9 Ways to Make Stim Toys
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Stim toys, also known as fidget toys or sensory toys, are tools that help individuals self-regulate by providing calming and focus-enhancing sensory input. They can be particularly beneficial for those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety disorders. Making your own stim toys can be a fun and creative process, allowing you to customize them to suit personal preferences and needs. In this article, we will explore nine DIY ways to make stim toys.
1. Stress Balls
Using balloons and a filler material such as rice, flour, or kinetic sand, you can create your own stress balls by pouring the filler into the balloon and tying it off. For added interest, you might decorate the exterior with smiley faces or other designs.
2. Fidget Spinners
Using a skate bearing, plastic bottle caps, and small weights (coins or beads), you can create a DIY fidget spinner by gluing the bottle caps together with the bearing as the central axis. Attach the weights on the outer edges for stability and spin away.
3. Tangle Toys
Using pipe cleaners or bendy straws, twist and bend them together to create a tangle toy that offers hours of manipulation and tactile stimulation.
4. Sensory Bottles
Fill clear plastic bottles with water or other liquids (like glycerin for thicker texture) and add in glitter, beads, mini-figures, or other small objects to make your own sensory bottle. Shake it up and watch the items swirl around inside.
5. Slime
There are many recipes available online for creating slime using household ingredients like glue or cornstarch mixed with water. Explore different textures and colors by adding food coloring or glitter.
6. Marble Maze
With some felt fabric pieces and a marble, you can sew together a simple maze design that enables the marble to be pushed through different pathways using finger pressure.
7. Puzzles
Cardboard, scissors, and your favorite images can be used to create your own simple or intricate jigsaw puzzles. Simply cut out pieces of the image after gluing it to the cardboard and challenge yourself to reassemble them.
8. Ribbon Wands
Attaching ribbons or strips of fabric to dowel rods or wooden spoons creates a visually stimulating and tactile ribbon wand that can be twirled and swirled to help reduce anxiety or improve focus.
9. Knitted or Crocheted Comfort Objects
Learn to knit or crochet small comfort objects such as blankets, stuffed animals, or other soft items that provide soothing tactile input when held, squeezed, or rubbed.
With some creativity and everyday items, you can easily make your own stim toys tailored specifically to personal preferences. DIY stim toys not only provide needed sensory input but can be a rewarding process for the creator.