Whether it’s waiting nervously for a test to be handed out or reviewing notes before a presentation, students often feel anxious or stressed during school. This well-known feeling is being combated in a way that has gained demand in recent months. Small in size and coming in a variety of shapes and colors, an unassuming squishy stress toy has become increasingly sought after among students around the country.
Needohs, a brand of fidgets produced by Schylling, have skyrocketed in popularity due to their bright colors, variety of textures and shapes and their use as quiet stress relievers. Freshman Selina Bricker, who bought her first Needoh in December after seeing classmates use them, says that she has noticed its benefits as an anxiety and stress reliever during school.
“I found it really helpful when I was trying to concentrate,” Bricker said. “When I’m able to do stuff with my hands, it helps me concentrate better… I think it’s a good quality product, and it was just fun to use.”
The “Nice Cube,” a 2-inch clear blue sensory cube, became especially popular with teens on social media because of its durability and square squishiness. Others, like the 2.5-inch “Needoh Gumdrop,” shaped after its candy namesake, also drew in teens and young adults with its unique shape and texture. Both, along with a variety of other NeeDoh products, are available at big retailers like Target, 5 Below and Walmart for as little as $5.99, though prices in some areas have jumped due to high demand.
According to freshmen and sophomore Grade Counselor Elise Resnick, while there are definite benefits to such stress relievers, they can also become nuisances.
“I think it can be distracting to other kids,” Resnick said. “I know some kids will toss them around or throw them at others, so that can get just frustrating for teachers and other students.”
Due to the toy’s recent rise in popularity at JDS, sophomore Leia Barnett said that some of her teachers have begun banning Needohs in their classrooms because of the distraction they pose, saying that students would sometimes throw them back and forth during class.
While the majority of teachers allow students to use similar fidgets to combat nerves, the spike in popularity of Needohs has led to controversy among students misusing them during class. However, Barnett is still a vocal advocate for the sensory toys. She says that not only are they useful as anxiety relief, but she also finds them to be higher quality than other similar fidgets.
“Stress balls can get super, super expensive, but I feel like the quality is super good,” Barnett said. “I just love how you can get so many different types.”
Additionally, Barnett also noted that in recent months, the trend has become shocking. She recalled seeing videos of “grown adults running to a Five Below” to buy different types of Needohs, but expressed gratitude that the hype has slowly started to die down. There have been numerous videos on social media of people expressing surprise at being unable to find any NeeDohs in stores, and prices of some have jumped to as high as $23.99 for one NeeDoh Nice Cube on Walmart, among other instances.
Both Bricker and Barnett agree that while the toy may have occasional issues in classrooms, its use as quiet, satisfying stress relievers undoubtedly helps out before a presentation, during a lecture or while having a class discussion.
“I think they just help me,” Barnett said. “They can definitely distract people, but for me personally, they really just help me focus.”
