Stores can’t seem to keep them in stock. Parents are going nuts to find them.  And some are just plain going nuts BECAUSE OF them (myself included).

I’m talking about fidget spinners – those trendy twirling gadgets made ball bearings and adults’ nightmares.  The craze isn’t like any other toy craze – for one, they’re made by just about any toy company and not patented by one.  And you can find them just about anywhere, from Amazon.com to Walmart to your local gas station, right next to the rotisserie hot dogs and wilting roses.

The craze exploded last month and toy experts expect the fad to last into the summer, but (thankfully) fade as they become oversaturated.

So why are they so popular?

Well, for one, some experts say they have cognitive benefits because the physical movement piques us, improving our focus.  Others say that we’re influenced by society’s demand for work work work, while we lead sedentary lives, and then fidgeting is a way to work it out.

Here’s an idea – how about just get up and take a little break and walk around, every hour or so?  Maybe we won’t need another plastic gadget which will inevitably end up in the landfill.