Tutorial for how to make homemade stretchy bands for kids.
Awhile ago I made some stretchy resistance sensory tools for my kids, including a sensory tunnel and two homemade stretchy bands. They are a great way for J, who seeks proprioceptive input, to get the input his body needs and they are also a great tool for fidgety kids. These homemade stretchy resistance bands were so simple to make, even if you have zero sewing skills. And there are lots of ways to play with them!
These homemade stretchy bands are a perfect DIY sensory tool for kids with autism and/or sensory processing disorder, but all kids will LOVE them.
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How to Make Homemade Stretchy Resistance Bands for Kids
The inspiration for these homemade stretchy bands came from the Stretch-Eze and some other large cloth tube-like stretchy thing J played with during summer camp. He loved them so I thought why not make him one.
To make your own stretchy bands, you'll need:
- Spandex in the color of your choice (J wanted bright yellow)
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
I used my spandex to make a sensory tunnel (get the full tutorial here) so I made two stretchy bands using the scraps. They measure 16" wide and roughly 58" long. I do wish ours were a bit bigger, maybe closer to 60", but again, these were the scraps. I made do with what I had leftover.
To make the stretchy band, use a zigzag stitch to sew the ends of the spandex together so that it forms a loop. Be sure to reinforce at the beginning and the end of your stitches. That's it! Told you it was ridiculously easy.
Fun Ways to Use the Homemade Stretchy Resistance Bands
We gather a couple of kids (or kids and an adult) and loop the band around everyone, like pictured below. We then slowly walk around in a circle singing "Ring Around the Rosie." Then everyone falls and/or leans back at the end of the song. Alternatively, the boys like to play tug-a-war by looping the bands around their bellies (instead of their backs) and slowly walking in opposite directions (not pictured).
You can also use the stretchy bands as a fidget tool for meal times and school time. Simply loop the band around the chair. Kids can push, kick, and pull on it using their legs, feet, or hands. It has worked great for us during mealtimes! And don't worry about it getting messy since you can simply toss the stretchy bands into the washing machine when needed.
You can also use the stretchy band like a body sock. I like to encourage the boys to try and make shapes with their body by pressing their hands out or spreading their legs.
You can also loop the two stretchy bands together and play tug-a-war with them (not pictured).
And finally, you can do an alternate version of the body sock, which has been affectionately dubbed "The Banana" by K. Here's K modeling the banana pose, mid jog. You can tell by the smile on his face that this idea is his favorite!
Loving these!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI absolutely love this idea!!! It would be a good way to tire out 'typical' kids too.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, definitely! Especially on cold winter days or rainy days!
DeleteSuch a great idea! Can't wait to make them for my son. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHe'll love it, Heather!
DeleteThese are so cool & simple! I'm gonna get my mom on these ASAP! ;)
ReplyDeleteGo, mom! Wahoo!
DeleteOh yeah, these are super cool. My girls would adore these! I think this might finally make me pull out the sewing machine I bought SIX YEARS AGO and have still never used!!
ReplyDeleteHahaha...happy to help you dust it off! :)
DeleteI have just whipped up four of these to take to school. I'm sure the kids will find some imaginative ways to use them. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThey were super easy to make weren't they? Hope the kiddos like them! I'd love to see what they come up with too!
DeleteAs an OTA student I can't wait to make these. I'm excited to see the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteThe tunnel is pretty awesome! But I need more hands before I can photograph it!
DeleteThese look great! Was the spandex expensive?
ReplyDeleteI bought 3 meters for $24.00 and I used it to make two stretchy bands and one resistance tunnel. I'm sure if you can find spandex in the clearance aisle it would be even less expensive.
DeleteMy daughter loves the resistance band and I would love to make her the tunnel too, keeping an eye out for that post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I'll hopefully get the tunnel on the blog before Christmas!
DeleteThank you SO MUCH for posting this! My boys (4 & 6) are fidgety and active. They absolutely LOVE their stretchy bands! I can't believe how many creative uses they have come up with for them. Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! They're so versatile aren't they?
DeleteYes they are! I actually just blogged about how much we love them: http://www.mommade.org/2014/12/stretchy-band-craziness.html :)
DeleteOh my goodness! That was a lot of fun to read! I love the ninja outfits with them. Thank you so much for sharing!
DeleteWhat type of thread did you use?
ReplyDeleteJust regular thread.
DeleteI know this post is a year old but I'm wondering (and really bad with figuring this out from the picture) if your length was 60" before or after sewing? We homeschool and I've got some big fidgety boys and want to make them some. Was going to increase the length even more, to maybe 72" but wanted to check first on if that's before or after sewing.
ReplyDeleteAfter sewing.
DeleteHi, I am so excited and wants to do my own stretchy band for my child too. Do you use ordinary tread for sewing or a different tread like Nylon? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just used regular thread because that's all I had on hand and it's held up awesome!
DeleteDo you use a polyester and spandex material?
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe it was just a polyester and spandex blend.
DeleteDo you have an approximate measurement for the bands?
ReplyDeleteYes, when flat, they measure approximately 29" long by 10-12" wide. Hope that helps! But you can make them any length you want.
DeleteI would expect that ordinary stitching would break when the spandex is stretched. Did this happen to you?
ReplyDeleteDid you get elasticated thread, or stretch the spandex to its maximum as you stitched?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
No breakage here! I didn't sew it in any special way or with any special thread. Just a simple zig zag with thread I had on hand.
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