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If you walk into any classroom at Avonworth, you’re sure to see them. A rainbow of orbs, cubes, and teardrops grasped in every student’s hands, the pressure of each squeeze revealing interiors of white foam or clear sludge. These common phenomena are all NeeDoh, a popular brand of stress toy that has taken over the school.
The popularity of stress toys isn’t new; they first made an appearance en masse in 2018, taking the form of a fidget spinner, and later resurged in 2021 with the Pop-It craze. Each of these fads gained popularity primarily among students, leading to debates between students and teachers over whether fidgeting in class with such toys was a good source of stress relief or just a distraction. On one hand, fidget toys have the potential to increase attentiveness by providing motor stimulation; they can have the same effects as listening to white noise or music while you work. However, too much fidgeting can be a distraction in itself, drawing attention away from the task at hand. Fidget toys aren’t objectively helpful or harmful, but right now, the consensus among Avonworth students seems to be that stress toys, specifically NeeDohs, are beneficial to learning environments.
NeeDoh is a brand that makes sensory fidget toys meant to be squeezed, stretched, and played with. Among the many different NeeDoh variants are the NeeDoh Gumdrop, Dream Drop, and the product that has become the most recognizable of them all: the Nice Cube. Unlike the typical spherical stress ball, Nice Cube’s unusual shape gives it a superior squish. It’s clear, gel-like center shifts and reforms with every squeeze, returning time and time again to its original cubic shape. For many students, this texture and squeeze make it especially satisfying.
Julia Aiken explains that “the Nice Cube is definitely the best one because it has 6 sides that I can squish, and it will go back to its perfect form. It has more resistance when I squeeze, which makes it extra enjoyable.” The toy’s silent design makes it well-suited for classrooms and professional environments, allowing students to fidget without creating noise. Combined with the viral videos on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, these qualities turn the NiceCube into the most recognizable creation of the NeeDoh company, as well as a common sight in Avonworth.
Avonews reached out to the company responsible for importing the NeeDoh into the US – Schylling Inc of Massachusetts. After a bit of research, Avonews found the President and CEO, Paul Wingard, and sent a basic request through Linked In to find out who invented the NeeDoh. It turns out it’s the President himself:
Students at Avonworth have generally positive opinions about NeeDohs, especially when it comes to using them as tools for stress relief and concentration during class. Many students believe that while NeeDohs are enjoyable, they aren’t the necessity some make them out to be.
“I think they are popular and they are a good stress reliever, but they are a bit overhyped,” said Olivia Monkelis. Lillian Duvall also shared that NeeDohs are “fine, but [she] doesn’t get the hype.” Other students feel much more enthusiastic about the toys. Tria Witul expressed strong excitement, saying, “I love NeeDohs, and I wish I could have a billion of them,” highlighting how much of the satisfaction of the NeeDoh comes from collecting them. Some students focus more on how NeeDohs help them stay engaged during class time, with Karthik Pillai explaining that “it gives me mental stimulation.” Overall, students agree that NeeDohs can be fun, helpful, and a good way to stay productive during the school day.
