101 Best Fidget Toys for Teens and Adults with Autism & ADHD
Apr 11, 2024
Please do NOT buy that fidget box full of random rainbow-colored fidgets, and I hope it will meet the needs of teens and adults! You are bound to find that they are small in size, simple, and limited in use.
So, I made a list of the best fidget toys out there for older kids, teens, and adults with disabilities, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)!
What is a Fidget Toy?
Fidgets are small handheld toys or objects that can be moved or manipulated to relieve stress by bringing joy to the user, providing a distraction from another task, or meeting a sensory need through visual, auditory, or tactile input. A fidget is different from educational games and problem-solving toys.
Fidget objects are small enough to fit in one hand and often require the user's motor skills to operate. Most fidgets require one's fine motor skills, too, while others can be operated by larger gross motor movements. Also, take note of the choking hazard risk of fidgets with small parts.
While typically associated with the special needs, ADHD, and autistic community (with many using 'autism fidget toy' or 'adhd fidget toys' in the item's title), fidgets are used and loved by everyone, including typically developing individuals, because they are a great way to meet sensory needs and/or provide distraction or stress relief.
Fidgets are powerful tools that can be used in sensory rooms or sensory tables, by special education teachers in the classroom setting, or by occupational therapists to help students block out extraneous sensory information or to meet a sensory processing need.
Choosing the Right Fidget Toys
When choosing a fidget toy, consider the teen or adult's personal preference (like different colors), preferred sensory inputs, their targeted sensory systems (e.g., tactile awareness), the purpose of the need for a fidget (stress relief, distraction, or sensory input), and the different times when they would need to use it. A conscious match between the fidget and the user's preferred movements of objects and sensory considerations can make great fidgets meaningful and useful for the teen or adult.
Fidgets should not be bought just because they are the most visually appealing or because something is marketed as an adult fidget toy. A fidget toy should meet the individual's needs and be age-appropriate! This includes selecting age-appropriate sizing, colors, and themes. Also, one fidget may not meet an individual's different sensory needs, and therefore, they may benefit from a variety of different fidgets. When selecting fidgets for students to use in the classroom or learning environment, teacher-approved fidgets are usually those that are quiet or silent and more discrete.
The good news is that fidget toys are more than just classic stress balls, flippy chain, fidget spinners, and bouncy bands you see at the end of a kid's toy section aisle. Much like the function of stim toys, some fidgets have different textures and different sizes and operate by a user's repetitive behaviors (shaking, flicking, pulling). They can be useful tools and a satisfying sensory experience.
101 Sensory Fidget Toys for Teens and Adults with Disabilities, Autism, and ADHD
- Silent & Quiet Fidget Toys
- Single Action Fidgets
- Multi-Action Fidgets
- Proprioceptive Input Fidgets
- Infinity & Visually Appealing Fidgets
Silent & Quiet Fidget Toys
Fidgets that are silent or have a quiet noise level when in use. Silent and quiet fidgets are an ideal choice for students in class and adults working closely with others as these will not be a sound distraction.
Mini Marble Discreet Fidget Maze
Quiet Fidgers Variety Pack (available in a variety of pastel colors)
Twisting Christmas Tree Fidget
Silent Rolling Ball Board Fidget
Pocket Size Picking Pad (small pieces come out)
Wearable Bracelet Bead Pull Fidget
Single-Action Fidgets
Simple fidgets for those who may want only to use one hand or weaker fine motor skills.
Flick Fidget (only available in bright neon colors)
Quiet Metal Link Rolling Squishe
Multi Minute Spinner Fidget (or matte single-color fidget spinner)
Flexible Snaking Cat Fidget or Flexible Articulated Slug (available in various colors and lengths)
Clicking Keyboard Fidget (available in various colors)
Wooden Ball Connected Twisting Fidget
Sliding Magnetic Pillar Sticks Fidget
Liquid Motion Falling Sequins Keychain Fidget
Tetrahedron Gears Shape Shifting Fidget
Multi-Action Fidgets
A fidget that can do more than one thing, allowing for more types of use.
Click Stick (available in a variety of colors)
Magnetic Sliding Disc (comes in many, many colors for customization)
Magnetic Clicker Haptic Fidget
Two Handed Ball Maze or Ball Run Fidget
Longshot Ball and Chain Fidget
Ramen Noodles Stretch or Shimmy Fidget
Proprioceptive Input Fidgets
Proprioception is knowing where one's body is and it's movement and strength.
Stress Relief Massaging Finger Rings
Flow Fidget Rings Arm Bracelet
Pull Crochet Spiral Ribbon Key Chains
Mini Expanding Breathing Sphere Fidget
Rocking Foot Rest for Under Chair
Resistance Rubber Band for Body or Fingers or Hands or Arms
Infinity & Visually Appealing Fidgets
Fidgets that are visually attractive or never-ending! Make note that some visual fidgets may cause sensory overstimulation for some.
Shape Shifting Box (available in a variety of colors/designs)
Chainmail Moveable Sheet Fidget
Optical Illusion Spinning Coin
I hope this list helps you find your favorite fidgets as there are benefits of fidget toys for everyone.
If you are looking for adult autism toys and other sensory solutions, check out the 101 Sensory Toys List blog post. If you have a larger budget and want other ideas besides fidgets, check out my blog post about how I would spend a $1,000 budget.
*Above is a list of fidget tools, all of which are available for purchase from Etsy and Amazon. Amazon Prime members (which so many of us are nowadays) get free shipping on most products and have the best delivery times. Etsy is a global marketplace that offers mostly made-to-order items and handmade pieces, which make them more unique than mass-market fidget toys. Purchases can be made using the Amazon and Etsy app or website. It is important to note that I earn a very small commission (like pennies) from the Amazon links below; however, the price for you is the same.
