Let’s make a fidget spinner! Fidget spinners are the latest fad, but you don’t have to buy one. We are going to show you how to make a new fidget spinner with just a few craft supplies because it really is a simple toy.
Kids Fidget Spinners
The best thing about this project is that your kids can customize it to make cool fidget spinners that no one else has!
Related: Make our favorite DIY fidget toys
Fidget spinners started being popular in 2017 although you can find similar fidget toys as far back as the early 1990s.
A fidget spinner is a toy that consists of a ball bearing in the center of a multi-lobed (typically two or three) flat structure made from metal or plastic designed to spin along its axis with very little effort.
I have known about fidget spinners from the early popularity because it quickly became an effective sensory tool in our house. Use of fidget spinners by kids and adults as a great tool to help expend nervous energy allowing greater concentration is on the rise. The repetitive motion created by centrifugal forces is mesmerizing. That is why it is common to see one on anyone’s desk…no matter their age!
It is also why I love the idea of making a homemade fidget spinner that can be customized. Theses simple figet spinners make great gifts! And they are really fun to make and give or trade to friends. We have seen really fun science fair projects created around hand spinners and they are an easy way to integrate fabulous STEAM activities into summer camps, homeschool, classroom and other youth programs.
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How to Make a Fidget Spinner
The supplies you will need to make a homemade fidget spinner are pretty simple except you will need a skate bearing. This is important because you want a mechanism which spins as freely as possible and we found that a skate bearing is easy to find, inexpensive and the perfect way to create a super functional DIY fidget spinner.
Short DIY How to Make a Fidget Spinner Video
Supplies Needed to Make a Fidget Spinner
Instructions How to Make a Fidget Spinner
Step 1 – Homemade Fidget Spinner Craft
Cut two of the craft sticks in half lengthwise — you’ll need three of the halved sticks. We are using the very short craft sticks. Obviously if you only have the longer craft sticks, you can cut them to a length of 2.6 inches.
Note: Several other fidget spinner tutorials online have a printable template, but you do not need one when you are starting with three uniform popsicle stick sides like you are with this tutorial.
Step 2 – Customize Your Fidget Spinner
Now it’s time to decorate the sticks which will form the side of the spinner. This is where your kids can get really creative to make the custom spinner their own. They can paint the sticks, color on them, or cover them in duct tape like we did.
Using Duct Tape to Decorate the Fidget Spinner
- Tear off some duct tape and place the craft sticks onto the sticky side.
- Place another piece of duct tape over the other side of the craft sticks to cover them.
- Press around the edges to seal them in, then cut around them to release them from the duct tape.
Step 3 – Glue Fidget Spinner Parts Together
Glue the craft sticks together to form a triangle. Place the skate bearing in the center and tighten the triangle until the bearing is held in place. Secure each joint with a clothespin while the glue hardens.
Step 4 – Add Skate Bearings
Turn your fidget spinner over to the bottom of the spinner and apply glue where the skate bearing meets each craft stick. Allow to harden.
Now, your fidget spinner will spin, but to make it go faster and longer, we’ll need to add some weight.
Step 5 – Add Weight to Fidget Spinner
Glue washers onto each of the corners of the triangle. Allow glue to harden, and your fidget spinner is ready!
Step 6 – Spin Your Homemade Fidget Spinner
Now spin your homemade fidget spinner!
It will make you want to make another one…and another one.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
5 minutes
Additional Time
10 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Difficulty
Medium
Estimated Cost
$5
Materials
- Skate bearing
- 1-inch by 2.6-inch craft sticks
- Duct tape, paint or other decoration
- M10 flat washers
- E6000 clear glue
Instructions
- Cut 2 craft sticks in half – you need 3 halves
- Decorate the sticks with duct tape, paint, markers or whatever you desire
- Glue craft sticks together on the ends to create a triangle, while the glue is still wet continue to next step…
- Place the skate bearing in the center and push the crafts toward the skate bearing to hold it in place
- Once you have the craft sticks where it will hold the skate bearing, use the clothes pins to hold it in place while the glue dries
- Add a little glue to the middle of each craft stick at the skate bearing to further re-enforce keeping the bearing secure in the middle
- To make a fidget spinner that goes faster and spins for a longer time, add weight to the triangle corners – we used washers and glued them in place
More Fidget Fun from Kids Activities Blog
What color did you make your homemade fidget spinner? Did your wiggly kids enjoy the project {giggle}?
