Anti-stress toy

Relieving tension in the modern world is becoming a very relevant and necessary activity. An anti-stress toy is an item that many adults who live in a state of anxiety and constant pressure at work are happy to buy for themselves.

What is an anti-stress toy?

Scientists and psychologists agree that the frantic pace of life negatively affects the mental health of both adults and children. Many people are interested in what anti-stress toys are and whether they are useful. The English word “figet” is applied to this category, which includes many fashionable and exciting items - squishies, hand chews, slimes, and so on.

How are anti-stress toys useful?

Scientists have long noticed that the hands contain many tactile points, influencing which the brain both develops and rests. Anti-stress toys provide the following benefits:

allows you to throw out accumulated emotions;
stabilizes the emotional background;
helps to divert attention from the problem;
improves overall well-being;
develops fine motor skills of the hands.

History of creation

Stress is the human body’s reaction to overexertion and negative emotions.
During times of stress, the human body produces the hormone adrenaline, which forces us to look for a way out. Anti-stress is the complete opposite of stress. When an adult or child experiences some kind of anxiety, he begins to twirl something in his hands, make sounds with the help of various objects, for example, unscrewing or screwing handles, gnawing on the tip of a pencil. Getting rid of an anxious feeling can be very difficult, and this is where anti-stress toys can come to the rescue. These are products that have unique properties, thanks to which adults and children relieve daytime fatigue, nervous tension, and stress through tactile sensations. Toys of this kind are powerful anti-depressants, the effect of which is similar to meditation. Japan became the birthplace of the first such products.

What types of anti-stress toys are there?

Recently, according to managers and analysts, anti-stress toys for hands have become the most popular and best-selling toys. In many stores you can find a variety of bright and interesting items that can occupy the attention of both children and adults:

pillows;
balls;
slimes;
spinners:
cubes;
mokuru;
pens and others.

Soft anti-stress toys

All children's favorite toys are soft animals, which are so comfortable to hug and fall asleep with them. Anti-stress pillows are a special category of products that are distinguished by a special surface on which dust and allergens do not collect. Sleeping on them is comfortable and safe. When choosing such a pillow for a child, you should look at the label, study the material used, and hold it in your hands. Low-quality products may have an unpleasant odor or have missing seams. Both mothers and adults love these pillow toys for their properties:

the anti-stress pillow toy is pleasant to the touch;
does not lose volume and is very soft;
convenient on the road and travel.

Squishies got their name from the English word “squishy” - “squishy”, “sticky”. These small toys fit even into a child's palm. Familiar products, cartoon characters, animals, anti-stress balls are made from a material that is pleasant to the touch and has unique properties. They have a pleasant smell and can quickly restore their shape after being crushed. This anti-stress toy helps when you need to concentrate or calm your nerves. There are several types of squishies:

rubber, reminiscent of a slime toy;
foamy, sponge-like to the touch;
transparent, filled with multi-colored gel.

Anti-stress slime

Many people have learned to make a multi-colored mass that is pleasant to stretch, knead, and squeeze, known as slime, on their own. There is serious debate among parents about whether anti-stress toffee toys are useful and whether they harm children. Made from high-quality materials, and not from cheap chemicals, the anti-stress slime toy has a beneficial effect, its main advantages are that it:

Helps develop fine motor skills, which are closely related to brain function and memory.
Develops creative skills.
This is a wonderful way to take your mind off stress and relax.

Anti-stress spinner

This toy was invented back in 1993, but this anti-stress toy gained real popularity in 2017. Its original purpose was to relieve tension and anxiety in children with autism, but experts still disagree on whether a spinner is really useful. Even adults began to buy metal, plastic, and wooden spinners with bearings. YouTube is filled with videos with reviews of spinners; when purchasing this fidget, you should give preference to toys made of high-quality materials that will not cause harm. The advantages of spinners are:

The ability to increase the sensitivity of the fingers.
The ability to learn to focus quickly.
Relieving nervous tension.
Distracting attention from irritating factors.

Anti-stress cube

Popular anti-stress toys for adults are fidget cubes. Original American products are expensive, but if you want to save money, you can purchase an inexpensive Chinese version that is no different from the original. This anti-stress cube toy has 6 faces, on which are located:

5 small buttons that are pleasant to press with your finger;
circle for rotation with a slight thickening;
a stick that resembles a small joystick;
a rotating metal ball and three gears;
three position switch;
recess for a finger.

Mokuru anti-stress

Many people in childhood had a tumbler, which always rises when tilted. Mokuru, an anti-stress toy in the form of an elongated barrel with rubber tips, is made using the same principle. Some people think that it is very simple to push the barrel with your hand so that it can stand upright. In fact, this does not happen right away, and requires experience and a perfectly flat surface. You can play with mokuru all day long, and you won’t get tired of this anti-stress toy; you can twist it, toss it, turn it over with your palm or fingers. Made from modern environmentally friendly materials, it can:

Relieve tension in your fingers.
Positively influence fine motor skills.
Improve communication skills, because to play many games you need company.
To promote physical activity when practicing with mokuru, you will have to squat, stand up, and sit on all fours.

Anti-stress handles

Many office workers have encountered a situation where they really need to concentrate, but they can’t. In such cases, an anti-stress toy for adults can come to the rescue - a pen from the “Think ink” series. Fidget-pen, as it was nicknamed by ordinary people, is suitable for everyone who is used to fiddling with stationery objects in their hands, clicking buttons and gnawing on pen caps. The body of the product is made of steel, it is pleasant to hold in your hands. You can calm down and get into a working mood with the help of this anti-stress toy for women and men:

The handle can be bent and twisted, rotated around an axis.
Move the magnetic ball along the surface of the case.
Twist the ring, made in the shape of a sphere.
Install and move a clip made of magnetic material along the body.

Snake Tangle

Among the many toys that can relieve stress and fatigue, everyone’s favorite Tangle snake occupies a special place - it is a pleasant to the touch chain, which consists of several fragments. This real stress-relieving toy comes with 18 sectors, shaped like a quarter of a donut. All parts are connected in such a way that they can be rotated around their axis, creating bizarre shapes. The effect of continuous rotation is mesmerizing, you don’t want to let go of the snake. The Tangle anti-stress toy is a fascinating product that can:

Keep the attention of a child and an adult for a long time.
Remove tension in the muscles of the hand and fingers.
Develop hand joints.
Develop motor skills.
Help you relax and calm down.

How to choose an anti-stress pillow?

These products can have a cylindrical, round, square or fancy shape. The cylinders are convenient to place under your back or neck. Manufacturers produce special products for travel that can be placed under the neck, models for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Anti-stress pillows of bright colors and unusual shapes improve mood, add an original touch to the interior, and have a positive effect on the development of children.

Antistress toy filler

When buying toys, you need to carefully understand what is inside them. Anti-stress balls are filled with polymer gel balls that are safe for people. Expanded polystyrene granules are used as a filler for many pillows and soft products - an environmentally friendly and safe material in which microbes do not multiply, it is pleasant to the touch and does not lose its shape for a long time. Anti-stress toys with balls inside can be squeezed, twisted, squeezed without fear of anything happening to them. The advantages of granules include:

light weight;
resistance to deformation;
moisture resistance;
low cost.

Selection, application

There are different anti-stress pillows and choose them depending on their purpose:

They choose for the child based on their interests. There is no need to buy a girl a pink one with glitter, or a boy one in the shape of a car. If your interests are unknown, it is better to buy something neutral - a toy pillow in the shape of a cat, puppy or famous cartoon character. Children can use them in everyday games or sleep like soft toys.
If the purchase will further decorate the room, it should match the color and design. This item is bought with a silk, bamboo or synthetic cover.

Anti-stress sleeping pillows are chosen based on their hardness and comfort. The head should not sag too much. There should be a pleasant feeling. The quality of sleep will improve, neck and back pain will decrease. These are standard square, rectangular products or rollers.

The development of fine motor skills is important at any age. Children begin to think, think, read, speak and write faster

In adults, memory improves, brain aging slows down, and the nervous system relaxes.

If pillowcase pillows are used for sleeping, pillowcases are necessary in any case. Even if the shape is non-standard. You'll have to work hard and sew it yourself or go to a workshop.

Inexpensive synthetic products do not require special care. Wash them by hand or in a machine. If there is a zipper, the balls are taken out and the cover is washed separately without any problems. The granules are washed separately, only by hand:

make a soap solution, liquid or laundry soap or shampoo will do; place the balls in it so that the water completely covers it; leave for 5-10 minutes; stir the soapy liquid with your hands; carefully drain the water so as not to lose the balls; Rinse thoroughly, no foam should remain.

Hand wash one piece:

pour warm water into a basin up to 40 degrees;
add detergent for delicate fabrics, stir;
place the relaxation pillow in the basin and wash it as usual;
rinse in running water;
squeeze a little and put to dry in a ventilated room on a horizontal surface.

Other drying options: hang by the ears on clothespins, wrap in a terry towel.

If the water is very dirty during the washing process, replace it with clean water, add detergent and wash it a second time.

Machine washable anti-stress pillow:

put it in a pillowcase and sew it up (or zip it up, if you have one);
select the manual (gentle) program;
use a product for delicate fabrics;
turn off spin or leave 400 rpm;
after washing, squeeze lightly and send to dry, as in the first method.

In this case, instead of a bag, a pillowcase is used so that if the product with granules ruptures, they will not clog inside the machine and spoil it.

The use of bleaching and aggressive detergents is not allowed for washing. Decorative items are washed twice a year. The pillow they sleep on is the same - after all, they put a pillowcase on it. The toy should be washed once every month or two, especially if it belongs to a child.

A fresh stain is wiped with a sponge with liquid or laundry soap or dish soap. If it is heavily soiled, leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse the soft item completely under the tap or wash the cleaned part. Be sure to remove stains before washing.

Some general tips:

the stray filler for anti-stress pillows is taken out of the case and combed with a large comb;
drip a little of your favorite essential oil onto the washed, dried item in a corner, the smell will remain until the next wash;
If the cover is good, but the filling has deteriorated and cannot be restored, buy a new one - it is inexpensive.

Once you buy a pillow, you will never want to part with it. The product will become a faithful companion at home, at work, and on a trip. Some people buy several different ones so that there is a soft mush everywhere.

Rating of anti-stress toys

Shops and hypermarkets are filled with a variety of anti-stress toys. Choosing a quality product that will not harm your health is not easy. In order not to make a mistake with a purchase and not throw money away, marketers recommend paying attention to leading brands that produce worthy anti-stress toys, which include:

Rubber toffees from Hasbro
- Superman, Octopus, Batman, Monster, Joker, Scooby-Doo, which can be stretched 5 or more times, tied in knots, after which they will quickly return to their original form. These toys are included in the list of the most famous all over the world.

The Canadian manufacturer ORB
produces high-quality squishies that have gained popularity all over the world. Realistic and fragrant-smelling toys are safe for health, since only the highest quality materials are used for their production.

Bubblez
are world-famous slimes made from a health-safe polymer material. They look like a lot of balls, which when pressed burst under your fingers, gurgling and clicking. These slimes are loved by the whole world.

Tips for choosing

When purchasing an anti-stress pillow, you need to consider why you are purchasing it and for what room:

A classic pillow is suitable for the living room. Calm tones and simple shape - square, long, roller. The filler can be anything. You can choose a toy-shaped pillow for your bedroom to cuddle and keep warm. A soft pillow made of natural fillings is suitable for sleeping. If you are purchasing a pillow as a gift, then choose the shape and color according to the owner’s hobbies and age. Children will be delighted with a bright toy pillow in the shape of a cartoon character or animal. For adults, a funny shape is suitable - a fish, a waiter, tools, a flower and the like. However, natural fillers are not suitable for allergy sufferers. Despite this, today synthetic fillers are as safe as possible.

For children, it is important to choose a material and filling that can be washed and dried quickly.

It would be nice if the pillow has a hidden seam with a zipper, which will allow you to dry the filling, ventilate it, or change it. This also allows you to control the amount of filler for each user. If there is a visible zipper in the pillow, it is dangerous for children. After all, a curious researcher can open it, taste it, and inhale it.
For pregnant women, a pillow-top pillow will be an excellent option for relaxation. It will repeat the shape of the body and save you from swelling and numb limbs. In such models, the balls are larger to ensure maximum massage effect. You can choose a full-length pillow or a small one for the legs and neck.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: How to clean a burnt enamel pan - burnt jam; very cheap, but at the same time safe for health, a variety of padding polyester materials made in the form of balls. They are easy to wash and are great as a base for creating various types of pillows;

Comforel can be used - a synthetic material from which soft and fluffy balls are obtained. They have their own “memory”, which is very practical, and also do not cause allergic reactions;

Filler balls made of holofiber are special twisted polyester fibers. Such pillows are perfect for children and pregnant women, as they do not accumulate dust and do not become a breeding ground for various parasites, do not cause allergies, and retain their shape;

artificial fluff balls not only do not cause allergies, but are also light and soft to the touch. Such a pillow can be washed, while securely fixing the head and neck in the desired position, does not form lumps after washing and has a fairly low price.

Dangerous anti-stress toys

Attractive, fragrant, bright toys are the dream of many children and even adults. The goal is to avoid purchasing products that can be harmful to health. Synthetic filler can enter the respiratory system, unnatural flavoring can cause severe allergies, and the consequences of playing with such items can be sad. You can distinguish dangerous rubber anti-stress toys from quality ones; to do this, you should use simple tips:

The very first thing to remember is that high-quality toys are not sold for pennies; you should look for them in branded stores.
A product made according to standards is marked “CE”; such toys deserve attention.
An environmentally friendly toy cannot smell strongly of rubber or chemicals.
If dye remains on your fingers after rubbing the toy, this indicates low quality and you should not buy such a thing.
Sharp corners, uneven edges, the absence of any markings are a good reason to return the toy to the shelf.

From flour

Many people are interested in how to make anti-stress with their own hands from natural products, such as plain water and flour. In this case, the slime is suitable for games even with children under 3 years old. For adults, it can become an indispensable assistant when you need to switch attention or relieve nervous tension. To make it you need to take the following steps:

Sift the flour.
Pour in cold water first and then hot water.
Mix the resulting mixture so that there are no lumps.
Place the mixture in the refrigerator for several hours.