DIY Fidgets: Easy Homemade Stress Relievers for All Ages

Why make your own fidget toys?

Fidget toys have become essential tools for manage stress, improve focus, and provide sensory input. Store buy options can be expensive, but make your own DIY fidgets is cost-effective, customizable, and a fun activity in itself. Homemade fidgets can be tailored to specific sensory needs and preferences, make them perfect for both children and adults.

Simple materials for DIY fidgets

Most DIY fidget toys can be created use items you already have at home:

• Balloons
• Rice, flour, or dry beans
• Craft sticks
• Paper clips
• Rubber bands
• Cardboard
• Fabric scraps
• Bottle caps
• Old keychains
• Beads
• Pipe cleaners
• Empty plastic bottles

Stress ball variations

Classic balloon stress ball

This is maybe the easiest DIY fidget to make:

1. Gather a balloon, funnel, and fill material (flour, rice, or dry beans )
2. Stretch the balloon neck over the funnel.
3. Pour your filling material through the funnel into the balloon.
4. Remove the funnel and tie off the balloon.
5. For extra durability, place the fill balloon inside a second balloon.

Different fillings create different sensory experiences:

• Flour create a soft, moldable ball
• Rice offer more texture and sound
• Dry beans provide resistance and noise

Slime fill stress ball

For a squishier sensation:

1. Make homemade slime use 4 oz clear glue, ½ teaspoon bake soda, and 1 tablespoon contact lens solution.
2. Mix until it form a non-sticky consistency.
3. Funnel the slime into a balloon.
4. Tie off and enjoy the satisfying squish.

Water bead stress ball

For a unique texture:

1. Soak water beads accord to package directions until full expand.
2. Pat dry with paper towels.
3. Funnel into a balloon.
4. Tie off the balloon.

Tactile fidgets for hands

Fidget spinner alternative

Make a simple spinner with these steps:

1. Collect three bottle caps of the same size.
2. Glue them in a triangle formation.
3. Push a toothpick or small dowel through the center.
4. Secure with hot glue.
5. Add weight to the outer caps use coins or small metal washers for better spin.

Paper clip fidget chain

This subtle fidget is perfect for school or office settings:

1. Gather 10 15 colorful paper clips.
2. Link them unitedly to form a chain.
3. Practice slide them rearwards and forth or reshape the chain.

Craft stick puzzle fidget

This fidget challenge both hands and mind:

1. Collect 5 7 craft sticks.
2. Create notches in the center of each stick.
3. Interlock the sticks to create a collapsible, expandable structure.
4. Decorate with markers if desired.

Zipper bracelet fidget

Repurpose an old zipper into a wearable fidget:

1. Remove a zipper from old clothing.
2. Sew the ends unitedly to form a bracelet.
3. Zip and unzip as need for sensory input.

Quiet classroom and office fidgets

Velcro strip fidget

This silent fidget is perfect for environments where noise is a concern:

1. Cut a 3-inch strip of adhesive back Velcro.
2. Attach it to a small piece of cardboard or immediately to the underside of a desk.
3. Run fingers across the texture surface whenever focus is need.

Fabric marble maze

Create a pocket sized fidget that’s totally silent:

Source: supermomhacks.com

1. Cut two identical squares of fabric (approximately 4×4 inches )
2. Sew around the edges, leave a small opening.
3. Insert a marble.
4. Finish sew the opening close.
5. Manipulate the fabric to move the marble about indoors.

Tangle style fidget

Make a twistable fidget toy:

1. Cut 6 8 pieces of flexible plastic tubing, each roughly 2 inches long.
2. Connect them with small joints make from wire or strong string.
3. Ensure they can rotate freely.
4. Twist, bend, and reshape as need.

Sensory bottle fidgets

Glitter calm down bottle

This visual fidget help with emotional regulation:

1. Fill a clean plastic bottle ¾ full of warm water.
2. Add 2 3 tablespoons of clear glue.
3. Add fine glitter and small sequins.
4. Fill remain space with water.
5. Secure the lid with hot glue to prevent leaks.
6. Shake and watch the glitter slow settle.

Discovery bottle

Create an I spy style fidget:

1. Fill a clear plastic bottle with uncooked rice.
2. Add small trinkets, beads, buttons, or mini erasers.
3. Secure the lid with hot glue.
4. Rotate the bottle to find the hidden objects.

Magnetic bottle

For an interactive sensory experience:

1. Place small metal objects (paper clips, staples )in a clear bottle.
2. Fill with water.
3. Secure the lid.
4. Use a magnet on the outside to move the metal object around.

Fidget toys for fine motor skills

Button snake

This fidget improves dexterity:

1. Thread a shoelace or ribbon through a large button.
2. Tie a knot to secure the button at one end.
3. Cut fabric scraps into 2 3 inch squares.
4. Cut a small slit in the center of each fabric square.
5. Practice thread the button through each fabric piece.

Pipe cleaner fidget ring

Create a wearable fidget:

1. Wrap a pipe cleanser around your finger to form a ring base.
2. Twist additional pipe cleaners into spirals, zigzags, or coils.
3. Attach these shapes to the ring base.
4. Manipulate the shapes while wear the ring.

Bead maze fidget

For a satisfying slide motion:

1. Thread a piece of thick string or thin rope through several beads of different sizes and textures.
2. Tie the ends unitedly to form a loop.
3. Slide the beads around the loop.

Recycled material fidgets

Bottle cap spinner

Repurpose plastic bottle caps:

1. Collect two identical plastic bottle caps.
2. Glue them unitedly, open sides face each other.
3. Push a toothpick through the center.
4. Spin between your fingers.

Cardboard fidget cube

Create a multi textured fidget cube:

1. Cut six identical squares from cardboard.
2. Assemble into a cube use hot glue or strong tape.
3. Add different textures to each side: sandpaper, fabric, buttons, bubble wrap, etc.
4. Explore the different surfaces with your fingers.

Soda tab chain

Collect and connect aluminum can tab:

1. Gather 10 15 soda can tab.
2. Link them unitedly by slide the wider end of one tab through the narrower end of another.
3. Continue until you have a chain or loop.
4. Fidget by fold, twisting, or reconfigure the chain.

No sew fabric fidgets

Fleece not pillow

Create a squeezable fidget pillow:

1. Cut two 6 inch squares of fleece fabric.
2. Cut 1 inch fringe around all four sides of both squares.
3. Place square unitedly, match up the fringes.
4. Tie correspond fringe pieces unitedly around three sides.
5. Stuff with polyfill or fabric scraps.
6. Tie the remain fringe pieces to close.

Ribbon tag fidget

For a tactile experience:

1. Cut a 4-inch square of soft fabric.
2. Cut 10 15 pieces of ribbon, each approximately 3 inches long.
3. Fold the fabric square in half.
4. Place ribbon pieces along the edges, with loops stick out.
5. Use fabric glue to secure everything in place.
6. Erstwhile dry, fidget with the ribbon loops.

Tips for successful DIY fidgets

Safety considerations

• Ensure all parts are firmly attached to prevent choke hazards.
• Avoid toxic materials, specially for fidgets intend for young children.
• Test all fidgets for durability before regular use.
• Supervise young children when use homemade fidgets.

Customization ideas

Personalize your fidgets for maximum benefit:

• Use favorite colors to increase engagement.
• Adjust the size to fit well in the user’s hand.
• Consider sensory preferences — some people prefer soft textures while others enjoy resistance.
• Add scents use essential oils for aromatherapy benefits (ensure these are seal intimately )

Maintenance and replacement

Keep your DIY fidgets in good condition:

• Regularly check for wear and tear.
• Clean non-porous fidgets with disinfectant wipes.
• Have materials ready to make replacements when needed.
• Consider make multiple versions of favorite fidgets.

Benefits of use fidget toys

Understand the advantages of fidget toys can help you design more effective DIY versions:

• Improved focus and attention, specially for those with ADHD
• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Enhanced fine motor skills and dexterity
• Sensory regulation for individuals with sensory processing needs
• Increase classroom or workplace productivity
• Outlet for excess energy
• Cope mechanism for difficult emotions

When to use fidget toys

Homemade fidgets can be especially helpful during:

• Study sessions or homework time
• Long meetings or classes
• Waiting periods
• Times of stress or anxiety
• Transitions between activities
• Travel or commute

Create a fidget kit

Once you’ve made several DIY fidgets, consider create a portable fidget kit:

1. Find a small container, pencil case, or zippered pouch.
2. Select 3 5 different types of fidgets to include.
3. Choose fidgets with vary textures and functions.
4. Keep the kit accessible in backpacks, desks, or car compartments.

Final thoughts on DIY fidgets

Make your own fidget toys is a rewarding way to create customize tools for focus, calm, and sensory input. The process itself can be therapeutic, and the result fidgets oftentimes have more personal meaning than store buy alternatives. By use materials already available around your home, you can experiment with different designs until you find what work advantageously for your specific needs.

Remember that effective fidgets don’t need to be complex or perfect — sometimes the simplest designs provide the virtually satisfying sensory experience. Don’t be afraid to modify these ideas to advantageously suit your preferences or to create totally new fidget designs base on what feel right for you.

Source: glammergloss.blogspot.com

With a little creativity and some basic household materials, you can build an entire collection of customize fidget toys to support focus, reduce stress, and provide sensory regulation whenever and wherever you need it.