If your kids go to school, you surely know what fidget spinners are. These cute little gizmos have usurped loom bands and bottle flipping as the latest craze to hit Aussie classrooms. Unfortunately, they have a tendency to inexplicably jam, resulting in frustrated and angry tots. Here’s how to get your kids’ fidget spinner back in working order in three quick steps.
A fidget spinner is a cheap toy comprising a metal bearing in a circular pad. The toy’s outer blades can be spun like a fan – nominally to reduce stress but mainly to perform tricks and annoy/impress schoolmates. The concept has been around for over a decade but recently exploded in popularity. Doubtlessly it will all be over in a month or two, but for now fidget spinners are in hot demand.
The lazy way to “fix” a jammed fidget spinner is to go out and buy a new one. After all, they only cost a few bucks and are pretty disposable as toys go. However, if your children are anxious to get back to their spinning hijinks immediately, it’s possible to do a quick DIY repair.
The fidget spinner in these photos belongs to my daughter. On the weekend, it stopped spinning. Here’s how I fixed the problem:
Step 1: Remove both centre discs with a butter knife
These are designed to pop out pretty easily. You could even get your kid to do it so that they feel involved in the process.
Step 2: Examine the bearing for obstructions
A crumb, piece of grit or tiny pebble could be the culprit. Simply fish it out with a toothpick and the spinner should be good to go. If you can’t see any obvious obstructions, the bearing probably needs a lick of grease.
Step 3: Lubricate with olive oil
My first thought was to use WD40, but this has an off-putting smell that youngsters abhor. If they’re toddler-aged, it could also end up in their mouths which obviously isn’t ideal. Olive oil is a natural lubricant that will achieve similar results. (You can thank my wife for this tip!)
Step 4: Give it a spin and watch it swirl!
Good as new! In all, the fix takes less than five minutes – a reasonable time investment for becoming a hero parent.
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