History and Evolution of Fidget Toys
The origins of fidget toys date back to the late 1990s, when a mechanical engineer from New York named Scott McCoskery created the first ever fidget toy. His invention aimed to help people with ADHD concentrate better.
Originally, fidget toys sought to help restless children by providing an outlet for excess energy. Now, they are recognized for other benefits too, like stress relief and improved productivity. The toys allow people to channel nervous energy into harmless motions, enabling better focus.
The key pioneer behind modern fidget toys is Catherine Hettinger. In the 1990s, the engineer started creating spinning toys for her daughter. This led her to design a prototype of the fidget spinner. However, at the time, companies like Hasbro denied her invention.
Rise of Fidget Spinners
It was not until 2017 that fidget spinners truly took off globally. A flood of creative new designs entered the market. Suddenly, fidget toys shed their clinical image, becoming a full-blown craze. Their popularity has now plateaued, but these toys continue providing real benefits today.
Types and Popularity of Fidget Spinners
A fidget spinner is a toy that consists of a ball bearing in the center of a multi-lobed flat structure made from metal or plastic with metal weights in the lobes, designed to spin around its central axis.
According to the Wall Street Journal, fidget spinners sales brought in revenue totaling $2.6 million last month.
Notable Inventors and Innovations
Catherine Hettinger is often credited as the inventor of fidget spinners. She came out with the idea for the spinning toy back in 1993. Who made fidget spinners popular? In October 2016, inspired by the Fidget Cube Kickstarter campaign, Allan Maman used his Byram Hills High School’s 3-D printers to make Fidget360 with the help of his physics teacher.
Fidget Toy Industry and Trends
Who started the fidget toy trend? The first fidget spinner made in 1994 by Catherine Hettinger, an American engineer. Fidget spinners popular in 2017 after China and Taiwan inventors’ designs. Suddenly, fidgeting reborn for stress relief benefits! Spinner’s current form from Scott McCoskery’s 2017 design.