The History of the Fidget Spinner

These popular toys exploded in popularity in 2017, but similar toys have been around since the 1990s. In 1993, Catherine Hettinger received a patent for a spinning toy. Then in 2014, Scott McCoskery created a metal spinning device to help him cope with fidgeting at work. Due to multiple patents, the inventor of the fidget spinner isn’t known, but the toy’s popularity is undeniable. Adults and children alike enjoy fidget spinners, and some people claim that the toys can help with anxiety, stress, and focus. However, since 2017, many American high schools have banned fidget spinners for being too distracting.