Consumer Critique - The Pinchy Fidget Toy

My kids are both neurodivergent - one is autistic, the other has ADHD. For them - and myself - we can focus much better if our hands are busy. With my older, it's all about a satisfying sensory output. With my younger, it's about having enough stimulation. So I was very happy to check out the Pinchy.

Like many other fidget toys, the idea is simple and repetitive - squeeze the Pinchy. Let go. Repeat.

There are three options - regular, XL, and click. The regular and XL are identical except for the size. The click version has a very slight click feel and sound due to the gear. However, both are essentially quiet - as a teacher, I can definitely say they wouldn't be heard in a classroom, even during test-taking! While both of my kids liked both, my autistic kid preferred the regular, and my ADHD kid preferred the click.

As a child, Pinchy creator Roy tried countless focus toys to ease his ADHD, but they tended to only make symptoms worse. Today, he 3D prints and hand-assembles the Pinchy, Pinchy XL, and Pinchy Click out of his Chicago apartment. They are sold on Etsy, TikTok Shop (@Pinchyfidget), and the website. 

The price point is slightly higher than some other fidget toys. However, I would say it's worth it. The toys are hand-assembled in the USA out of biodegradeable PLA filament. They aren't going to fall apart quickly, and they support a neurodivergent creator.

You can learn more about the story behind the Pinchy in Why I Designed the Pinchy: A Fidget Toy That's Actually Useful for Parents and Teachers.