Fidget and Sensory Toys for Anxiety and Emotional Regulation in Children: A Scoping Review With Implications for Pediatric Perioperative Care

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological interventions are essential to reduce procedural anxiety in pediatric care. Fidget and sensory toys are widely used for distraction and self-regulation, yet evidence on their effectiveness remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped the evidence on fidget and sensory toys across general pediatric settings, with a focus on perioperative outcomes-such as anxiety, distress, and pain-to highlight relevant gaps in care. METHODS: This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL, complemented by trial registries, gray literature, citation tracking, and reference screening. Studies involving children (0-18 years) evaluating fidget or sensory toys in any setting were eligible. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. FINDINGS: Fifteen studies published between 2017 and 2026 met the inclusion criteria. Fidget spinners were the most frequently investigated device (n = 9), followed by stress balls (n = 3). Studies were conducted in educational (n = 8) and healthcare settings (n = 7). Educational studies generally reported limited or no benefits for attention, engagement, behavior, or academic performance. In contrast, healthcare studies generally suggested reductions in anxiety, pain, fear, and procedural distress, although findings were heterogeneous, and outcome measures varied substantially. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not support the routine use of fidget toys to improve attention or academic performance in educational settings. Evidence from healthcare and procedural settings suggests that fidget and sensory toys may be feasible distraction tools for selected pediatric patients, but evidence is insufficient to support routine perioperative use. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish standardized intervention protocols and identify the pediatric populations and clinical settings most likely to benefit.