Chinese Juggling Sticks
Difficulty: Average
Average User Rating:
Parental supervision is recommended
Three hardwood dowels become cool Chinese juggling sticks in a few easy steps. Enjoy creating a new craft and watch your kids' confidence grow as they learn a fun, new skill.
What you'll need:
- 1 (5/8" X 24") hardwood dowel
- 2 (3/8" X 18") hardwood dowels
- A couple of yards of colored electrical tape (1/2" wide) - The more colors used, the more colorful the sticks!
- 1 roll of rubber tape (available at electrical supply or hardware stores)
- Small standard roll of duct tape
- 3 (4" X 12") strips of felt that will match tape colors or recycled material (leather, jeans, fur, or other thick material that would look nice around the ends)
- 1 container of Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive (made by Beacon Chemical, Mt. Vernon, NY 1-914-699-3400)
How to make it:
- Find center of large dowel by measuring.
- Wrap tape on either side of center and put a strip of colored tape around center.
- Take the same colored tape as in center and, beginning from the outside center, wrap it around the stick in candy cane fashion leaving space for the width of rubber tape to also be wrapped around in candy cane style. Wrap the rubber tape around in the same way, covering the dowel with alternating rubber and colored tape. Do this on both sides.
- Wrap the duct tape on both ends in equal amounts for weight distribution (1/2" - 3/4" thick around both ends). Test weight distribution by balancing the center on a finger.
- Cut the felt or material rectangles into 1/2" wide by 3" long strips as shown below. A pair of pinking shears makes the ends look more decorative. Stack the 3 strips and wrap non stripped end of the felt or material with Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive around the duct tape so that thestrips flap in a flowery display.
For hand
sticks
Alternate colored and rubber tapes around two-thirds of smaller dowels in candy cane fashion. Wrap extra rubber tape around the end and at end of candy cane design. For the other third of hand stick, cover (in a candy cane style) with your choice of colored tape. Wrap a couple of extra times around the end.
Tips:
Chinese Juggling Sticks originated in China a couple of thousand years ago. The pom-poms on the ends of Chinese juggling sticks look like flowers, therefore the name for this toy translates into flower stick.
The juggling stick has been promoted at Peaceful Toy Fairs as an empowering toy. Learning to play juggling sticks gives the player a sense of control that comes from mastering something that is challenging and fun. Other benefits include: developing concentration, eye-hand coordination and the stress relief that comes from rhythmic and focused movement. They are also a good toy for solitary or noncompetitive interactive play.
