Activities with Amber - Stress Ball Craft
Hello hello, families!
Since we have conquered almost 7 weeks of social distancing (yes, you read that right, 7 weeks!!), how are you feeling? Has your family been able to make routines and schedules that decrease stress or do you still feel like you are hanging on by a thread with your stressed-out children? Well either way, we have a super easy stress ball craft for you that will help not just your kids, but also you! Now, before you think that stress balls are just more clutter for your house, they actually have several proven benefits. Stringyball.com talks about the benefits of a stress ball for not only our typically developing kiddos, but also neurodiverse:
Strengthened grip: Squeezing the ball contracts hand and arm muscles while releasing the ball relieves tension, making it easier to hold a pencil and write. Squeezing the ball also allows growth in the hand muscles, allowing them to have a stronger ability to hold items more independently.
Concentration: Children who use stress balls are able to listen and stay attentive longer because they are engaging the part of their brain that loses focus quickly.
Sensory/ Therapeutic management for neurodiverse: Stress balls are a major source for maintaining equilibrium because they are a needed source of distraction that reduces anxiety levels in children.
Now to the fun stuff!… Not only will your children have an easy way to relieve some stress, but also a fun way of doing so! Below are steps to make your own stress ball
Items needed: Balloon, flour, funnel (I will be using a piece of paper rolled up), empty plastic water bottle, yarn and sharpie marker (if you want to add a face and hair)
Step 1: Pour ¾ cup of flour into your bottle, a funnel makes the job go easier!
Step 2: Blow up the balloon a little bit and stretch it over the neck of the bottle. Transfer the flour into the balloon. This may take some tipping back and forth, tapping of the bottle and a bit of patience.
Step 3: Once all of the flour is in the bottle, SLOWLY, remove the balloon from the bottle and let the remaining air out. If you go too fast the air could blow too much of the flour out.
Step 4: Tie a knot in the balloon. (Some of the flour may come out, that’s ok!)
Step 5: Add some hair and a fun face! See the picture below for instructions on adding hair.
For more detailed instructions, check out Make Your Own Zone.
DISCLAIMER: These stress balls are not indestructible. While the balloon latex is quite durable, depending on the intensity of the squeezing and squishing, it may begin to wear down faster. You will know to trade it out with a new one when the balloon becomes stretched and lighter color in some areas. These stress balls can handle the stress, so you don’t have to!
Please register for the live class next week so we can make these together :) We love you and are in this together!