:12.3	to the MacArthur Theater.
0:15.2	It's going to be a knock-down, drag-out, brawl of words, jokes, and probably some impromptu
0:20.1	dance moves, and guess who's judging
0:21.9	this time? You, the audience. Get your tickets by going to brains on.org, or you can head to
0:29.3	MacArthur.org, M-C-C-A-R-T-E-R.org. So that's Smash Boom Best in New Jersey on October 26th.
0:38.3	It's going to be a smash boom blast.
0:41.7	See you there.
0:48.0	Lemonada.
0:52.6	You're listening to the Brains on universe.
0:58.0	You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.
1:03.0	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. 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 on 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. So they're grabbing my pencil, my stapler, other things on a desk. And I said, well,
1:28.4	what are you doing right now? You're fidgeting with things on my desk. We'll hear from someone
1:32.3	who studies fidgeting and learn how sometimes it helps us and sometimes it doesn't. Plus, armpit
1:37.7	farts, mouth trumpets, and a few theories on why we fidget in the first place.
1:47.3	Ma here, we just moved into our brand new headquarters and...
1:53.0	It has that new headquarters smell.
1:56.7	And a lot of dust.
2:00.0	We're still renovating.
2:01.9	Part of why we moved is because our shows are now independent.
2:05.8	That means for the first time ever, Mark Sandin and I actually own the stuff we're making.
	...

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