I’m excited to have Raven Howell with us today to talk about a fun activity you can do at home with your kids — or all on your own, if you want an easy craft! It’s all part of her blog tour for her book Grandma Yogini. Find out more about the book here on Amazon. Everyone, welcome Raven!
Stress balls are great fun, and I’ve experimented with a super-easy way to make them. They’re wonderful as playful gifts to celebrate something like Father’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, or to put in a holiday stocking stuffer. If you have young, crafty kids at home, this DIY activity is kid-friendly, too.
The inspiration for making these came from a friend of mine who has her own yoga practice. We’ve been coordinating story time/yoga children’s events to celebrate my new book, GRANDMA YOGINI. One day, I noticed a stress ball in her car on the passenger seat. Although my friend has a calm demeanor, she admitted that when driving, to avoid getting triggered by traffic, she uses a stress ball to remain relaxed. What a super idea!
To make them, I first considered the stress ball filling. I tried flour and rice. They work, but food goes bad in a fairly short period of time. I tried playdough, but that wasn’t as easy to stuff into the balloon as toothpaste.
Here are the items I used that were most successful and the easiest to work with:
- Balloons (smaller ones)
- Toothpaste (a gel will give a smoother texture)
- And permanent markers
A bag of colorful balloons and a tube of store-brand type toothpaste only cost me a few dollars at the drugstore.
First, to prep, blow into the balloons to allow them to expand a little and stretch. Then let the air out again.
- Stick the toothpaste tube opening inside the balloon end. It will fit easily since the balloon is rubbery and flexible and the toothpaste tube opening is rather small.
- Then the fun part: squeeze the toothpaste into the balloon!
- When the balloon fills to a good size for a person’s palm, clamp the balloon opening closed again and tie a knot on the end.
- Use markers to create a fun face or image. Voila! Your stress balls will last you many months.
About the Author, Raven Howell
Raven Howell is an award-winning children’s book author. She works as a writer, journalist, columnist, poet, and publishing advisor. Raven’s work is featured in magazines including Story Monsters Ink, Ladybug, Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty, and The School Magazine.
Her books have won several awards, including Excellence in Children’s Literature, Creative Child Magazine’s Best Children’s Book, Mom’s Choice Award, and the NYC Big Book Award. She writes preschool storybooks for educational publishers worldwide.
Raven enjoys library and school visits and has been practicing yoga for over four decades.
You can find her online at:
https://twitter.com/atpearthkeeper
https://www.instagram.com/atpearthkeeper
https://www.facebook.com/raven.howell.75
https://www.facebook.com/RavenHowellAuthorandPoetPage
https://www.pinterest.com/pickward
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raven-howell-5a813015b
