Fiddlers help students relax, play, and talk!

Many students love holding a Fiddler when they talk to help them have something to focus on instead of watching for the counselor's reaction to what they are saying. Fiddlers help students release their anxious energy when they squeeze different stress balls. Also, Fiddlers soothe students when when they watch the water bubbles float or pluck the strands from a Koosh® Ball. 

Are Fiddlers only for students? Not in my experience. Parents and teachers often pick them up during conferences and they seem to enjoy the tactile stimulation during our conversation as much as the students do.

I also like to use Fiddlers as a conversation starter, with some suggestions below for each Fiddler.

My top 10 favorite Fiddlers are:

	1. Koosh® Ball  What do you like to do for fun?
	2. Magnetic Rings Stand  What would you like to balance better?
	3. Jacob's Ladder  What would you like to change?
	4. Hoberman® Sphere  What seems to get out of control?
	5. Switch Pitch®  Changes colors when tossed  (It is made by Hoberman)  What changes would you like?
	6. Horseshoe Puzzle  (Even though it seems impossible,   show students how to remove the ring)  What else has seemed impossible?
	7. Bendy figures  How do you want to be more flexible?
	8. Morf® Balls  (They change colors when squeezed)   What's on your inside that no one sees?
	9. The Slinky®  What's something hard to get through?
	10. Whirly Wheel Gyroscope Toy®  Do you ever go too fast and get off track?

Like most counselors, I'm always on the lookout for more Fiddlers. Toys-R-Us, museum gift shops, toy stores, Trainer's Warehouse, and the Dollar Store have supplied me for years!

In the comments section below, share what your favorite Fiddler is and/or where you found it: