Many stores carry fidget toys today because of the hype in hopes to lure children into buying them. Children on the video sharing platform, TikTok, created an array of videos showing off their fidgets, trading fidgets, and making Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) with them. The tag, “#fidget” on TikTok has over 4.9 billion views, and “#popit” has 10.8 billion. On Amazon, there are over 100,000 results for pop-its alone. These toys were designed to calm and relieve stress and anxiety, especially during the COVID-19 quarantine period where there was a time of uncertainty. The trend began to rise profusely due to the large amount of free time added to many lives as a result of this pandemic.

The most popular fidget toy today is a pop-it. It is the new have-to-have fidget spinner that was popular back in 2017. Pop-its can be described as a silicon, reusable bubble wrap. The original pop-it was made from the company Chuckle and Roar. On the back of the original’s box it claims, “Sensory fun that keeps the little ones busy popping…and learning fine motor skills.” With the rise of pop-its, companies were bound to hop on the bandwagon and make their own. Now, pop-its come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors ranging from 1 pop for easy transportation to 1048 pops for less flipping. 

Pop-its can be found in any store that sells toys including but not limited to: Hallmark, Walmart, and Five Below.  An upcoming company, Learning Express Toys & Gifts located mainly in Eastern states including online stores, thrives on fidget toys. Small business owner of Einstein’s Attic in Northport, New York told TODAY, “I sell roughly 100 pop-its a week.” Another toy store located in the UK, The Works, said to the BBC back in May, “We’ve seen phenomenal sales, selling thousands every week.”

Dr Will Shield, a children’s psychologist was also interviewed by the BBC and said, “So when we are feeling a big emotion – like being scared or worried – then playing with something that looks, feels or sounds different can help take our attention away from that big emotion.” This may explain why fidgets are popular today. The mind is distracted by what’s happening in your hands rather than worrying or stressing. If you deal with mental health problems, consider buying a fidget to help calm you down.

It is important to shop at small businesses. If you are interested in looking or buying a pop-it or other fidget toys, you can check out Learning Express Toys & Gifts in Bedford, Massachusetts. You can follow them on TikTok for what’s in stock (@learningexpressbedford). They also have a website where you can purchase for delivery.