DIY POP IT

 

Whether you have a child with a diagnosed attention disorder, a student with a learning difference, or someone at home who simply benefits from soothing, repetitive action, a fidget toy could be a wonderfully calming tool. Most fidget toys engage a couple of senses by spurring concentration through repeated kinetic movements or simple sounds. With school-aged children, a discreet fidget toy might help ease the anxiety of test day or working in a new peer group. Involve your little one in the creation of the fidget item itself to increase connection and ownership. Give these simple do-it-yourself fidget toy ideas a try to increase your student’s overall productivity and positivity—both in the classroom and out. 

 

1. Infinity Cube 

Plain wooden cubes and a length of duct tape are all you need to construct a palm-sized puzzle toy from Moms and Crafters. Tape the blocks together, allowing them to bend accordion-style over each other. Kids can manipulate the blocks into different arrangements while calming themselves. Involve little ones in the creation of the infinity cube by allowing them to paint and decorate (washable marker shows up well on light raw wood). Build a few different setups using different sized cubes; have one ready for your student's backpack as well as in the playroom.  

2. Paper Fidget Spiner

Capture the calming motion of a fidget spinner, no hardware (or a trip to the dollar store) required. Practice following step-by-step instructions with your little ones to create these origami ninja stars from Red Ted Art using plain construction paper. These are more discreet than their light-up, plastic counterparts, so encourage your kid to keep one handy for stressful situations.

3. Desk Fidget Tool

When learning to write, young students might have an especially tricky time adjusting to the pressure of the pencil, the thinness of the paper, and practicing the necessary controlled hand movements. Encourage kids to explore mobility through this handy desk fidget tool. This toy comes together with a pipe cleaner, a craft stick, and a few plastic beads. Kids can smoothly move beads from one end to the other, which will help calm them during a tricky task or while practicing fine motor movements for future careful schoolwork.  

 

4. Soda Bottle Top Toy 

This homemade toy does require a bit more hardware than the others, but it’s a unique, calming trinket that utilizes a few small simple machines. This makes for the perfect opportunity to involve your budding engineer or architect. Follow along with Instructable's tutorial to learn how to attach two soda bottle tops to a handmade rotating gear (if that’s too ambitious for you, source one from a hardware store), which allows them to spin independently. Then you'll add a joystick setup (a bolt and a spring) and a mouse wheel (a marble) to either end, for a multi-functional, busy, handheld fidget.

5. Glass Pebble Stress Ball 

Carefully fill a durable, transparent balloon with smooth glass pebbles, the kind used for indoor faux plants, or water pebbles used in vases for real plants. The more colorful the better, then add water. A funnel is particularly handy when it comes to filling a small balloon, especially if you’re working with children. Tie the balloon securely, and it works perfectly as a textured stress ball. Short on pebbles? Try smooth beads, marbles, or stones instead.  

6. Weighted Pencil DIY

As kids get used to holding a writing utensil for hours at a time, it’s often helpful to add weight and dimension to the tool. This can help increase your child’s self-awareness and focus on their current assignment. Use store-bought gummy grips as stoppers, then add beads or metal nuts to add mass, color, and texture to pencils and pens. The added interest to a simple school supply can help bring a sense of positivity to homework, which is always a win during those often tricky after school hours.   

7. Maze Bracelet 

Soft, cozy fidget toys are especially helpful for kids who derive a sense of security from their fidgets. Try this do-it-yourself maze bracelet that children can wear daily and use when feeling anxious. While a sewing machine makes this a quick afternoon craft, hand stitching works just as well. The stitches don’t have to be perfect, so this project provides a great opportunity to teach kids to sew. Select a comfy flannel or knit fabric (recycle a torn sweatshirt or old towel) to make this bracelet super comfortable and comforting. 

8. Emoji Stress Ball 

These pre-teen approved stress balls are on-trend and ultra squishy. Their insides are filled with homemade slime. Mix up a batch of slime from your favorite recipe (this tutorial from Hello Creative Family provides you with their top choice for slime) and carefully fill a yellow balloon. This specific stress ball instructional also has a hack for covering up the balloon knots that stick out when making these squishy toys. Add emoji expressions using a printer and a Cricut machine, or use a stencil and permanent marker to draw them directly on to the balloon.