Quiet Helpers

Fidget spinners, a ball-bearing toy that rotates between the fingers, have become a trendy coping tool for kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and autism. However, they are often banned from schools for being a distraction. But according to the education advocates at Brain Balance Achievement Centers, silent alternatives such as kneaded erasers, sand-filled stress balls, chair rubber bands, or doodling can work just as well.