Remote learning is now the norm for many American schoolkids, whether that's temporary, part-time, or a yearlong reality. As the year grinds on, parents may be struggling to find ways to keep kids from wandering away from the screen but also to just focus and actually absorb the daily online classes. One thing that some educators and children's therapists are recommending is the use of fidget spinners or fidget toys, as well as sensory items and flexible seating that allows for wiggling and movement.
"You want things they can fidget with but aren't super interesting so that they then become consumed in it, so I would avoid building materials — Magna-Tiles, Legos — or art supplies," says Nina Essel, LSW MS Ed, owner and founder for Balanced Kids, a parent coaching and consulting company in New Jersey.
As a mom to two virtual learners, I asked Essel and several other therapists and educators for their top tips to help parents trying to set kids up for success in remote learning. Here are the fidget spinners, tools, and tips they offered. Find more resources in our Homeschooling & Remote Learning Guide.