Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft
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As a child, one of my favorite school supplies was a dinosaur pencil topper with fuzzy hair. I treated this dinosaur like a pet and often brushed his hair throughout the day. There was something fun about having a toy on my pencil.
Now that I have my own kids, I’ve realized they like fun pencils just as much as I did. Pencil toppers make a day full of studying, writing, listening, and sitting more enjoyable. They are also great for children who need extra tactile input.
This time of year, my girls and I are always coming up with DIY school supply crafts. After creating our Cat Pencil Holder Craft, we wanted to make something fun for their pencils. These pencil toppers were a breeze to make and fun to play with.
If you’d like to recreate this Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft, you’ll only need a few supplies. Follow along to make this DIY pencil topper in no time.
Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft: What You’ll Need
All of the supplies we used were simple and easy to find. Here’s what you’ll need to make this Bouncy Pencil Topper:
Materials:
- Pipe Cleaners
- Beads
- Pencil Topper Eraser
- Elmer’s Glue (optional)
Time to Craft
Your child can make this craft by themselves or with help by following these steps:
Step 1: Lay out a pipe cleaner and thread beads on until about half an inch from each end. Create a “knot” on one end of the pipe cleaner to keep the beads from falling off.
Step 2: Wrap the pipe cleaner around the pencil to create a tight spiral shape.
Step 3: Using the un-knotted end, place the end of the pipe cleaner over the eraser of the pencil to hold it in place. (Alternatively you can use Elmer’s glue to secure it in place.)
Step 4: Place a pencil topper eraser on top of the pipe cleaner to secure the hold.
Step 5: Enjoy bouncing the pencil topper with your finger!
Other Ways to Use the Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft
These bouncy spirals are so fun to play with. Your child might want to make more of them. Here are some other uses we found for these beaded pipe cleaners.
Keychain
Instead of securing the pipe cleaner to a pencil, you can secure it to a keychain. Your child can place it on their backpack and play with it on the bus to and from school. If your child loves keychains, they might also like making Affirmation Backpack Buddy Keychains.
Bouncy Hair Accessory
With a little hot glue, you can attach the bouncy spirals to a hair clip or a hair tie. What little girl doesn’t love the sound of bouncing beads as she skips to school? This would also be a perfect way to decorate for spirit day at school.
Bracelet
Instead of making the pipe cleaner into a spiral, you can connect to two ends. This makes a simple bracelet that doesn’t require bracelet string. Your child might want to make them for special friends at school.
What else can we add to this Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft?
We’ve used many types of beads that make these pencil toppers extra cute. For a variety, try flower beads, pearl beads, or even animal buttons.
What are pencil toppers used for?
Some pencil toppers are created just for fun. These toppers often come in themes that kids enjoy such as animals, emojis, transportation, etc. The sole purpose of these toppers is to decorate the pencil, though many of these toppers are also erasers.
Other toppers serve purposes beyond decoration. For example, chewable pencil toppers provide a safe chewing options for children with sensory needs or those working on oral motor skills. These pencil toppers can be used to provide oral input while at school.
What are the benefits of tactile pencil toppers?
Tactile pencil toppers are fun to play with, but they may also benefit your child. Here are a few ways they may help your child at school:
Focus and Concentration
Little ones often have difficulty paying attention for long periods of time. When a child has learning challenges, this can make focusing even more taxing. A simple tool like a fidget toy or pencil topper can help.
One of my children has a particularly hard time sitting still for long periods. I’ve found it helpful to give her something to move around in her hands. Something as simple as a bouncy pencil topper may help your child focus on their work and feel less “squirmy.”
Stress Relief
Back-to-school isn’t always a happy occasion for children. Social anxiety in special needs kids can make returning to school a challenge. Playing with small toys like this bouncy pencil topper may help them cope with stress.
I’ve found that engaging toys will often distract my children and help get their minds off being away from home. If you’re wondering how to help your child with separation anxiety at school, you might also consider sending your child with weighted blankets or a special stuffed animal.
Creativity
Strong creative skills will serve your child well their entire life. When your child works independently to create crafts like this one, they’re strengthening those creative thinking skills. These skills will help them solve problems and come up with innovative solutions.
Creative projects also help build your child’s self esteem. When they create something on their own, they take pride in it and begin to see their own strengths.
What other ways can I enrich this activity?
- Hardcover Book
- Schertle, Alice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 06/22/2021 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Get ready for back-to-school with any of these activities:
- Try one of these 5 Activities for Name Writing
- Read Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
- Create a paper chain for the countdown to when school starts
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