The Unexpected Tool in My Facilitation Kit

By: Karla Hill Donisch

When planning any facilitation or training event, I always pack my fidget toys. As you may know, fidget toys are handheld objects that participants can “play” with. I didn’t always understand their importance.  I discovered the value of fidgets during a ToP Facilitation Methods course in 2010. The experience challenged what I had learned in teacher training—that the way you know people are engaged is their level of eye contact with the teacher. 

At the same time, I noticed something interesting when presenting to teachers. Some participants knit or crochet during sessions, and it never seemed to diminish their engagement. That raised an important question: if this behavior was acceptable why not offer something for others to do while in attendance? 

Fidgets Support Participation 

My experience was backed up by research. Accelerated learning is a methodology that uses multiple sensory and cognitive modalities—such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and somatic approaches—to engage the entire brain and speed up knowledge retention. [1, 2] Over the years, I've seen how keeping hands busy can help people keep their minds open. For some participants, fidgets provide a way to stay focused. For others, they reduce anxiety and make speaking in front of a group feel less intimidating.  

I've watched participants create impressive designs while sharing ideas with the group. Sometimes having something to do with their hands allows them to focus on their thoughts instead of worrying about being the center of attention.  

Creativity Emerges 

One of the surprising outcomes is the creativity that surfaces. After sessions, I often collect the toys and pause to admire the structures, patterns, and creations participants have built. Some of these masterpieces are remarkable, and I frequently take pictures before packing everything away.  

Equally interesting is how colleagues discover new things about one another. Even participants who don't use the fidgets often enjoy seeing the creativity displayed around the room.  

Caring for the Group 

For me, providing fidgets is one small way to care for the groups I facilitate. I use them in boardrooms, corporate meetings, community conversations, focus groups, and training sessions. They help create a more relaxed environment where people can participate in the way that works best for them. Some toys to use are slinkies, sensory strips, rocks, rubik’s cube types, spinners, pipe cleaners, and stress balls. It’s best to have toys that can be cleaned between uses. 

Not everyone chooses to use them, and that's okay. Some people find them distracting, while for others they are invaluable. The goal isn't for everyone to play with a toy; t's to create options that support different learning and participation styles.  

Final Thoughts 

I've learned that engagement doesn't always look like making eye contact and sitting perfectly still. Sometimes engagement looks like solving a puzzle, coloring, building a structure, or simply keeping hands occupied while ideas take shape. Fidgets aren't a distraction from the work in front of the group; they can be a pathway to participation and comfortable conversations.