Why do kids fidget?
By Amanda Morin
Expert reviewed by Ellen Braaten, PhD
Quick tips to manage fidgeting
- Quick tip 1Let it happen.
Let it happen.Kids don’t just fidget for no reason. They do it because it helps them stay calm. Unless they’re hurting themselves or others, it’s OK to let them keep doing it for as long as they feel the need to move.
When kids are constantly fiddling and squirming, tapping, and touching things, you may wonder why it’s so hard for them to be relaxed and not move all the time.
Fidgeting is a way to deal with feeling restless or bored. Kids who fidget a lot don’t usually do it on purpose. Fidgeting might help them stay focused when they’re not interested, like during a long lesson or assembly. Or it can help kids deal with other distractions so they can focus on something they are interested in.
There are many reasons kids fidget a lot. Sometimes, it’s out of boredom. But common causes include anxiety, stress, hyperactivity, and attention problems. Kids with ADHD often fidget.
There isn’t much research on fidgeting. But one small study suggests that it’s the body’s way of trying to stay focused. Another suggests it’s just a sign of a wandering mind.
Fidgeting doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. But it can create problems if it bothers other people.
Dive deeper
What fidgeting looks like
Helpful tools
Next steps
About the author
About the author
Amanda Morin is the author of “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and the former director of thought leadership at Understood. As an expert and writer, she helped build Understood from its earliest days.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Ellen Braaten, PhD is a child psychologist, professor, and founding director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Massachusetts General Hospital.
