How to Make a Koosh Ball
By Jonae Fredericks ; Updated April 18, 2017
Make a Koosh ball out of rubber bands.
The Parent's Resource Center explains that the Koosh ball came to fruition back in 1987 as a tool to help children learn how to catch a ball. Engineered by Scott Stillinger, the Koosh ball earned its name for the sound that it made when caught. Stillinger's prototype was a group of rubber bands tied at the center. Although the colorful invention sells in most toy stores, you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost.
Purchase a box of rubber bands from an office supply store. The color of the rubber bands does not matter, but they must all be the same size.
Remove the rubber bands from the box. Stack the rubber bands on the table in front of you evenly, one on top of the other. Pick up the stack of rubber bands, pinching the stack at the center using your fingers.
Secure the stack of rubber bands at the center using a thick rubber band. You will probably need to wrap the thick rubber band around the center of the rubber band once or twice depending on the width of the stack.
Cut the loops of each rubber band with a sharp pair of scissors once the center of the stack is secure. Repeat the process for each homemade Koosh ball.
Box of rubber bands
The length of the rubber bands that you use will determine the diameter of the finished Koosh ball.
Rubber bands that measure 1/8-inches in width will make floppy Koosh balls, while thicker rubber bands will form a denser ball. Keep in mind that the amount of rubber bands that you use will also determine the ball's density.
The center rubber band should measure 1/4 to 1/2 inches in thickness in order to ensure that it does not snap while the ball is in use. It must also be strong enough to hold securely all of the rubber bands together at their centers.
Parent's Resource Center: Toys Have a History
Wisdom King: Multi-Colored Koosh Ball
Jonae Fredericks started writing in 2007. She also has a background as a licensed cosmetologist and certified skin-care specialist. Jonae Fredericks is a certified paraeducator, presently working in the public education system.
Messy Rubber Bands image by MrGreenBug from Fotolia.com
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