Fidget toys are a hot trend this year. These toys are designed to help kids concentrate, stay focused, and remain calm. Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Better Connecticut in New Haven to talk about the best fidget toys. For more on the products featured in this segment, check out the notes below, and for more on the hottest new toys of the season be sure to view our Spring and Summer Toy Guide.


Spinner Squad Fidget Spinners (Top Trenz)

  • Spinner Squad Fidget Spinners feature special high-quality ball bearings that give the product the extra spin time and speed needed to make this all the rage!
  • It spins up to 3-4 minutes and is made with ceramic balls.
  • Availabe in solid colors, glow in the dark, or trendy patterns, such as sports, tye-die, or even emojis.
  • Age: 8+
  • MSRP: $20
  • Available: Amazon

  Mash’Ems (Tek 4 Kids)

  • Mash’Ems are the super squishy, super stretchy, must-have collectible that kids love!
  • Twist’em, Squish’em and Collect’em! Each Mash’Em comes in a blind capsule, adding the element of surprise every time you open one up!
  • Available in a variety of licensed characters like Paw Patrol , My Little Pony, Thomas the Tank Engine, The Avengers and Care Bears.
  • MSRP: $2.99
  • Ages: 4+
  • Available: Toys “R” Us, Walmart and Target

Slinky (Alex Brands)

  • Original Slinky is a classic American Toy.
  • Watch the Slinky walk down stairs one step at a time while producing that classic Slinky sound.
  • Slinky Toys stretch like an accordion and provide endless fun for kids and adults.
  • Perfect for fidgeting, the Slinky provides a simple and easy way to play, plus a visually stimulating experience.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $5.99
  • Available: Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Amazon

Thumb Chucks (Zing Toys)

  • CONTROL THE ROLL! Thumb Chucks from Zing are the newest and coolest skill toy for the ultimate finger rollin’ fun!
  • Twirl, flip and twist Thumb Chucks around your fingers to perform awesome tricks.
  • Two high-bounce plastic ‘Chucks’ are connected with a ‘belt’ and fit right in your pocket.
  • Kids can master a wide range of tricks from intermediate to advanced.
  • Thanks to the built-in motion-sensitive LED lights, the Chucks glow in the dark for the ultimate light show.
  • The new free Thumb Chucks app, available on iOS and Android in January 2017, includes over 20+ tutorials that teach users a variety of mind-blowing tricks.
  • The app also includes an easy-to-use recording feature with built-in special effects to enhance and personalize Thumb Chucks videos.
  • Thumb Chucks are available in red, orange, green and blue.
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $7.99
  • Available: Toys “R” Us, Amazon, Target

Kinetic Sand Single Container (Spin Master)

  • Kinetic Sand is the moldable sand you can’t put down! This magically, mesmerizing sand sticks to itself and not to you!
  • Kinetic Sand never dries out, cleans up easily, brings the fun of sand indoors, and allows you create again and again!
  • The Kinetic Sand Single Container includes 5 oz of Kinetic Sand.
  • Age: 3+
  • MSRP: $9.99
  • Available: Walmart, Toys R Us, Target, Amazon

Coggy (Fat Brain Toys)

  • Get your mental gears spinning with this bending, clicking, shape-shifting brainteaser! Moving from one challenge card to the next, it’s up to you to fold this connected collection of sixteen colorful gears into the perfect positions that match each image.
  • Start out with the first card and it might seem easy. But keep on working through medium, hard, and extra hard.
  • Flip Coggy over to reveal gears of alternating black and white and then find one of the black and white challenge cards.
  • Age: 5+
  • MSRP: $14.95
  • Availble: Walmart, Amazon

Tangle Therapy (Tangle Creations)

  • Untangle your brain and discover a new approach to mental clarity! Simple yet ingenious, Tangle Therapy consists of nothing more than a system of interconnected, rotating links covered with soft, textured rubber.
  • Pick it up and your fingers can’t help but continuously twist, turn, bend, coil, and shape it into endlessly changing configurations – You can immediately feel your scattered brain fall into perfect alignment!
  • For a brilliant solution to hand therapy, minor stress relief, smoking cessation, joint stiffness, motor dexterity, post-lunch fatigue, and more, get your hands on Tangle Therapy.
  • Age: 4+
  • MSRP: $12.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart

Floof (Play Visions)

  • Lighter than air. Soft and smooth to the touch. Easily mold shapes and see amazing detail! The possibilities are endless with Floof.
  • This new compound looks like snow, feels like a marshmallow and molds like clay.
  • Easy creative set includes 120-180g of Floof, different molds, shapes, and pieces.
  • You need to feel it to believe it!
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Walmart

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube