X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Fidget spinners can be dangerous, warns mum in Facebook post

4 min read

Have you heard of fidget spinners? It’s the latest toy craze that’s taking over kids’ hearts (and parents’ wallets). And they can be deadly.

These three-pronged gadgets are supposedly a concentration aid, originally created to help children with ADHD and autism. But now that they’ve become trendy with schoolkids, they are increasingly becoming a classroom distraction.

Some UK and US schools have already banned them. In Singapore, local teachers complain that the whizzing toys are a nuisance and are confiscating them. 

Fidget spinners can be dangerous, warns mum in Facebook post

A fidget spinner

But learning distractions aren’t the only danger that fidget spinners pose to your kids. The small toys can also be a dangerous choking hazard, as Houston mum Kelly Rose Joniec found out.

“I saw drool pouring from her mouth”

Driving home on a peaceful Saturday, Kelly heard a strange sound from the backseat and turned. Her 10-year-old daughter, Britton, had swallowed a part from her fidget spinner and was now choking, her face turning red. According to Kelly, her daughter had “put part of her fidget spinner in her mouth to clean it and somehow swallowed it”. 

The panicked mum took her daughter straight to emergency care. However, doctors faced difficulty in locating the part and only through X-ray was it found lodged in her esophagus. Thankfully, the doctors were able to remove the part via surgery and Britton has since made a full recovery. 

Kelly shared about her ordeal in a Facebook post, hoping her experience would serve to warn other parents. She cautions: “Fidget spinners are the current craze so they are widely distributed. Kids of all ages may be getting them, but not all spinners come with age-appropriate warnings. The bushings pop out easily, so if you have young kids (under 8 yr old) keep in mind that these present a potential choking hazard.”

Here is Kelly’s full Facebook update on her terrifying experience:

https://www.facebook.com/kkrjoniec/posts/10154608506232828?pnref=story

Playing safely with fidget spinners

Other parents have also reported frightening instances where their little ones were injured by fidget spinners. One Australian mum, Molly, recounted to Kidspot that her 11-year-old son Isaac “nearly lost his eye” after the spinner which he threw in the air clipped his eye. Tragically, this left him with scarring which prevents him from seeing out of the corner of his eye. 

Fidget spinners can be dangerous, warns mum in Facebook post

With small detachable parts and blade-like prongs, the fidget spinner is indeed an accident-prone toy. However, banning your child from joining the craze may not be the safest answer! After all, every toy comes with some form of risk. What’s more, your kids can get access to fidget spinners via their friends and classmates. 

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of tragic accidents happening to your playful child: 

Talk about safe play with your kids: Many accidents come about from kids pushing the limits of fidget spinners — doing tricks or stunts. Emphasize the difference between safe and dangerous play to your little ones.

Test-drive before buying: Some spinners are designed to be more blade-like or pointed, increasing risk of lacerations. Be sure to test them out before getting one for your kids! For this reason, you might want to buy from a brick-and-mortar shop rather than ordering online.

Communicate with the teachers: Let your kids’ teachers know to keep an eye on students playing with the spinners. Ask them if they’ve noticed your kids engaging in any dangerous behaviour, like throwing them about. 

Introduce other fidget toys: The fidget spinner is actually just one of many kinds of fidget toys. Its lesser-known cousins include the fidget cube, sensory rings, and fidget textured pens. Scout out safer, yet equally fun options and let your kids have a whirl with them. 

ALSO READ: The top 5 ‘non-toys’ that kids love to play with!

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and comments with us in the Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com!

Partner Stories
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jolene Hee

  • Home
  • /
  • Child Safety
  • /
  • Fidget spinners can be dangerous, warns mum in Facebook post
Share:
  • Here's How Long It Will Take Your Child to Poop Out a LEGO

    Here's How Long It Will Take Your Child to Poop Out a LEGO

  • Mum Horrified To See Blood Pouring From Sleeping Toddler's Throat

    Mum Horrified To See Blood Pouring From Sleeping Toddler's Throat

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Here's How Long It Will Take Your Child to Poop Out a LEGO

    Here's How Long It Will Take Your Child to Poop Out a LEGO

  • Mum Horrified To See Blood Pouring From Sleeping Toddler's Throat

    Mum Horrified To See Blood Pouring From Sleeping Toddler's Throat

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.