10 Uses for Squinkies

10 Uses for Squinkies

Squinkies, those ridiculous squishy, tiny toys that are all the rage right now for no apparent reason other than heavy marketing, have entered my home. My daughter loves tiny toys, so it was no surprise when she saw them at the store, wanted them, and got some from friends and family for her recent fifth birthday. The things are mildly cute, sure, but when you have them all over the house they get pretty annoying—especially when you step on them.

If you’ve got a squinky surplus in your house, or if your child is gifted duplicates, here are some ideas for what to do with them.

10. Re-Gift

If it’s the exact same set your child has, just leave it sealed and wrap it to give to another child.

9. Donate

I doubt many Toys for Tots locations will be getting squinkies this year; many people simply donate the cheapest toys they can afford, after all. This would make the perfect gift for a little girl or boy who has seen or heard of these toys but might never have them otherwise.

8. Use Them as Pencil Toppers

I don’t think they’d work as erasers, but they can be sort of cute at the top of your writing utensil.

7. Cat Toys

Our cats love to bat them. The only thing is, they’d surely be choking hazards if ingested, so they may not be the best toy for younger cats.

6. Toy Swap

Invite other kids over and have a toy swap during which they all bring duplicate toys to exchange. Alternatively, have them all bring a toy and donate them all to your nearest toy drive.

5. Art Projects

From topping cakes to being perfect inserts in Christmas wreaths, squinkies will work well in many different art projects.

4. Game Tokens

Make up your own family board game using squinkies as the playing pieces.

3. Scavenger Hunts

We have a tradition in our home where we hide an alien figure in the living room for people to find when they enter. We almost never talk about it, but it’s hidden every week by various family members and friends who visit. Part of the alien has to be visible. Squinkies would work well for a tradition like this or something similar.

2. Science Experiments

Whether you’re working on “Sink or Float?” or rocket launchers, squinkies would come in handy.

1. Buried Treasure

Bury the squinkies in the ground or sandbox and let kids find them.