Crochet fidget and emotional support toys are everywhere this year. From beaded hedgehogs to Bee positive toys, patterns abound.
Fidget toys are small, handheld objects designed to help with focus, stress relief, and sensory regulation. They are particularly helpful for individuals with ADHD, anxiety, and autism, but can be beneficial for anyone needing to manage nervous energy or improve concentration.
Emotional support toys, like stuffed animals, offer comfort and security, helping individuals, both children and adults, manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. They can be particularly helpful during times of change, trauma, or when experiencing feelings of loneliness or isolation.
My Crochet Crew, who create postbox toppers for our village, also make emotional support toys. We have made worry worms in the past and more recently little bees with a ‘bee positive ‘ message. These are left around our village for people, young and older, to find and take home. We leave them out at times when we think people will need them, like a school change for children or family times for people who are on their own.
Fidget toys have grown in popularity as a means of managing stress and anxiety. The comfort of having something physical to focus your attention on has a calming effect. For many years now, twiddle muffs have helped dementia sufferers and people have used worry beads for centuries.
If you are looking to use your crochet skills in a more thoughtful and supportive way, then try some of these ideas.
Engaging designs, including colorful octopuses and plush popcorn, invite tactile interaction and promote stress relief through playful creativity.
Functional crochet accessories like fingerless gloves and textured rings enhance personal style while providing fidgeting options for relaxation
Classic crochet fidget toys like stress balls and worry worms effectively reduce anxiety and enhance focus through tactile engagement.
Customizable crochet projects like yarn balls and multi-color twists allow for personal expression while offering calming fidget benefits.
Even making their own crochet toy can help a person. The feeling and texture of the project as it grows and the need to focus your attention, effectively blocking out ambient noise and distractions, help calm and soothe.
Whether you are making the project yourself, or supporting someone else to make it, both of you will benefit from an uplift in mental wellbeing.
What Kate Made Today 