Make a few DIY fidget toys for a fun and creative way to help kids focus or entertain when they need to sit.
Hello, I’m Keri. Over at my blog Backyard Summer Camp, you’ll find simple kids’ crafts to help you plan fun and easy activities at home with your family. Fidget toys are popular for playtime and sensory processing, and we’ve collected our favorites from fellow bloggers.
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Do you have a kids who tends to fidget? If you’re looking for DIY fidget toy ideas, odds are that your kiddos jumped on the fidget spinner trend a few years ago.
For my kids, it was a great tool to help them get their wiggly movement out so they could focus while doing homework. They were banned from school pretty quickly, but we still use them at home.
We’re always looking for fun ways to make learning easy and fun. I think you’ll find these DIY fidget toys are the perfect way to do just that!
Common Fidget Toy Questions
Note: I’m not an expert, so if you’re looking for professional advice, speak with your pediatrician.
We haven’t seen an official study on the different types of fidget toys, but as a mom I think the best is the one that your child uses and enjoys.
There are lots of reasons a person might fidget – mental health conditions, sensory processing, or stress. If using a fidget toy helps with those experiences, then we think it’s pretty great.
When a person is fidgeting due to anxiety, impatience, or restlessness, playing with a fidget toy can be a welcome distraction from whatever is causing overstimulation.
Yes! Fidget toys are helpful for kids, teen, and adults. Note that some have small parts, so it’s important to supervise young children. Some types of fidget toys might not be right for your child, so use your best judgment.
DIY Fidget Toys
Most of these homemade gadgets and sensory items are made with recycled materials or household items.
Mini Balloon Stress Balls
You can make a bunch of these mini balloon stress ball quickly. They only need two ingredients and kids of all ages can help fill them. There are even some easy variations in case you’d rather use a different ingredient.
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Edible Silly Putty
Silly putty has a great texture. It’s stretchy and smooth and great for smooshing onto the table. The store-bought variety isn’t edible, but you can make a taste-safe silly putty with just a few pantry ingredients.
Fidget Slime
With a similar texture to silly putty, this fidget slime recipe is fun to make in your child’s favorite color. Note that this does contain borax, so it’s probably best for older kids who don’t put things in their mouths.
Safety Pin Fidget Spinners
The texture of plastic tri beads makes them excellent for stacking, like for these safety pin fidget spinners. While kids are making them, you could turn it into a lesson on colors and patterns too.
K’Nex Fidget Spinner
If your kids have a stash of these plastic construction pieces at home, you already have everything you need to make this K’Nex fidget spinner. After your kids build this one, encourage them to come up with their own designs too.
Cardboard Fidget Spinner
You’ll want to grab the printable template for these cardboard fidget spinners – there are 3! This is a fun craft for kids who love STEM activities and science experiments.
Soda Tab Fidget
You’ll need to collect tabs from empty soda cans for a bit to make this soda tab fidget. Although it’s simple in appearance, kids who focus better when they’re fidgeting will find it so handy!
Emoji Squishies
These emoji squishes are so cute! In addition to being a sensory experience, these would be a great tool for communication. Often children can’t express how they’re feeling, but they can show an adult a face that illustrates it.
LEGO Fidget Spinner
Use a few of your child’s LEGO bricks to make this classic style fidget spinner. Once you’ve made this one, don’t be surprised if your child starts building more of their own designs.
More Creative Fidgets
- Wooden infinity cube
- Endless LEGO fidget cube
- Bead slider snakes
- Begleri paracord fidget
- Skate bearing fidget spinner
- Water bead stress ball
What’s Next?
If you liked these DIY fidget toys list, then be sure to check out Backyard Summer Camp for even more easy kids’ crafts.
More Grade School Craft Ideas
If you enjoyed this collection of fidget spinner toys then you will love these grade school craft ideas:
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