Key Chain Fidget Toys

Key chain fidget toys might be my favorite occupational therapy toy yet. The just right self regulation tool needed for sitting on a noisy bus, maintaining attention during circle time, or for managing stress during conversations, a key chain fidget is the tool that supports all of these areas!

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Key Chain Fidget

Fidget tools are a fantastic way to help kids focus and pay attention when their bodies crave sensory input.  A child who is moving their hands or fingers with a fidget toy may be able to attend to a task more easily. 

These key chain fidget toys are tools for sensory needs.  Key chains can be attached to a coat zipper to help kids stand in line while waiting for the bus.  

They can be attached to the shoe laces to help a child sit criss-cross-apple sauce style during circle time.  Key chain fidgets can be held in the hands while writing in a discrete way at the desk.

 

Key Chain Fidget Toys to help kids get the sensory input they need in the classroom or at home.
 

Keychain Fidget Toys 

Fidgeting during work stimulates the brain, allowing a child to complete school work.  

Fidgeting is mindless play or touching fingers, pencils, hands…anything that allows a person to focus on the task at hand.  Kids that are fidgeting are seeking calm, and focus so that their brain can complete a task.  

The problem is when the brain’s urge to fidget distracts a child from school tasks.  They might be so wiggly and moving that they just can not sit still and focus in a functional manner.  Fidgeting can be managed with less distracting techniques which can allow the child to accomplish the homework, and move on to other things.

Using keychain fidgets are just one idea to try.  Make your own DIY fidget toy with any of these ideas.

 

Key chain Fidgets for Meeting Sensory Needs:

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The bean fidget keychain (affiliate link) that you see in the image above is such a fun way to allow kids to work their fingers using a keychain. There is a pack of 5 available on Amazon. 

A light up key chain (affiliate link) can provide a multi-sensory fidget toy. This squeezable bear keychain can be clipped to a belt loop or backpack.

Stretchy coil keychains (affiliate link) provide a fidget toy for one or both hands.

Other key chains can provide a fidget toy that interests the child like a Pokemon key chain.

Try the duck key chain (affiliate link) with a light up feature.

Squeezing the bubble wrap buttons on this bubble wrap keychain (affiliate link) is a great way to allow kids to work on thumb IP joint flexion or finger isolation.

They make a great sensory tool that blends in for those children who feel worries or needs to self-regulate by moving their hands.

Squishy keychains (affiliate link) offer a chance for fingers to pinch, stretch, and pull.

 A picture key chain (affiliate link) can be a beneficial tool for children who are calmed by a picture of a loved one. Try adding other images such as words of affirmation, coping strategies, or visual prompts in the picture space too. This might be a good place to put self-affirmation notes or a hand-drawn heart from Mom or Dad, too.

 Some children benefit from heavy work.

 A pewter key  chain (affiliate link) is a heavier tool for kids to hold and manipulate while offering a bit of weight to the hands. This might be just the fidget that is needed for kids with sensory needs.

 A fuzzy key chain (affiliate link) is a different texture that can help with calming or focus.

 Kids will love to create their own fidget toy!

 Use this bead craft kit (affiliate link)  to work on fine motor skills like tripod grasp, in-hand manipulation, motoric separation of the hand, and bilateral coordination when creating the key chain. Following the instructions may be a challenge for some kids, but with visual or verbal cues, children may be able to create their own fidget toy that they will be proud to hold and attach to zippers, shoes, or backpacks.

There are so many reasons to use a keychain as a fidget tool.

  • Squeezing small toys will add proprioceptive input to the hand and fingers.
  • A pinch between the thumb and index fingers/middle finger can be a great warm up before writing tasks.
  • The small size makes it easy to tuck into the hand as a coping tool for on-the-go or while out and about in the community. 
  • Kids who struggle with bus rides or transition periods at the beginning or end of the school day can use keychain fidget tools on a belt loop, jacket zipper, or backpack. 
  • Sometimes a child will benefit from a small fidget tool attached to the laces of a shoe. They can then cross their leg at the knee which provides proprioceptive input. The positioning of the keychain on the shoe can be a great way to cope while in a classroom or waiting area. 
  • Keychain fidget tools fit right in the hand and can be less apt to distract other students. 

 

Need more information on fidget tools?

Try these ideas:

Fidgeting During Homework

Desk Top Fidget Tool

Key Chain Fidget Toys to help kids get the sensory input they need in the classroom or at home.
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1 thought on “Key Chain Fidget Toys”

  1. You said that the links were included but I checked on my computer and my phone and for some reason I couldn’t get the links. I believe that you meant to include the links, but maybe you put them in wrong. Maybe I can rework this with the correct links.

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