Parental perspectives on the use of fidget toys and sensory-seeking profiles in autistic and neurotypical children

Abstract

This study addresses the research gap concerning whether the use of fidget toys or fidget spinners specifically are perceived to support children and positively influence their behavioural and emotional wellbeing as well as investigating how these perceptions relate to children’s sensory-seeking profiles. 129 parents/carers of autistic children (n = 53) and neurotypical (NT) children (n = 76) completed an online survey. The survey consisted of questions relating to the benefits and risks of fidget toys as well as statements about their own child’s fidget toy use. The Sensory Profile 2 was used to obtain parents perspectives on their child’s sensory behaviours. The main findings demonstrated that parents of autistic children perceived fidget toys and fidget spinners to be overall more beneficial than NT parents, especially in relation to reducing anxiety. Higher sensory-seeking scores for both autistic children and NT children were associated with greater parental agreement for fidget toys and fidget spinners being beneficial. Parents of autistic children with higher sensory seeking scores found fidget toys to reduce anxiety and spinners to be less distracting. Whereas, parents of NT children with higher sensory seeking scores perceived both fidget toys and spinners to help their child concentrate. Implications include that educators should consider parental views when forming policies about the use of fidget toys. Findings also imply that the sensory profiles of autistic and NT students should be considered in relation to the use of fidget toys.