oooOOooh that is SO interesting about the fidget toy - what a great idea.....I'm def going to try something like that with DS - how does it work do they just kind of fidget with it in one hand while they're thinking and working things out -
gosh thinking about it i am a fidgeter too....my favourite i think is with a small ball/piece of fruit kind of flipping it between my hands when im trying to think (i hadn't even really thought about why the little ball always ends up sitting on my desk haha.

Bbb thanks for the link will do some shopping!

For school kids who are struggling to sit still and need to use their hands to work (rather than fidget!) you can get a sort of bungy strap that attaches to the chair leg and their ankle, so they can kick their foot to get sensory input. Also weighted blankets or wheat bag. My son is going to try a weighted vest next week to see if he likes it and it helps him focus. So there are lots of options out there!

Bl I have seen weighted vests make a real difference to some children, sounds like you are getting some really good input with your Ds

There are a couple of other things that you can try to, some children respond really well to wearing tight lycra undergarments, I think this is really interesting, as I am a bit of a fidgeter myself and in the past couple of years have taken to wearing shape wear almost every day ( due to my jelly belly), on the days I don't have it on I have noticed that I actually feel quite antsy and am very distracted by it! I think it is giving me lots of proprioceptive input which I obviously need, it is the same principal.

Another thing you can try in the classroom/at kindy is a movensit cushion these work by giving lots of feedback and in theory stop children from needing to move around in their chair all the time, sometimes they work really well, other times it makes no difference, all depends on the child.

BBB you just gave me a GREAT idea. I've been thinking about tight clothing for my boy for ages but haven't got around to doing anything about it. I have a couple of nursing tops with 'control panels' down the front - I can't stand them cos they are too tight! But I might be able to turn them into something DS could wear. Luckily they aren't girly colours!

That cushion looks interesting, might ask our OT if she has one we can try, its a lot to spend on something that might not work for a particular child.

Really interesting info thanks

DD is a sensory avoider but she manages it herself now so we barely notice any more. When she was little it was really hard work and she was pretty obsessive about hand and feet washing and thought she had food around her mouth whenever she ate (when she didn't).

DS is the opposite and the fidget bag sounds brilliant for him.

oh wow this is so interesting. have bn off googling.
DS#2 has had these weird little quirks ever since bn little...things like not bn able to walk over a crack, only wearing certain shoes/clothes (not in the normal i dont like it way as was too young for that when it started- more in the when you put that on me i go crazy until i rip it off way)..he sleeps in tights and a dress (that funnily is quite fitting around the chest area) i put him in pj's but 9 times out of 10 i go to tuck him in and he's rechanged. the fidgets....everything having to go in his mouth (more as an older child than a baby).
im going to get a few things off of that website to see if we can help calm a little at sitting still times - not sure about school tho dont know how i can help there his teacher is very very old school.

Haha that's my boy too!

As a teacher, I've used Koosh balls etc for fidgeters, but it seems to depend on the child whether it works - some kids are great, some just use them to annoy others or don't like them at all. You have to teach the kids how to not distract others with them otherwise (and I've seen it) you have Koosh ball tug of war!

I think its age/developmental too, especially for boys = once they get up around 7 years old they seem to settle in their skin a little!

not sure if its relevant but my friend's son has low muscle tone, and whilst not so bad now, he does have trouble sitting "up" as in still and straight all the time. I know its something she mentioned, that it looks like he is fidgeting all the time but its actually because he can't get comfortable....not sure if that's something in play here?