The Hoglet by HedgeHog Health

The pandemic changed A LOT of things. It effected the way many of us do things, whether it’s being more conscientious of washing our hands and not touching our faces, to many people making the transition from working in an office to working at home.

I think the group of people who were most effected by the pandemic were the kids. Talk about a crazy, mixed up time. My heart went out to the kids.

I work with children. Even though schools closed in March of 2019, they reopened in September of 2019. Most schools in our area were remote only, where as the school district that I worked in had a hybrid model. They had both online and in-person classes.

All of the kids in our district were given Chromebook to do their remote learning and homework on. It’s sad that many children were only able to interact with others via a Zoom meeting.

I happened to work that school year, and it was my job to keep many children online with their teachers. Let me tell you, that was easier said than done. I had a few children would would not focus and keep on task AT ALL. There was only me and one other person for 20 kids (K-6th graders), and I had to let my co-worker deal with the handful of kids who couldn’t focus and pay attention, while I looked after the bulk of the children. Sadly, it’s how we had to do things. I think that many children just get too overstimulated by the whole situation. I think many adults would too.

For more information, you should check out this interesting article about sensory overload to learn more about overstimulation in children.

I had one student who had ADHD, but I honestly believe I had a few more students with ADHD too, or some kind of a learning disability. Sadly, only one parents shared with me her son’s IEP (Individualize Educational Program). The other parents never did, so it was only speculation that their child had ADHD.

There is NOTHING wrong with ADHD. We thought our daughter had it too, and one teacher suggested our son had it. It just means that they learn a bit differently and there are things you can do to help them to focus better. For example, the one confirmed student with ADHD I made sure to give frequent breaks and let him go for a brief walk (with me of course). I also provided him with fidget toys. The fidget toys helped a lot, so much so that I made sure to keep many different types on hand.

Children on the autism spectrum can also benefit from fidget toys.

These days there are so many fun types of fidget toys available that other children (even adults!) enjoy them. There is no “stigmatism” surrounding the use of fidget toys.

The first fidget toy I can think of is the fidget spinner. These days those pop-it things are popular with the kids in my school.

The brand HedgeHog Health created a special computer mouse that combines the functionality of a computer mouse with a fidget toy. It’s called The Hoglet (cute name).

Here is some information about the product.

The Hoglet by HedgeHog Health is a must-have for our children with learning challenges such as autism and ADHD. This game-changing fidget gadget and computer mouse understands kids’ sensory needs while helping focus and productivity. Plus, it looks like a baby hedgehog that kids will want to use it.

This wireless mouse allows kids to fidget while learning in front of the screen.  The Hoglet provides rewarding multi-sensory experiences, intentionally invented to help with physical stimulation not found with traditional computer pointing devices (i.e., trackpads, keyboards, and traditional mice).

I was sent one to review. I don’t necessarily have ADHD or autism, but sometimes I do find myself playing around with the things on my desk while working. Even though I’m typing, a lot of time if I am reading something or watching a video, I find myself playing around with a toy, cloud slime, or something else.

I am NOT a “techie” person at all, but I was able to install The Hoglet in mere minutes. It was just a matter of taking it out of the box, installing the included batteries, and inserting the receiver into my laptop. That’s it! Once my laptop recognized it, it was all set to go.

I received the bright yellow Hoglet to review. Not my first choice, but that is okay. The Hoglet is available in a variety of colors, so you are sure to find your child’s favorite.

This mouse works EXACTLY like any other mouse. The only difference is that it has a silicon sleeve over it that provides a sensory experience. It’s also very comfortable to use. I thought the “spikes” might be uncomfortable, but they are not.

I’m an adult (most of the time, ha ha), and I found this mouse to be fun to use too. I find myself fidgeting with it just like I would any of the other toys on my desk (you should see the stuff on my desk!).

I like that the silicon cover is easily removed. That way it’s just a regular mouse (great for when a kid gets older and doesn’t need it anymore). You can also take the cover off to wash it which I think is great because kids do a lot of eating and drinking on their computers (which most know they shouldn’t do). I have seen some of the computers and mice that my “work kids” use and they are gross (dirty, sticky…).

The Hoglet would make a fun gift for a child, teen or anyone else who could benefit from this mouse with a “built in” fidget toy.

If you are interested in learning more, or would like to place an order, visit Shop.HedgeHogHealth.com.

What do you think of this special mouse? Do you know someone who could benefit from this?

Kimberly

 

*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.