Fidget toys can be useful gadgets for children and adults alike, especially those who have ADHD or anxiety. Both disorders can make it hard for people to concentrate. With the use of a fidget toy, they can sometimes busy their hands or minds with something trivial, opening the door for better concentration. While the research on the efficacy of these fidget toys is limited, some studies have found that these gadgets actually do help. You can even make fidget toys at home.

What is a fidget toy? 

Fidget toys are small toys that encourage hand movements to ease anxiety, boredom, stress and other related concerns and feelings. These toys, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, are believed by some to help alleviate something like anxiety by keeping your hands and brain busy focusing on a mindless task.

Fidget spinners are one of the most popular fidget toys on the market after seeing a huge boom in popularity a few years ago. These small toys were easy enough for people, especially children, to hold in their hands and spin around when they were feeling anxious. 

There haven't been a lot of studies yet on fidget toys and their effect on anxiety, but more and more scientists are examining the relationship between the two. Researchers at UC Santa Cruz and the UC Davis MIND Institute began studying this link in 2020, and some preliminary research prior to this suggested that fidgeting could, in fact, help children with ADHD improve cognitive function.

Another study from 2018 also looked at fidget spinners, but rather than examining their effects on anxiety, it took a look at whether or not they could improve fine motor skills. The research found that there was an improvement in these skills, but researchers also noted that the improvement appeared to be greater among those test subjects with ADHD.

5 easy DIY fidget toys 

Sure, you can buy fidget toys in stores, but they're easy and quick to make at home and only require craft supplies. Typically, this is inexpensive and can be modified based on what you have available and what you need.

Below you'll find a couple of quick DIYs for careerscabin.com your own fidget toys, plus a few places you can buy similar items online. Here's how to make easy DIY fidget toys.

Stress ball

Getty Images/Ines Fraile/iStock/Getty Images Plus

You've probably seen stress balls on TV and in stores, but it's easy to make one yourself. It only takes a few minutes to pull together. 

What you'll need:

• A balloon
• A funnel
• Flour

Using the funnel, scoop a little less than a cup of flour into a deflated balloon until it's full. Tie off the top of the balloon. That's all it takes to make a stress ball that you can squeeze any time you need it. If you want more texture, you can also add beads or beans into the balloon.

Zipper bracelet

Getty Images/armanco/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Zipper bracelets double as a fun accessory and a fidget toy. You're essentially turning a zipper into a bracelet that can be zipped up and down over and over without actually coming off your wrist.

What you'll need:

• Zipper
  
• Fastener
  
• Needle and thread
  

There are a few different ways you can put this bracelet together. If you have no sewing supplies or skills, you can simply take the zipper and tie it around your wrist and knot the end. Just make sure the zipper pull is on your wrist before you cut off any excess. Also, keep in mind that this makes the bracelet harder to take on and off. 

If you can sew a clasp onto the ends with a needle and thread, find something simple, like a keyring clasp and ring and sew one piece onto either end of the zipper. If you have a sewing machine, you could even sew a bit of elastic between the two ends of the zipper to make a stretchy bracelet that slips on and off. 

Dice cube

Screenshot/YouTube

For a dice cube, you might already have all the supplies at home. This small toy only takes two materials and will keep your hands busy trying to manipulate the dice into numerous configurations.

What you'll need:

• Eight dice
  
• Tape
  

Following this tutorial, simply use small pieces of tape to tape all the dice together into an infinity cube. And if you decide you need the dice for their original use (maybe you took them from a board game), you can just peel the tape off and retape them again later.

Beaded keyrings

Just add beads
Getty Images/Jorg Greuel/DigitalVision

Beaded keyrings are easy to put together for kids to play with and can be worn like rings. This is another fidget toy that only takes two materials.

What you'll need:

• Keyring
  
• Pony beads
  

Slide one or two pony beads onto a keyring (you might have to use a tool to pry open the keyring) so that they're all the way on and can be spun around. That's it! 

You can wear these on a finger to give your other fingers something to do if you're restless. For adults who want a more refined version of this, plenty of Etsy sellers make fidget rings for anxiety and even to help you stop picking at your fingers.

Chewable necklaces

Getty Images/Catherine Lamothe-Sauvé/EyeEm

Similarly, these necklaces can be made for kids or adults, depending on who needs them. These can provide sensory help for those who rely on their mouths during bouts of anxiety or sensory overload.

What you'll need:

• Wooden beads or nuts
  
• Thick fabric, like fleece
  
• Needle 
• Thread
  

There are a few ways you can make one of these fidget toys. You can take a piece of fabric that's 3 inches wide and long enough to make a necklace and fold it in half while it's inside out and sew up one of the long sides to make a tube. Flip it right side out and slide in a nut or large wooden bead. Tie the fabric in a knot on either side so the bead stays in place. Add a few more, tying knots on either side. Then you can tie the ends together to make the necklace. Just make sure it's long enough to slip over a child's head to take it on and off.

For adults, you can either make your own necklace with a chewable dangle or buy something already made on Etsy.

Are fidget toys just for anxiety? 

Fidget toys can be used by anyone for a number of reasons. While they're often used by kids who have anxiety or ADHD, adults experience many of these things as well and may also find help in a fidget toy. These toys are great for teachers to have on hand in their classrooms. Many people on the autism spectrum may also find that fidget and stim toys provide an outlet as well.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Some of the best 3D printers available right now use UV resin rather than filament to produce models. These printers tend to produce smaller, more detailed models than the larger FDM printers and can be used to make board game miniatures and even fine jewelry and dentistry. 

These printers use a special type of UV resin that comes in a variety of colors and chemical compositions, each of which can create a different type of end result. A lot of them are specialty resins that you aren't likely to need every day but it can get complicated when you are searching for the right material. We've put together this helpful list of the best resins for you to choose from. The list will get updated as more resins are tested by our team.

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Siraya Tech

Siraya Tech Fast

Siraya Tech Fast has been the perfect balance of price per gallon and functionality. There are cheaper resins, but a lot of them tend to split or become sticky if handled improperly. Fast has been my go-to for the last few years and never lets me down when it comes to reliability. 

I also use it for all of my resin 3D printer reviews so I know what each printer can handle. The smoky gray color is my favorite but there are some amazing colors to choose from.

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Sunlu

SUNLU 3D Printer Resin (4-Pack)

When you are just starting out it's helpful to buy a bulk of inexpensive resins to get your collection started. This four-pack of 500g bottles of resins can be mixed and matched so you can have four different colors, perfect for creating different effects on your models.

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Elegoo

Elegoo plant-based resin

While Elegoo touts its plant-based resin as a nonirritant and safe, it is much better than any other resins in that regard. It should still be handled with gloves, respirator and goggles until it is fully cured.

It is, however, cheap, easy to use and gives reliable results for the price. I also like that the smell of resin is almost nonexistent with plant-based resins.

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Anycubic

Anycubic tough resin

Resin can be quite brittle, and if you are building parts that need to have stress exerted on them, then a resin like the tough resin from Anycubic might help with its longevity. 

The tough resin works the same as other resins but allows for some flexibility in the final model. This reduces the chances of it shattering into pieces like dry spaghetti.

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NOVA 3D

NOVA3D High Transparent 3D Resin

One of the gold standards of clear resin is actually making it clear. It's really hard to do as UV-cured resin tends to yellow as it cures. NOVA3D has worked hard to make this transparent resin as crystal clear as it can, and while it does yellow if you cure it aggressively, it can give amazing results if you take your time.

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Siraya Tech

Siraya Tech Cast

One of the coolest things I have ever done with a resin printer is to make a cast for careerscabin.com jewelry. I used some of this resin to print a Green Lantern ring, then took it to a friend of mine with a kiln. She wrapped it in plaster and then fired it. The resin has a high wax content that helps it melt away, leaving a perfect mold behind for pouring silver.

This resin is not cheap, but if you are interested in making your own jewelry and have access to a kiln, this may be for you.

3D printing resin FAQ

Resin 3D printing is a lot different from other types of additive manufacturing. It can be hazardous, but it is incredibly rewarding if you can get it right. Here are some of the frequently asked questions I get asked about the process.

Is resin actually dangerous?

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but if you are safe it's fine. Touching resin with your bare hands can give you chemical burns, and the more you handle it the more likely you are to become allergic to it. I now have to be extra careful, as I get swollen eyes if any liquid resin touches my skin. It's no joke.

Making sure you are wearing the correct protective equipment is of vital importance when using resin. Minimally you should be using nitrile gloves any time you are handling uncured resin, though I would recommend a pair of safety glasses and a respirator to keep the toxins away. 

Can I use normal resin from Michaels?

The type of resin you might see at Michaels or other craft stores is not the same as 3D printing resin. Most of those resins are two-part systems that chemically bond when mixed. UV resin cures under, you guessed it, UV light. It only does this under certain wavelengths, though, so not all resins will work. You will need to use resins specially labeled as 3D printing resins.

What happens when I don't 'cure' resin?

There are two main stages of curing for a resin-printed model. The first is the curing that happens inside the printer when the UV light hardens a layer of resin to form the model. The second happens after the model is finished. When you first take the model off the build plate you still need to use gloves to handle it, as the outside will be covered in uncured resin. You will need to wash the model in isopropyl alcohol -- 90% or above is best -- and then cure it one final time in a UV chamber or out in the sun. This will harden the outer surface and make it safe to handle. 

If you don't do that second cure, the model will stay sticky and be unsafe to handle. Even covering it in paint won't stop it from being hazardous to you and everything around you, including animals and plants. I would recommend a Wash and Cure system to streamline that process.

Can I print something out of resin that is food-safe?

No. 3D printing resin is never food-safe. While curing makes it safe to handle, it is never 100% and ingesting any amount of resin is a big no-no. The best way to make food-safe products from your resin prints is to make a silicone mold of them and use that to make food-safe resin products instead. 

Are there different kinds of resin?

While all UV resins are essentially the same, some have different properties that help you achieve different results. Standard resin is great for a lot of projects but can be quite brittle. Some have a lot of flexibility but don't lend themselves to fine detail, making them great for more practical prints. There are even resins that can be used to make denture molds, so the uses are endless. Siraya Tech Fast -- the best overall resin on our list -- can be mixed with other types from the brand to create different properties so you can buy the cheaper resin and mix it with a small amount of more expensive resin with different properties.