Homemade Fidget Toys for ADHD

A simple toy that you can manipulate with your hands or homemade fidget toys for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can be helpful for some students when it comes to learning. By providing something to manipulate or fidget with, students with ADHD may be able to keep their minds more focused.

For some, if they do not have something to fidget with, students can have a hard time focusing enough to get their work done. There are also some ADHD children who need something to fidget with in order for them to calm down.

BENEFITS OF HOMEMADE FIDGET TOYS FOR ADHD AND ALL KIDS

The good news is that the use of fidget toys can help children with:

• fine motor skill practice
• attention span
• self-regulation
• emotional regulation
• finger strengthening
• hand-eye coordination
• visual tracking skills

Fidget toys can get expensive and making your own homemade fidget tools for ADHD children can be an inexpensive way to help keep your child focused, still, and calm. If you are looking for some homemade fidget toy ideas, these toys are inexpensive and easy to make. The best part about these ideas is that many only require household items. This is a perfect way to add to your fidget collection in the classroom setting to students can access them for stress relief throughout the school day.

Dried Bean Stress Ball

A fun twist on most of the stress balls you see, this one is made with dried garbanzo beans which gives it a different feeling than others. You can check out this quiet fidget here. These sensory toys provide great proprioceptive input to the hands.

Finger Fidgets

Let the kids warm up their fingers before activities or keep their fingers busy and moving with these easy to make finger fidgets. These DIY fidgets use mesh tubing that you can find at a party story or craft supplies shop. You could use it as a bead bracelet too to wear for busy fingers.

Shredded Paper Ball

An easy DIY homemade fidget toy that is made from recycled materials, kids will love playing with this shredded paper ball. This is a great activity to try with kids who have sensory processing disorder and like to pick at things. They can pick at the paper in the ball instead. This simple fidget toy is a great workout for fine motor skills too!

Netted Stress Balls

Hours of sensory fun and they can be used as a homemade fidget toy, these netted stress balls are easy to make. You can make them in different colors too!

Pokémon Evolution DIY Kaleidoscope Paper Toy

These kaleidoscope toys are made using Pokémon Evolution cards are from Red Ted Art. Kids can fidget with the toys while working or look at the pictures while playing with them when they need to calm down.

Origami Spinning Top

Using multiple sheets of paper, you can make these origami spinning tops to keep their little hands busy when they need to fidget. These are really cool and a great fine motor challenge too while you fold all the different shapes!

Water Stress Balls

Stress balls filled with water allow kids to manipulate the toy by squishing and squeezing. THis is a great way to help children focus or try to calm down.

Lego Fidget Spinner

These diy fidget spinners made from LEGOS will make the perfect fidget toy for a child with ADHD. Thanks Frugal Fun for this fun way to fidget.

Paper Hexagon Kaleidocycle

A fun craft that you and the kids can make together, the paper hexagon kaleidocycle also turns into a cool fidget toy for kids. This is a hexagonal origami project for kids that is mesmerizing to watch for a long time.

Funny Faced Stress Balls

Using flour and balloons, you can make a creative type of stress ball that children can keep in their hands to fidget with. When you make your own fidgets, try using bright colors and different emotions too!

Epic Lego Fidget Spinner

A more advanced version of the original Lego spinner, this epic spinner from Lemon Lime Adventures is a lot more detailed and offers more creative ways for the kids of all ages to fidget.

Squeeze Balls

Another cool squeeze ball tutorial you can use to make a stress ball, this one shows you how to make your own DIY fidget toys by making two-toned stress balls.

Cardboard Fidget Spinners

Cardboard fidget spinners are easy to make, they also allow the kids to get creative when making them so that they can have their own personalized fidget toy. to help meet their sensory needs.

NEED MORE IDEAS?

It isn’t only students with ADHD who may benefit from homemade fidget toys. Students with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and neurotypical children may also like to make their own fidget toys.

If you are looking for specific recommendations for your student talk to the occupational therapist at your school for suggestions.