4 Quirky Kid Behaviors That Actually Have Purpose

However، the once-popular fidget spinner has actually been found to do the opposite. "When kids use fidget spinners in the classroom، they're actually more distracted،" says Dr. Kofler.

It's important to find a way to fidget that actually works for your child—without disrupting class. "We were lucky،" recalls Ponzar، mom of the serial arm squeezer. "My son's preschool teachers took it upon themselves to make homemade squeeze balloons filled with baking soda. They kept them in their apron pockets and handed one to my son when he needed to squeeze." And his arm squeezing came to a stop—almost.

"Sometimes when he sits in his fuzzy blue bean-bag chair while we're reading a story، he'll start to knead my arm again،" says Ponzar. "I'll say، 'Let's get your squeezy balloon،' and it's a quick fix. He loves that balloon so much، he sleeps with it under his pillow."

When a Quirk Is a Bigger Deal

If your child's behavior interferes with their everyday functioning—say، they're so bothered by noise that they hate recess or won't ride the school bus—it could be a sign of a sensory processing disorder، says Sara O'Rourke، an occupational therapist at Nationwide Children's Hospital، in Columbus، Ohio. Kids with the condition can't respond appropriately to the signals coming from their senses، while those with typical quirks have found a way to self-regulate.