Fidget toys really come in handy whether your child has been diagnosed with an attention disorder, a child with any learning differences, kids who enjoy repetitive soothing actions, or really anyone in between. Fidget toys are a great tool that engage senses by stimulating concentration through kinetic movements and/or sounds. Fidget toys can help decrease anxiety due to upcoming tests or working in groups. These DIY fidget toy ideas are great for this, and you can involve your kid in their making so they can also have an increased sense of ownership.
Infinity Cube
Infinity cubes are extremely simple to make: they only require plain wooden cubes and some duct tape. Tape the blocks together in a way that they can bend like accordions. Kids can arrange and rearrange the cubes, and that can be very soothing. They can even decorate the wooden blocks with markers or paint in order to customize them as they please. You can use different sized blocks to create bigger and smaller cubes.
Desk Fidget Tool
For those learning how to write for the first time, learning how to hold a pencil for the first time may be a bit of a challenge. The controlled hand movements can be tricky and unfamiliar. A great way to learn and explore mobility is through a desk fidget tool. This can be easily made with a pipe cleaner, craft stick, and plastic beads. Kids can move the beads up and down the pipe cleaner in order to practice fine motor skills that are crucial for future homework and schoolwork.
Glass Pebble Stress Ball
Fill a durable, clear ballon with smooth glass pebbles (the ones used for plants), and don’t afraid to get lots of different colors. Add water, you can use a funnel to make things easier, and then tightly knot the balloon. In these simple steps, you’ve created a textured stress ball that’s perfect for squishing. You can also fill the balloon with marles, beads, or stones.
Emoji Stress Ball
Everyone loves emojis, so why not incorporate them into a fun fidget toy? Fill up yellow balloons with homemade slime (a whole fun DIY project on its own) and tie them very tightly. Using a stencil, draw on fun emoji faces. Alternatively, you can also use a printer and a Cricut machine to get the exact expressions.