Stress balls

Purpose
Stress balls are good fun to make and are a way of helping siblings to manage difficult times, particularly when they are feeling angry and frustrated.

You will need

Balloons, lentils or similar (flour actually makes the best filling but is very messy, especially if the balloon splits!). Permanent marker pens.
(If anyone in the group has coeliac disease avoid a filling that contains gluten)

How to do it

Provide each sibling with a balloon – inflate and deflate it to stretch it. Fill it with lentils. When stuffed it can be tied off and a face drawn on it with the marker pen.

Siblings then take the ball home. When the going gets tough they take the ball out and squeeze, twist, throw, drop and pull it into shapes until they feel calm again.