10 Best Stress Relief Toys for Kids & Teens

Today, it is not just adults who experience high levels of stress. Kids and teens are also susceptible to the demands of a fast-paced, high-stress world. This makes stress relief absolutely crucial. Managing stress effectively can help kids and teens cope, and using tools such as stress relief toys can make the process more enjoyable and relaxing. Doing so may eventually lead to more positive long-term health outcomes [*]. Let’s take a look at some of the best stress-relief toys for children and adolescents.

What are Stress Relief Toys?

Stress relief toys are small, often tactile objects designed to help manage stress and anxiety. These toys can also help manage fidgety behavior. They are particularly helpful for children and adolescents who struggle with sensory processing disorders [*]. For others, they are simply a good way to unwind.

Stress relief toys may sometimes be viewed as distractions. However, they are actually useful tools that can significantly affect our mental and emotional well-being. By providing a physical outlet for anxieties and engaging the senses, the toys can help kids and teens regulate and deal with their emotions more effectively.

Benefits of Stress Relief Toys

Several benefits come with using stress relief toys. Here are some of them:

• Stress management
• Increases concentration
• Relaxation
• Improve concentration and creativity
• Improved focus
• Mood enhancement
• Sensory stimulation
• Strengthen muscles
• Affordable
• Calms anxiety
• Improve sleep
• Lower blood pressure
• Portable stress relief
• Tactile distraction

10 Best Stress Relief Toys for Kids & Teens

Here are some of the best stress relief toys for kids and teens.

1. Reversible Sequin Sensory Pillow

The reversible sequin sensory pillow is a very unique stress relief toy that is both fun and calming. It is made with high-quality reversible sequin fabric, which children and teens can run their hands over to flip them back and forth and change the colors. This is visually calming and provides a nice tactile input to one’s fingertips.

$8.98 on Amazon

2. Paint Palette Press Toy

This stress-relief toy is constructed from food-grade silicone and BPA plastic, making it especially safe for children to play with. Kids and teens will love pushing the raised colors whenever they feel stressed or anxious. The hole in the palette makes it easy to carry around or attach to a stroller or bag for on-the-go entertainment.

$14.99 on Amazon

3. Thinking Putty

Thinking putty is a fun way to relieve the need to fidget. Squeezing, rolling, or pulling this toy can be a way of implementing stress management for teens and kids as well as a way of calming down. Playing with thinking putty can also be an excellent way for children and teens to focus or maintain attention. It also comes in many different colors, so your kids can choose their favorites.

$16.95 on Amazon

4. Wacky Tracks Fidget Toy

Wacky tracks fidget toys have maintained popularity for a long time, and for good reason. Kids and teens can feel anxiety wriggle away using these sensory click and snap toys. They are a soothing distraction with their subtle click sounds when you snap them into position, and they come in many different colors. If you’re looking for stress relief toys that will engage the senses, these are a great pick.

$6.99 on Amazon

5. Play Foam

Play foam is similar to thinking putty but in a different texture. It is a type of foam that can be manipulated, whether kids and teens squeeze, roll, or sculpt them. They can use this foam to manage anxiety or anger since squishing it can be very calming and therapeutic. A bonus is that it won’t make a mess at home and is easy to clean up.

$8.95 on Amazon

6. Fidget Cube

Fidget cubes are small and easy to carry around, so kids and teens who love to do something with their hands can take them everywhere. It’s a sturdy stress relief toy that has six sides, which encourage a child’s fingers to click, spin, glide, flip, and roll using the switches, gears, an buttons attached. It also comes in many designs and colors. Even adults will have fun using this stress relief toy.

$10.43 on Amazon

7. Rainbow Pack

A rainbow pack is a fantastic combination of a fidget and a building toy. Kids and teens will get magnetic pieces that are flexible and can be used to build 2D and 3D sculptures of all shapes and sizes. This toy is also much safer than other, smaller magnetic toys which can become a choking hazard.

$55.00 on Amazon

8. Stress Relief Balls

The stress ball might immediately come to mind when you think of stress relief toys. We’ve included it in this selection of toys because it is a tried and tested way to relieve stress and anxiety. Stress relief balls can be pulled, tossed, bounced, squished, and handled in all sorts of different ways to alleviate tension or unpleasant emotions. They are strong, durable, and safe for kids of different ages.

$13.99 on Amazon

9. Sensory Brush

The sensory brush features a bristled tactile surface that makes it an excellent sensory toy for stress relief. Kids and teens may enjoy running their fingers over the bristles or using the toy to brush their hands, arms, and legs. It’s a simple but effective tool that can help significantly with self-regulation.

$12.99 on Amazon

10. Wacky Tracks

Wacky tracks are another fidget toy that can help alleviate stress. They can bend in many different directions to create various shapes. Kids and teens will love the satisfying “click” noise every time a link is moved. This toy can be used anywhere, whether it’s in the classroom, at home, or even during car rides.

$6.99 on Amazon

The Bottom Line

Stress relief toys are a fun and effective way for children and adolescents to manage anxiety and promote relaxation. Try incorporating these toys into daily routines so that your children can develop healthier coping mechanisms and improve their overall well-being. When in doubt, it is always best to see a mental health professional first.

You may want to use additional resources to help manage your child’s stress. Kids and teens can try our stress management worksheets along with the toys for stress relief management we listed above.

References:

1. Kasar KS, Erzincanli S, Akbas NT. The effect of a stress ball on stress, vital signs and patient comfort in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial. 2020.
2. Roche M, Back E, Herwegen JV. Parental perspectives on the use of fidget toys and sensory-seeking profiles in autistic and neurotypical children. 23 December 2023.