“I know Nee-dohs may be distracting, but they really help with things like ADHD and people who can not focus,” said by eighth grader, Paige Aslanian. Paige brings many different nee-dohs to school everyday for her and her friends to enjoy during class. Like her, many students at school also own nee-dohs and find enjoyment in them. Nee-dohs have recently exploded in popularity at Roosevelt Intermediate School over the last
Photo Credit: CM School Supply three months. Nee-dohs are good quality squishies that come in many different shapes, colors, and textures. Nee-dohs cost around 5 to 20 dollars, but many people resell them for more since they are so popular. Most people use them as a stress reliever and think they are very satisfying. However, some students purposely pop them during class, making them a distraction. Another student in seventh grade commented on how they are really fun to collect, and everybody has them due to easy access and social media. Some stores in Westfield sell a variety of these popular fidget toys, like Learning Express or the Town Book Store. In a poll for a sixth grade class, 15 out of 23 students had nee-dohs with them.
Another eighth grade student, Sanvi Singh, stated, “I think nee-dohs are very popular because they help kids who have anxiety or just need to focus on classwork. I have seen a lot of people popping them open in the middle of class, a lot of the time on purpose.”
Although students enjoy nee-dohs, teachers think that while fidgets are a good idea in general, they are not always being used for their intended purpose. Mrs. Maver explained how Nee-dohs are disruptive in class, as students throw them around the classroom, steal them from each other, and intentionally pop them. She also blames TikTok and other social media platforms for the sudden craze and desire for these squishies.
The most popular kinds of nee-dohs are ice cubes and ice creams. People also enjoy playing with knock-off nee-dohs, like the dumpling shaped ones. However, these tend to break more easily due to cheaper material.
There has been a recent ban of nee-dohs at Roosevelt Intermediate School due their distracting nature. Most students have been upset about this abrupt change, but this transition might be good in the long run. Overall, nee-dohs have had a big impact in the school environment, even when causing a lot of controversy.