Those of you who are familiar with me and my work know that I am always in search of the best fiddle toys. I only endorse the very best, and never for any compensation, only in partnership for giveaways. Details for this giveaway will be posted on my account @lotustherapyatx shortly!

* As I am writing this it seems that the circular carry tags are sold out! Hopefully more are on the way, and the rectangular carry tags are still available!

As a skin-picker in recovery and a psychotherapist working primarily with those struggling with similar body-focused repetitive behavior disorders, I know how hard it can meet to meet the specific sensory and tactile needs that picking and pulling are so effective at meeting.

Many fiddle toys are fun to play with in the moment, squishy or hard, and the pleasure lasts a few minutes. Some have the benefit of being endlessly pleasurable, like an Aaron’s Thinking Putty or a Rubix cube. Some have the added joy of positive associations, like a little plastic Gumby and Pokey pair.

Very few fiddle toys have a mix of all of these pleasures. Calm Strips, in partnership with 5in8 Designs, has come up with just such a mix, in the form of the Carry Tag + Calm Strips Circles.

I have been following the Calm Strips product line since discovering the company at the TLC Foundation for BFRBs online conference earlier this year. (You can find that organization at bfrb.org or on Instagram @tlcbfrb.)

The first product I tried was the After the Rain soft sand strip. I have to admit, I wasn’t crazy about the soft sand texture. It wasn’t bumpy enough and it almost irritated my finger. I did like the fun packaging with quotes, and I liked sticking the strip on my cup, peeling it off and putting it around my finger, and I did that for the ones in the 5 pack.

I was intrigued when I found out that a new texture was on the horizon: River Rocks (extra bumpy). I ordered the Prismatic ones (which feature a rainbow, I love that Calm Strips partners with the HRC and celebrates Pride!), I was happy to find that I liked this texture much better! Just the right amount of bumpiness. This version gave me a few more hours of play, and when I had finished the five-pack, I checked the website to see if anything new was happening.

That’s when I found this collaboration between Calm Strips and 5in8 Designs. I bought a pack that included the round aluminum carry tag stamped with the CS logo and 5 stickers each with two circular designs: one bumpy (Faith’s Bouquet) and one soft (On The River).

I love it! Both of the visuals are soothing, I kind of like having a bumpy on one side and a soft on the other, the circular shape is so calming to handle, and there’s even an awesome little carry tag my hands can fiddle with! And it can clip to anything so I won’t lose it. I love to know that I am supporting artisans who are working together to meet the sensory needs of people like me!

OK, signing off, keep your eyes open for details on this giveaway, and check out Calm Strips!

https://www.calmstrips.com