All about the fidget toy craze, Pop-Its: Kids are obsessed and TikTok is crazy for it

Forget fidget spinners and loom bands, the latest toy craze to take schoolyards and social media by storm are Pop-Its.

Made of silicone, Pop-Its have little “bubbles” you can push through and “pop”.

If you’re the parent of school-aged child, chances are you’re well and truly across this trend but for those who aren’t in the know, Pop-Its are simple to use and designed to provide a satisfying sensory and tactile experience helping children regain focus. They come in a range of sizes, colours and shapes and are being credited for helping people with anxiety and improving their fine motor skills.

School-aged children are obsessed with the fidget toy and it’s wildly popular on TikTok, with the hashtag #PopIt amassing more than one billion views.

Social media accounts showing people playing with the toy have more than tens of thousands of followers each.

Retail stores are also finding the demand for stock isn’t slowing down. Anime, a toy store in Sydney’s inner-west has revaled they sold over 4,300 Pop-Its in eight weeks – generating $34,000 in revenue at their price of $8 each.

So, what is it about Pop-Its that make them so popular?

Sandra Mortimer, senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Flinders University, told ABC News their popularity is due to their simplicity.

“We’re sort of more commonly used to kids with sensory challenges, or developmental delays or difficulties using these sorts of sensory tools,” she said.

“What I think is really interesting with this one is that it is really appealing to kids without those challenges.

“It’s kind of got some broad appeal.

“I think there is something particularly unique about a fidget toy and this one has the components … it’s really about that ability to sort of touch, squeeze, interact with the toy using your hands.”

PR Queen and mum-of-two, saw the toy trend taking off and quickly set to work launching a range of ‘Pixies Fidgets’ under her nine-year-old daughter, Pixie’s hair accessories brand, Pixies Bows.

“Pulled together in three days! Trends don’t wait,” the founder of PR agency, Sweaty Betty wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you to my team for the effort for helping us bring #pixiesfidgets  by @pixiecurtis to life – a sale every two minutes – loving life!”

If you’re keen to get your hands on a Pop-It, check out your Pixies Bows, your local toy store or variety discount store or search online as eBay and Amazon also have them in stock.