LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — As stress levels rise and classes become more challenging at Los Alamitos High School, students are relying on NeeDoh squishy toys to help them. Recently, fidget toys, such as Schylling’s NeeDoh squishies and stress balls, have been rising in popularity among teens and kids.
These squishy toys first went viral on TikTok for their unique, non-sticky and durable texture, as well as their stress-relieving properties. They caught the attention of many teens because they can be squished and pulled, while always returning to their original form, and they are a good, non-sticky alternative to slime or sticky stress balls that were once extremely popular. Students fidget with their NeeDohs to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote calm and relaxation. Due to their durability and stretchiness, they are very satisfying and fun to play with.
At LAHS, many students own a NeeDoh or another squishy toy and often bring them to class. Many students prefer NeeDohs over other fidget toys, such as fidget spinners, because they do not create any noise when they are played with, and therefore can be used in class without disturbing others. However, while they may help students focus, they can also cause distractions from their classwork and upset teachers. For example, NeeDohs can pop if someone squeezes them too hard, ejecting the sticky, messy goo that they are made of. There have also been many instances where students get the goo on desks or tables. Because of this, many teachers have prohibited the use of squishy toys in their classrooms.
“I have (a NeeDoh) stuck on the top of my ceiling. It’s been there for the past two to three weeks. I can’t take it off,” said LAHS math teacher, Ms. Kim. “I’ve had instances where they’ve popped it, and they have to go to the restroom to clean their hands because they got glue all over their hands.”
Despite these recurring issues, students continue to bring their squishy toys to school. Many of the benefits of satisfyingly kneading the squishy and watching it slowly rise outweigh the risk of getting in trouble with teachers or staff.
“I own like 10 (NeeDohs),” said an LAHS freshman, Ella Dayne. “They’re really satisfying, and I like to use them before class.”
As NeeDohs continue to rise in popularity, students are wondering if they will become a lasting part of the community and student life. Many students use NeeDohs to help them stay focused while studying for hard exams or completing assignments, and find them very useful and a fundamental part of their life. Others use them purely for their satisfying nature and to play with when they get bored. Currently, NeeDohs continue to dominate and consume teenage lives. So now, every time someone walks the campus of Los Alamitos High School, they will see someone with a NeeDoh in their hand, either playing it to their satisfaction or fidgeting away their anxiety.
