Paper Fidget Toys: 14 Clicky, Squishy Paper Makes Kids and Adults Can’t Put Down
Paper fidget toys are the biggest craft wave on video right now, and it all costs almost nothing. A short showing a paper keyboard clicker passed 41 million views in just two weeks, and an origami paper fidget reached 10 million in three weeks. Kids are folding them at kitchen tables, and plenty of adults are quietly making them too. There is something calming about a toy you can click, flip and squeeze, and even more satisfying when you made it yourself from a sheet of printer paper. All you need is paper, tape, scissors and a pencil. These are not stuffed squishies, they are clickers, flippers, sliders and folding toys. Here are 14 favorites, starting with the one the whole internet is copying..
Paper Fidget Toys, All in One Happy Pile
Look at this pile and you will see why kids cannot stop folding. A keyboard that clicks, cubes that flip forever, a frog that jumps and a ball that squishes in and out. Every one of these was made from plain paper. Making them is half the fun, and swapping them with friends is the other half. Start with one easy fold and work your way up the list. Which one will your family try first..
You will need: Printer paper or origami paper, clear tape, scissors, a pencil, a ruler and markers.
How to make it: 1. Clear a table and gather paper, tape and scissors. 2. Pick one easy toy to start. 3. Decorate it with markers once it is folded.
Paper Fidget Toys Start Here: The Keyboard Clicker
This is the one that started it all. A short of a paper keyboard clicker passed 41 million views in just two weeks this month. Each key is a tiny folded paper box that pops back up when you press it, and kids love adding a big undo key just for fun. It takes patience, so make one row at a time, and put on some music while you fold. The click sound is what makes it so addictive. Will you make a full keyboard or just a few keys?
You will need: Pastel printer paper, a sheet of cardstock for the base, clear tape, scissors and a ruler.
How to make it: 1. Fold small paper squares into little boxes with a soft spring fold inside. 2. Tape the boxes in rows on the cardstock. 3. Draw letters or fun symbols on the keys.
An Endless Flip Cube
The endless flip cube keeps opening into new faces no matter how many times you turn it. It is made from eight small paper cubes taped together on the right edges. Once kids get the hang of it, they cannot stop flipping. It is quiet, so it is great for car rides and waiting rooms. Use patterned paper and every flip shows a new design. Older kids can try two cubes and race each other to see whose hands get faster. How fast can you flip yours?
You will need: Eight small paper cubes or eight squares of cardstock, clear tape and patterned paper.
How to make it: 1. Fold eight equal paper cubes. 2. Tape them in pairs, then in a block of four by four, following the hinge pattern. 3. Cover the outside with patterned paper.
A Paper Spinner With a Pencil Center
No bearings needed. Fold three arms from colored paper, join them in the middle, and push a pencil through the center. Hold the pencil and give the arms a flick, and it spins. Paper fidget toys like this are a fun way to talk about balance, because the arms need to be even. Tape a coin to each arm tip for a longer spin, and try a short pencil and a long one to see which works better. What colors will your spinner be?
You will need: Colored paper, a pencil, clear tape and three small coins (optional).
How to make it: 1. Fold three matching arms from paper strips. 2. Tape them together around a center hole. 3. Push a pencil through the hole and spin.
The Origami Jumping Frog
The jumping frog is a classic for a reason. Press on its back and it flips into the air. Make a few and you have instant frog races on the kitchen table. Index cards work even better than paper because they are stiff and spring higher. This is one of the easiest paper fidget toys for younger kids, and grandparents often remember folding it as children. Whose frog will jump the farthest?
You will need: Index cards or stiff square paper and markers.
How to make it: 1. Fold the top of the card into a triangle point for the head. 2. Fold the sides in and the bottom up to form legs. 3. Fold a small zigzag under the body so it springs.
A Paper Pop Toy From Folded Cups
Kids love pressing bubbles, and this paper version is just as satisfying. Fold tiny paper cups, glue them in rows on a cardboard sheet, and color each row a different shade. Press a cup flat and pop it back up with a fingernail. It is a great project for a rainy afternoon, and it uses up scrap paper. Paper fidget toys like this also make cheap party favors. Which color would you press first?
You will need: Rainbow colored paper, a cardboard sheet, glue and scissors.
How to make it: 1. Cut small paper squares and fold each into a little cup. 2. Glue the cups in rows on the cardboard. 3. Press and pop them to test.
An Infinity Flexagon That Keeps Changing
A flexagon looks like a flat hexagon, but when you pinch and push it, a whole new face appears from the middle. Draw a different pattern on each face and it feels like magic. Math lovers adore it, and kids just love the surprise. It is folded from one long strip of triangles. Take your time with the first one, because the second one is always much faster. How many faces can you find on yours?
You will need: A long strip of paper, a ruler, a pencil, glue and markers.
How to make it: 1. Mark a strip into ten equal triangles. 2. Fold the strip along the lines and glue the ends together into a hexagon. 3. Pinch and flex it to find each new face, then color them.
Paper Fidget Toys That Make You Think: A Slider Puzzle
A slider puzzle is perfect for kids who like a challenge. Draw a picture on paper, cut it into squares, and set them inside a frame made from a cereal box with one empty space. Slide the tiles around to mix them up, then try to fix the picture. Paper fidget toys like this keep little hands busy and minds working. It also travels well. What picture would you draw on yours?
You will need: A cereal box, paper, markers, scissors, glue and a ruler.
How to make it: 1. Cut a frame from the cereal box with a shallow edge. 2. Draw a picture on a square of paper, glue it to cardboard and cut it into nine tiles. 3. Remove one tile and slide the rest.
A Classic Fortune Teller With Fun Dares
Every generation folds the fortune teller, and it still wins. Write silly dares inside, like hop on one foot or tell a joke, instead of fortunes. Kids open and close it with their fingers, counting out loud, and everyone laughs. It is one of the paper fidget toys that turns into a game with friends. You can fold one in under five minutes, and kids can teach it to friends at school. What dares would you hide inside?
You will need: A square of colored paper and markers.
How to make it: 1. Fold the corners to the center, flip and fold the corners to the center again. 2. Fold in half and push the four points up. 3. Write colors, numbers and fun dares inside.
A Paper Accordion Snake That Stretches
Two paper strips folded over and over each other make a springy snake that stretches and bounces back. Add googly eyes and a red paper tongue and it comes to life. Little kids love wiggling it across the table, and it makes a fun puppet for silly stories. It is also a great way to teach the accordion fold. Make it as long as you like by taping on more strips. How long will your snake grow?
You will need: Two long strips of green and yellow paper, tape, googly eyes, glue and red paper.
How to make it: 1. Tape the two strips at a right angle. 2. Fold one over the other again and again until you reach the end. 3. Tape the end, add eyes and a forked tongue.
An Origami Magic Ball
The magic ball is one of the most satisfying folds out there. Squeeze it and it collapses into a new shape, then pull it and it opens back into a ball. It takes a large sheet of paper and a lot of folds, so it is better for older kids and adults. The result looks like art and feels amazing in your hands. It is the kind of paper fidget toy people keep on their desk. Are you up for the challenge?
You will need: One large rectangle of thin paper, a ruler and plenty of patience.
How to make it: 1. Pre crease the paper into a grid of horizontal folds. 2. Add the diagonal folds following a magic ball pattern. 3. Collapse it slowly into a ball shape.
Paper Fidget Toys for Car Rides: A Game Book
A DIY paper game book with 12 games reached 556,000 views in two weeks, and it is easy to see why. Fold a few sheets into a little booklet, then draw tic tac toe grids, mazes, dot games and word searches on each page. It keeps kids busy on trips and in waiting rooms, and nothing needs batteries. Over the holidays, it makes a sweet stocking stuffer. What games would you put inside?
You will need: Three sheets of paper, a stapler or string, a pencil and colored pencils.
How to make it: 1. Fold the sheets in half and staple or tie them into a booklet. 2. Draw one game on each page. 3. Add a fun cover and a pencil tucked inside.
A Soft Paper Ninja Star for Indoors
Folded paper ninja stars are a favorite with kids, and paper is the safe way to make them. Fold two strips into matching shapes, weave them together, and you have a star with two colors. Keep them for gentle indoor games, like tossing them into a basket, and never at people. For more soft and safe toys, our DIY squishies are a lovely next project. Which two colors would you pick?
You will need: Two squares of origami paper in different colors.
How to make it: 1. Fold each square into a long strip and then into a parallelogram shape. 2. Lay one piece over the other in an X. 3. Tuck the points into the pockets to lock the star.
Paper Fidget Toys That Spin: A Simple Top
The simplest toy on the list might be the most fun. Cut a circle of cardstock, decorate it with spirals or rainbow rings, and push a toothpick through the center. Give it a twist and watch the colors blend as it spins. Paper fidget toys like this are perfect for a quick craft before bed. You can see the clicker that kicked off this trend in this paper keyboard short. Which pattern will spin the best?
You will need: Cardstock, a cup to trace a circle, markers, scissors and a toothpick.
How to make it: 1. Trace and cut a small circle from cardstock. 2. Color a spiral or rings on top. 3. Push a toothpick through the center so a little sticks out below and spin.
