Fidget Spinners are all the rage and are here to stay at the moment. There is hardly a child who does not know what these are, or has not heard of them (and adults too!). With their popularity there have been many mixed reviews of these toys. While some schools have banned these items, others have encouraged their use. There are even a few schools who are involved in STEAM programs that have started 3-d printing them for their classes. It seems that everyone rules are being made as the days progress. Though with every new fad it is always smart to be aware of any dangers, especially with items that may break easy with small parts. These spinners are often very cheap and are quite easy to get a hold of for any child of any age.
One easy way to start reducing risks is to think of the age of the child. Older children and teens will understand that most of these toys are cheap, and break easily. We usually do not worry about a choking hazard for them, but accidents do happen no matter the age. It should be strongly taken into consideration to never put these spinners in their mouths.
For Ages 3 and under: Obviously infants and toddlers should not have access to these gadgets. These items are often targeted at middle school children, though elementary school kids have also picked up on this fad. Spinners are normally packaged with a warning for choking hazards and are not suitable for children under 3. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has very strict guidelines about risks that come with toys that have detachable small parts, or toys that destruct with abuse, and often break into small pieces. These toys are often brightly colored and toddlers are attracted to these colors. It would only make sense that a small child would be drawn in to playing with these toys. Young children under 3 explore with their mouths. With that being said, it would be a good idea to make sure older children in the home are aware to keep these out of reach of younger children to prevent choking hazards.
Ages 3 to 6: At this age our little ones aren’t all that independent, and we are able to control most of what they are doing throughout the day. If a child this young is being allowed to pay with a fidget spinner, it is a good idea for it to only be used with supervision. Keep in mind to constantly remind children that these toys should not be placed in their mouths.
Ages 6 and up: With this age group you are the coolest of the cool when it comes to having a fidget spinner. These spinners have come a long way with design and color in such a short time, at a very low cost. With spinners being so inexpensive, they are easily purchased from other children, or even at school. So, don’t be surprised if your child shows up at home with one randomly! With these older kids they tend to have a better understanding of not doing something when told, but do occasionally need reminders of dangers. Of course kids know-it-all, but they may not want to throw out their favorite toy when parts start to detach or break. After all, in recent news it was a 10 year old who ended up having to have an emergency surgery to remove a fidget spinner piece from their esophagus.
Of course fidget spinners are just a fad, but it is definitely worth a quick conversation with your children. Even if your child finds you annoying for repeating yourself for something they “already know”, eventually they will understand that you do these things because you care. Accidents are not something we can predict and life has a way of throwing them at us when we least expect them.
If you have any questions about the toys your child plays with, don’t hesitate to ask your Cape Coral or Fort Myers pediatrician at MacKoul Pediatrics.
MacKoul Pediatrics is an amazing local pediatrics office in Cape Coral, FL where caring, compassionate doctors and nurses work with you to keep your children as healthy as possible. MacKoul cares for children from birth to college age, from Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and beyond.
June 12, 2017