How to make a cool anti-stress toy at home?

Squishies are a new weapon against stress, replacing spinners, slimes and completely outdated rosary beads. Particularly pleasing is the possibility of making such an anti-stress toy with your own hands. You can not only save money, but also engage in useful creativity with your children.

What anti-stress toys can you make with your own hands?

The “anti-stress” category includes a variety of toys:

• squishies;
• slimes;
• spinners;
• finger skates;
• "kapitoshka";
• balls with hydrogel beads;
• complex coloring;
• and others.

One thing they have in common is that during the game the brain “switches off” and rests, the nerves calm down, and concentration increases significantly.

To understand how anti-stress toys work, you need to understand the concept of fidgeting. It is an act of restless movement (such as spinning a ring) that is unconsciously used to reduce anxiety.

3 simple anti-stress remedies

You can use many available items as an anti-stress toy. Making simple toys will take 15 minutes at most:

• Beads. String 20-40 large beads onto a silk cord. Tie the ends.
  
• Ball with hydrogel. Soak the hydrogel (orbeez) in water. Pour into a bottle. Take the strongest balloon and inflate it. Tie the ribbon into a bow as far away from the rubber tip as possible. Stretch the end of the balloon onto the orbiz bottle. Untie the tape and pour the hydrogel inside.
  
• "Kapitoshka". Fill a sturdy colored ball with flour or starch. For convenience, use a funnel and a pencil. Tie the ball into a knot. Cut off the tip. Make a pom pom from yarn and tie it to a knot on the ball. Draw the eyes and mouth of “Kapitoshka” with a black marker.
  

How to make squishies with your own hands?

Many people buy an anti-stress toy not to calm their nerves, but simply because it is fashionable and everyone has it. Today, squishies are at the peak of popularity. Translated from English, squishy means “squishy”. The toy is very pleasant to squeeze in your hands. It quickly restores its original shape. And the squishy figures look very cute. Most Popular:

• Food: cakes, pastries, donuts, popcorn, French fries, ice cream, fruit.
• Cups of drinks, cartons of milk.
• Animals: rabbits, kittens, pandas, unicorns, owls.
• Cartoon and movie characters: iron man, batman, LOL dolls.
• Cartoon poop with eyes (no matter how disgusting it sounds).

How to make such a squishy at home? We suggest using step-by-step instructions.

3 master classes

The anti-stress squishy toy can be made from different materials:

• foam sponge;
• paper;
• sealant;
• notebook covers;
• foamiran;
• light plasticine;
• ball.

We will consider only the first 3 options. Squishies made from sponge, paper and sealant are very similar to store-bought toys.

From foam rubber

For work you will need the following materials:

• light foam sponge;
• large scissors;
• paints;
• brush.

How to make an anti-stress toy “watermelon slice”:

1. Cut a semicircle from the sponge.
   
2. Paint the middle of the semicircle red.
   
3. Paint the round edge with green paint.
   
4. On a red background, draw black dots - “seeds”.

The best squishies are made from memory foam rubber (sold in sewing stores). And instead of simple paints, you can use fabric dyes. Then the toy will withstand not only twisting and crushing, but also bathing.

Video instructions on how to make beautiful anti-stress toys from sponges:

From paper

Paper squishies are very easy to make. Prepare materials:

• liked image;
• single-sided tape;
• scissors;
• filler (foam rubber, holofiber or other).

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Print the picture you like, duplicating it and turning it in a mirror image. This is necessary so that the squishies turn out the same on both sides. Example:
2. Place tape on top of the image (laminate it).
3. Cut out the picture.
4. Seal the edges together with tape, leaving a 3cm opening.
5. Fill the toy with pieces of foam rubber, holofiber or something else.
6. Seal the hole.

You can not print the picture, but draw it with pencils, paints, or make an applique from colored paper.

And to make the anti-stress toy crunch pleasantly, you can stuff a piece of thick cellophane inside.

From sealant

If you have some silicone sealant left after repairs, be sure to try making an anti-stress toy out of it. It will stretch, compress and curl just like a real squishy.

Necessary materials:

• silicone sealant;
• 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vegetable or baby oil;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of water;
• shallow container;
• acrylic paints and molds (optional).

Progress:

1. Pour water and oil into a bowl.
2. Squeeze out the sealant.
3. Mix everything for 20 minutes, first with a stick, then with your hands.
4. Make a squishy figure.
5. Leave to harden on the table for a day.

To make a colored toy, you need to mix acrylic paint with sealant. There is no other way to color or paint such a squishie.

By the way, you don’t have to sculpt the figures, but use silicone baking molds. Just be sure to oil them thoroughly.

Video with a master class on making anti-stress toys from sealant:

Anti-stress toys are popular not only among children, but also among adults. They are cute, funny and very pleasant to the touch. Try making a toy with your own hands. The result and the 15 minutes of time spent are definitely worth it!