It appears that things like Hatchimals and home-made slime have some serious new competition; Fidget Spinners!

If you’re unfamiliar, fidget spinners are a small toy disc like device that is roughly the size of a coaster with a bearing in the middle and two or three prongs that spins and twirls around it. You use the device by either play with it between your fingers or spinning it on a hard surface.

A search for “fidget spinner” on Amazon will yield approximately 14,960 results and eBay will produce roughly 214,700 results costing anywhere from around $1.69 to $390.00 or more.

So, what makes these new little gadgets so appealing - they are not only being marketed as a fun toy or simple distraction, many are claiming they help stop fidgeting and allow users to focus better. Some makers also claim they relieve stress and anxiety and assist with those who have ADD, ADHD and Autism by offering an outlet for nervous energy, allowing students to concentrate better.

Many schools however have decided that it is necessary to impose an outright ban on this new craze that seemly exploded overnight, claiming that the noise created and the device itself is very distracting to students.

Share your thoughts and experiences below.