Fidget spinners: A Kent school opens a 'craze zone'
A deputy head teacher told how encouraging controversial "craze toys" among children, rather than banning them, has led to an improvement in behaviour.
Sandgate Primary School's pilot scheme not only allows toys such as fidget spinners – banned by many schools – but encourages children to play with them in a special area of the playground.
Deputy head Lianne Jones said: “The children are out there right now playing with their Lego trading cards.
“Every week we have a 'mystery craze', where we announce in the newsletter a new toy children can bring, then they can play with them in the playground's special "craze zone".
“This week it is trading cards. Since introducing the scheme we have seen a significant improvement in children’s behaviour – it really works.
“They’re children after all, so of course they should play, and this way they get to let off a bit of steam.”
The craze zone is a designated space supervised by staff, where children play, trade and even compete with bottle caps, fidget spinners or whatever the latest craze is. Staff at the school, in Coolinge Lane, even keep an eye out for the latest fad to help keep children up to speed and encourage variety at playtime.
Ms Jones said: “I have children myself so they’re always telling me what the latest craze is. The children leave little notes on my desk to let me know what the latest craze is. The parents love it.”
Staff patrol the playground to make sure children are using the toys safely and sometimes they even help to set up competitions, the latest being bottle cap flipping.
Across the county a large number of Kent schools have banned fidget spinners and other toys to cut distraction and arguing among children. However, at Sandgate Primary staff see things in a different light.
“Of course, I understand why some schools may want to ban craze toys, every school is different," added Ms Jones.
“But we think what's the point in saying no to children when it’s something they’re interested in?”
