My ADD boyfriend has a really rough time with fidgeting or "playing" with things, no matter where we go. He does this pretty much all the time, without realizing he's doing it. And sometimes, it's fairly inappropriate - he's sat at a restaurant picking at gum under the table (ew!), he will play with/toss stuff stuff in a store (like a little kid), and also has a habit of picking up objects at other peoples' homes and toying with them without asking (which sometimes upsets them).

So, I've been looking for solutions to this. So far, I've been gathering some small pocket "toys" or puzzles for him to play with. And his mother recently gave him a set of "worry beads" from Greece that I noticed he's keeping in his pocket and pulls them out when he feels the need to play with something (which is good!).

Is this a good approach to take? I don't want to feel like a "mom" by watching what he does all the time (like the aforementioned gum thing at the restaurant), but do want to help him become more mindful of his fidgeting.

What are your thoughts? (I'd love to here from ADD folks as well as non.) :)

What about sleight of hand tricks? If he learned how to do that, he'd actually be a postive attraction when he's flipping a coin up and down his fingers or producing a coin behind some child's ear, instead of a negative when you're at some friend's house or a restaurant.

It would make the fidgeting entertaining and less gross all in one swell foop! :)
At_wits_end

What about sleight of hand tricks?That's an excellent idea!! He's very charming, witty, and personable, so it would actually just enhance those traits even more. :) I already got him something for xmas that he can play with, and even learn tricks with so he can show off if he wants. If he takes a liking to it, then maybe we'll have to look into other stuff just like it. :D

Thanks!

Knitting is the ultimate busy hands activity. Lots of guys do knit.

Stress balls are great. The website www.myaddstore.com also has "fidget" section.

The website www.myaddstore.com (http://www.myaddstore.com/) also has "fidget" section.Great site! I see that some of the stocking stuffers I got for him are listed on that one, so I guess I was going in the right direction with this after all. :)

I know a woman with ADHD who learned to make chainmail. By hand, link by link. She's now become good enough that she makes a decent extra income selling it at RenFaires, Celtic festivals, etc.

We're quite big with Ren Faires and I make a lot of costumes and such, so that would be a great way for him to help out too! Maybe I'll order a box of rings and see if he'd like 'em. :D

These are fantastic ideas! Thanks SO much!

Silly putty is a great ADD Tool! I love it and I take it everywhere with me. Not to mention its not to obvious to others.