Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Fidget toys, like NeeDohs, are sold out and banned in classrooms. Journalist Anna North joins us to unpack how fidget toys went from gag gifts to a generational obsession, and what that shift reveals about neurodivergence, attention, and play. Plus, fidget toys are not just for kids. We look at how they are destigmatizing fidgeting for neurodivergent adults. And we dig into the science behind fidgeting, the history of the fidget spinner, and whether this wave of acceptance for sensory needs will survive.

For more on this topic:
Read: Why your kid is obsessed with squishy toys vox.com/culture/491330/needoh-nice-cube-squishy-dumpling-fidget-toys
Watch: Can I get rid of my adult sensory issues? youtu.be/LXfpPg71mLY?si=8hUmvBOfI8vUEtBs

For a transcript and more resources, visit Hyperfocus on Understood.org. understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/adhd-fidget-toy

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#FidgetToys #ADHD #NeeDoh #Sensory #Hyperfocus