We know that some study spaces can be loud or set up in ways that can make it difficult to focus. We’ve gathered up some of our favourite tools for time management, fidgeting, and visual calming that you can test out – for free! We have two kits, one for students and one for staff. Keep reading below to learn more.
Student Study Kit
Curious about fidget toys, but maybe never tried one before? Like the idea of the Pomodoro Method, but don’t love looking at an alarm on your phone?
Our study kits are available for all students to loan! Try out a kit for your next group study session, or by yourself.
The study kit includes:
- 1 Stress Ball
- 2 Animal Bubble Poppers
- 5 Magnetic People
- 1 Critter Fidget
- 1 Magnetic Ring Kit
- 2 Glitter Wands
- 1 Hand Roller
- 1 Fidget Block
- 4 Chain & Infinity Loop Fidgets
- 1 Liquid Bubbler
- 1 Visual Timer
- 1 Hourglass
- 4 Reading Guides
- 2 Chair Bands
- 2 Whiteboard Markers & Eraser
Staff Event Kit
Want to create an engaging and supportive
learning environment for your next lecture or workshop? Adding the use of
these items into your next event can help to normalize different study techniques
for a variety of folks.
Our event kits are available for all staff & faculty to loan!
The event kit includes:
- Stress Balls
- Animal Bubble Poppers
- Magnetic People
- Critter Fidgets
- Magnetic Ring Kits
- Glitter Wands
- Hand Rollers
- Fidget Blocks
- Chain & Infinity Loop Fidgets
- Liquid Bubblers
- Visual Timers
- Hourglasses
- Liquid Spiral
- Reading Guides
- Chair Bands
- Weighted Lap Animals
Learn More About Each Item in the Kits
Stress Ball
Best For: Calm and Relaxation
Stress balls are an excellent way to let out some tension. To get the best use out of this tool, squeeze it and release. It can also be used for a movement break by juggling it in the air.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Animal Poppers
Best For: Fidgeting
These animal-shaped bubble poppers are a great fidget. Use your fingers to pop the bubbles – just like bubble wrap.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Sound 👂
Magnetic People
Best For: Fidgeting
These rubbery human-shaped figurines have magnetic ends so you can join them together in multiple ways. Stretch the magnetic people, connect them to create shapes, or simply connect and disconnect the magnets.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Critter Fidget
Best For: Fidgeting
Curious Critters are 3D-printed plastic fidget tools. Hold the octupus by its head and let the tentacles gently massage your hand, or spin the octupus around. The tentacles are made of individual pieces, meaning they make a pleasing tinkling noise as they move.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Sound 👂
Magnetic Ring Kit
Best For: Fidgeting
These magnetic rings are circular colourful magnets. Wear them like a ring and spin them around, or connect them all to create a fidget spinner shape. You can also connect the magnets on the table and move them on a surface.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Glitter Wands
Best For: Visual Stimulation, Calm and Relaxation
Glitter wands are small, cylindrical tubes filled with start-shaped glitter and fuzzy material. Hold them in your hand and watch the glitter fall, or roll them around in your hand to stimulate the glitter to move.
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Feel ✋
Hand Roller
Best For: Fidgeting, Calm and Relaxation
Glitter wands are small, cylindrical tubes filled with start-shaped glitter and fuzzy material. Hold them in your hand and watch the glitter fall, or roll them around in your hand to stimulate the glitter to move.
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Feel ✋
Fidget Cubes
Best For: Fidgeting
Each of the six faces of this cube has a different interactive feature, including a switch to flick, a ball to roll, a circle to spin, and buttons to click. Enjoy the various sensory experiences on each side!
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Sound 👂
Chain and Infinity Loop Fidgets
Best For: Fidgeting
The bicycle chain fidgets can be placed around a finger and rotated, or simply held between your hands and rotated.
Infinity loop are an endless loop which allows you to continually roll and twist the ring in your hand.
Both the bicycle chain and infinity loop are very quiet and discreet.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Liquid Bubbler
Best For: Calm and Relaxation
Watch two different colours of bubbles fall from top to bottom with this liquid bubbler. Use it as visual stimulation while studying, or as a calming addition to your study space. Flip the bubbler around to watch the bubbles fall again.
The bubbles take approximately one minute to reach the bottom.
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Visual Timer
Best For: Time Management
The visual timer is an excellent time management tool. If you have a tendency to lose track of how much time you spend on a certain task, this timer can help give a visual representation of time pass and time remaining. The red block symbolizes time remaining.
The timer can be muted, meaning it doesn’t have to make noise when time is up, or use the button on the back.
Batteries included. If the battery dies, contact the Chapman Learning Commons Help Desk!
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Hourglass
Best For: Time Management
This hourglass timer uses sand to mark 10 minutes passing. Use it to help time your study breaks, or to help you transition between activities. The sand falling can also be a visual stimulator with a calming effect.
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Reading Guides
Best For: Reading and Concentrating
Reading guides help highlight specific lines of a text. Place the reading guide over the line you are reading to help focus your eyes on that particular line. This is especially useful if your eyes tend to dart around the page or if you lose focus reading.
Different colours are included in the kit to help suit your preferences.
Key Sense:
Sight 👁️
Chair Bands
Best For: Bouncing and Movement
Chair bands can be used in multiple ways, including to stretch and take a movement break.
Stretch the chair band across two legs of a chair and place your feet on the band. This helps add a flexible foot rest which you can fidget your feet on.
Key Sense:
Feel ✋
Weighted Lab Object
Best For: Calm and Relaxation
These weighted lap toys are a wonderful companion. They weigh approximately 2kg. Hold them in your lap or across your shoulders for a calming presence.
Liquid Spirals
Best For: Calm and Relaxation
Watch the bubbles fall from top to bottom in a spiral. Use this while taking a break in between tasks or as visual stimulation while listening to a lecture or workshop.
Whiteboard Markers and Eraser
Best For: Studying
Most study rooms have a whiteboard where you can make notes, try practice problems, and draw freely.
Looking for more Neurodivergent Resources?
Check out our guide to IKBLC for neurodivergent students with information on accessible resources, library services and sensory environments.
Share your Feedback
Tell us what you think about our new collection of NeuroTools, and what you would like to see in the future. To share your thoughts, please fill out our Chapman Learning Commons Feedback Survey.
We also welcome feedback on the accessibility of our services and spaces, and how we can make adjustments to best suit our patrons’ needs.
