Colorful companions: Colorful assortments of NeeDohs are common to see on the desks of students. During school, students are able to concentrate easier with the help of their fidget toys, enjoying their various textures and colors.
Colorful companions: Colorful assortments of NeeDohs are common to see on the desks of students. During school, students are able to concentrate easier with the help of their fidget toys, enjoying their various textures and colors.

Students use stress toys to relieve nerves, focus in class

Aubrey Boyd, Asst. Features Editor
March 31, 2026

Stress has become a part of everyday life for many people. Whether it’s caused by school, work, sports or personal life, everyone has experienced stress at least once in their life. Something that has surged in recent popularity is to use stress or fidget toys to ease stress. One of the most popular fidget toys as of late is the brand “NeeDoh”. If one has walked in the halls at school, it is most likely that they have seen someone walking around with a stress toy in their hand. Stress toys have gotten very popular this school year, and some people love them while others have a very different opinion about them.

The toy “NeeDoh” was very popular in 2020 during quarantine, and it made a comeback in 2025 on TikTok. It’s now trending among all ages, dominantly children, teens and young adults. People around the country go hunting from store to store for these toys, believing that they help them focus in class more.

“NeeDohs help people with anxiety and also help them stay focused,” Alexis Cooper (12) said.

From child to adult, stress toys could have many benefits. If someone is stressed, nervous or just can’t keep their hands still, stress and fidget toys could help alleviate these situations. There are many different shapes, colors, textures and sizes of these popular toys, but NeedDoh isn’t the only brand of stress toy that is trending. Some people have the brand “Speks” or the popular dumplings from Five Below. The demand for all of these toys is very high and are very hard to find in stores nowadays.

“I went to about five stores and I was able to find NeeDohs in every store,” Tayler Dalesandro (9) said.

Despite the recent popularity, some are not fans. One of the most common reasons people don’t like fidget toys is that they claim the toys are distracting to students. Others worry about pollution or overconsumerism because some people have a lot of stress toys, while others like to think of it as having a variety of different textures. In reality, it is possible to have both.

Research proves that fidgeting could help the brain by improving focus, alertness, and cognitive performance. Fidgeting may increase levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are essential for attention.

“Because of my ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), my mind runs off topic, fidgeting helps me focus on one topic and helps me get my work done faster,” Caroline Bender (10) said.

Schools across the nation have or are in the process of banning stress and fidget toys, claiming they cause distraction. Those who are against the ban claim they improve focus and relieve stress. Many people who like stress toys believe that it is okay to enjoy them, as long as it does not get in the way of schoolwork, or other priorities.