The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Parents
Fidget trading is a game where kids exchange fidget toys—like NeeDoh, Pop-Its, squishies, slime, stress balls, and more—based on their perceived value, says Delaney Banzhof, MS, NCC, a therapist at Key Counseling Group. Unlike typical informal trading, she says fidget trading makes the exchange itself into a game, which is what distinguishes fidget trading from simply swapping one prized toy for another.
“It’s basically a playground marketplace for those little collectible fidget or squishy toys,” explains Jeanine Bobenmoyer, founder and CEO of theCityMoms, national lifestyle brand. “Kids bring their toys to school and trade them with each other, kind of like Pokemon cards or friendship bracelets, which were the big trends before it. It’s exploded on TikTok and Instagram over the past several months, which is a big part of why it’s spread so fast beyond just one school or friend group.”
Here are some other things that may be attracting kids to fidget trading, says Laurel Newman, PhD, a senior behavioral scientist with Edward Jones.
The thrill of the hunt: Dr. Newman says recent research has found that most of the dopamine response associated with a reward happens in anticipation of the reward versus when kids actually get the item. There is a lot of anticipation in trading, she says.
Intermittent reinforcement: When rewards arrive unpredictably rather than on a fixed schedule, motivation spikes. This is the same engine that makes treasure hunts and apps compelling, and, yes, it shares a DNA strand with gambling, she says.
Status: There is some pride that comes with having the item, or the collection, that everyone else wants, says Dr. Newman.
Social belonging: For some kids, trading is a way to make friends, interact, and find a place to belong, she says.
Fidget trading can also be a fun, low-stakes way to teach kids about value and trade-offs, says Stevenson Dominique, a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual.
“Whether it’s trading toys, spending allowance, or making a bigger financial call later in life, understanding value is an important skill,” says Dominique. “Parents can help reinforce that lesson by asking questions like, ‘Why is that worth it to you?’ or ‘Will you still feel good about this trade tomorrow?’”
Dominique says the goal isn’t for your child to make the perfect choice or trade every time. Instead, your child needs to know how to pause, weigh their options, and understand the trade-off involved. “Those lessons can help them make more thoughtful choices—a skill they’ll use with managing money for years to come,” he adds.