By Peter Ghaly & Stewie Pollock
Take a look around the school, and chances are you will find someone playing with a fidget spinner, the most addicting, fascinating toy that has spread throughout WHS and the country recently.
Take a look around the school, and chances are you will find someone playing with a fidget spinner, the most addicting, fascinating toy that has spread throughout WHS and the country recently.
Most students at WHS probably already know what fidget spinners are. They are handheld toys that come in a variety of colors and spin for minutes on an almost frictionless surface. Tens of millions of fidget spinners have been sold online and in many local toy and convenience stores. They are typically inexpensive, with the common spinner ranging in price from $2-15.
Dr. Steven Shapiro, chairman of pediatrics at Abington Hospital Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, noted to CBS that fidget spinners help hyperactive children calm down and focus, especially children with ADHD and autism.
¨Fidget spinners can be helpful for students with disabilities,” said Special Education Teacher Ms. Kara Shields. ¨It helps provide an outlet for kids to use in order to be able to sit still and listen to a lecture or lesson for 43 minutes at a time.¨
However, this fad has spread to more than just special needs kids. Many people have become so hooked on the trend that they have developed a fidget obsession.
“I play with fidget spinners because it keeps me focused while I work,” said sophomore Daniel Han. “It’s satisfying because it takes the place of a nervous habit like biting a pencil or tapping your foot.”
On the other hand, some students are annoyed by the presence of these toys in the school. Said junior Spencer Weigand. “I find fidget spinners to be mildly distracting due to the high-pitch whizzing sound they make when spun. If you’re in a quiet room trying to focus and all of a sudden you hear that, you can lose your train of thought and miss out on the given exercise.”
Even teachers deem the fidget spinner to be a distraction at times. Math teacher Ms. Kathleen Cicalese said, “I think they’re distracting to both the student using it and the other students in the classroom. However, I don’t think it’s a problem if they’re spinning outside of class like in the library or cafeteria.”
No matter how people feel about the product, fidget spinners have become overwhelmingly popular and are spinning their way into students’ lives.
Dr. Steven Shapiro, chairman of pediatrics at Abington Hospital Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, noted to CBS that fidget spinners help hyperactive children calm down and focus, especially children with ADHD and autism.
¨Fidget spinners can be helpful for students with disabilities,” said Special Education Teacher Ms. Kara Shields. ¨It helps provide an outlet for kids to use in order to be able to sit still and listen to a lecture or lesson for 43 minutes at a time.¨
However, this fad has spread to more than just special needs kids. Many people have become so hooked on the trend that they have developed a fidget obsession.
“I play with fidget spinners because it keeps me focused while I work,” said sophomore Daniel Han. “It’s satisfying because it takes the place of a nervous habit like biting a pencil or tapping your foot.”
On the other hand, some students are annoyed by the presence of these toys in the school. Said junior Spencer Weigand. “I find fidget spinners to be mildly distracting due to the high-pitch whizzing sound they make when spun. If you’re in a quiet room trying to focus and all of a sudden you hear that, you can lose your train of thought and miss out on the given exercise.”
Even teachers deem the fidget spinner to be a distraction at times. Math teacher Ms. Kathleen Cicalese said, “I think they’re distracting to both the student using it and the other students in the classroom. However, I don’t think it’s a problem if they’re spinning outside of class like in the library or cafeteria.”
No matter how people feel about the product, fidget spinners have become overwhelmingly popular and are spinning their way into students’ lives.