Eva Hernandez ‘27 stuns with her Needoh collection. Photo Taken By Ari Guzman.
Recently at South Salem High School, a new epidemic has been unleashed. Often in the hands of students, one can find colorful, malleable cubes. However, these are no ordinary stress toys. These are Needohs.
The toy company Needoh was produced by, Schylling, was founded in 1968 by John Smith, however the idea of Needoh’s did not come until the 2000s. Needoh’s were created to bridge a gap in the toy market, specifically regarding sensory toys. After years of experimentation, the classic Needoh was launched in 2010, which was an immediate success.
Needoh produces a variety of different shapes and colors, the most popular being the classic cube, cleverly named the Nice Cube. Other popular variations include Dream Drops, which is the original formula in a raindrop shape, and the Nice Ice Baby, which is a mini version of the Nice Cube.
“I think Needoh’s are so popular because they are really fun to play with and offer a nice distraction from the stress of classes. I also think they look really appealing and the materials in them are really satisfying. I also think it is like a throwback to elementary school when squishes and slime were really popular, it is a resurgence of things that remind us of that,” said Eva Hernandez, ‘27.
Needoh’s offer a non-harmful, non-distracting form of stress relief for students. Many students find that along with being a fun, satisfying collectible, Needoh’s provide a good alternative to other fidgets. Due to being quiet and offering the chance to express nervous energy in a non-destructive way, unlike other popular fidgets in the past.
“I think the idea of squishies coming back is from the rise of self care within students regulating their mental health. I think they also have become popular, especially at school, since they do not make a lot of noise when using them. I have heard from teachers that they enjoy that I use the Needohs instead of ‘clicking’ fidgets because they do not distract the class or them while they are teaching. The bright colors may also contribute to the popularity from the preppy trends going around,”’ said Savannah Poage ‘26.
Along with the variety of shapes and colors, Needoh’s also come in many different textures. Different kinds have different fillings, so depending on one’s preference, they can choose between smooth, fuzzy, firm or soft.
Using fidgets in a school setting has been a point of controversy, however a variety of research shows that using fidgets has increased engagement, productivity and decreased stress for students. However, a study done by “Prestige Worldwide” from Suffolk University found that using fidgets increases engagement in the classroom by 13%. This proves that high school students benefit from fidgets, and more specifically Needohs.
