Thursday, March 19, 2015

Fidget Hunting: Target Edition


Sometimes affordable alternatives to oftentimes expensive fidget toys are hidden in plain sight at your local big-box store. This time around, I went to Target to take a look at their offerings. I'm going to divide this post up into store sections. Keep in mind that the products offered change seasonally. (Currently, the store has a spring/Easter focus.)
Dollar Section: Ah, the coveted-yet-dreaded dollar section. You can find a lot of great things here, you just have to dig. (At least at my local Target you do!)

Jacob's Ladder: a classic toy, great for visual and auditory input. And it is just plain relaxing to watch the blocks "cascade."
Velvety bouncy ball. Good for tactile input and hand-eye coordination when bounced. I would avoid this for those who would bounce it at inappropriate times (me!)
Easter egg filled with glitter putty. Good for providing tactile and visual input.
Mini Slinkies. Fun for tactile input as a fidget and educational when used to teach physics.
Rubber "Light Up Balls." They didn't light up for me though. I'd think these bounce as well, and most definitely erratically. But good for tactile input and hand strengthening. 

Party Supplies: This section is a hidden gem. Seriously. 

Rubber bouncy balls- fun to roll around in your hands
Glow slime: providing tactile and visual input.

Oblong Puff Balls: great for calming tactile input. And it is possible to make noise with it, though it is quite difficult. I actually have one of these slated for review. 
The squishy dinosaur is hard to describe. It has a sticky puff ball-like texture but feels like there are plastic pellets inside. When you squeeze it you can feel the grainy particles grinding up against each other. But this would be a great fidget for a dinosaur lover.
Stretchy wristbands: they come in fun colors and are safer than rubber bands. 
Crazy straws: these are fun for working on oral motor skills and great for oral and visual input. A more challenging straw on the cheap.
Toy Section: There is a small area in a corner of the toy section that offers some pretty cool fidgets.

They're hard to see through the mesh, but these puzzle cubes are a fun activity to complete while listening to a lecture. For an added bonus, the individual pieces can be fingered by themselves. 
Pin Board: This thing was huge. I wish I had gotten something in the picture for scale. Looking back, I approximate it to be the size of an iPad. I love playing with these things any chance I get so an extra large one is super fun.  
Harmonica: these make nice oral motor fidgets but are best suited for home use. Plus music is super fun and a great outlet for all. 
Glow in the Dark Stars: These would be a pretty visual affixed to a ceiling but would also be fun to finger at night or in the dark.
Bonus: This pencil case was on clearance next to the party supplies and I honestly am regretting not picking it up. Small pencil cases with tactile elements can hold either pencils or some fidgets. 

Where else do you shop for fidgets? Have you ever gone fidget hunting? 


1 comment:

  1. Better to buy online those all fidget toys. Here for example - https://coolfidgettoys.com/

    ReplyDelete