Trends come in and out every year. A few years ago everyone had to have a Stanley water bottle. The old is out, and the new is in. The newest trend can only be comparable to what fidget spinners were like when we were in elementary school. Everyone had to have one. You kept a few at school with even more at home. You were the popular one for the day if you came in with a new style of fidget spinner. I remember owning a few as a kid. I thought it was so cool that I had one that glowed in the dark. The best birthday thank you present was this mini fidget spinner that is the size of a quarter.
Now it’s the Needoh. It is like a Lorax Thneed. It comes in all colors, a thousand sizes, different textures, and can be used for all your needs. It’s the perfect squeeze toy, with just the right amount of hardness to it. Because Needoh has taken over with little to no competition, we decided to interview teachers and students on what their take was on this infectious stress reliever. The results were surprising.
To start off with, we asked our very own assistant principal and dean, Ms. Bellus, what she thought. She had no idea that it was named a Needoh, but says, “I love them. I wish I had one. A lot of people need them. They don’t make noise.” She did have to note that she’s not in the classrooms and maybe doesn’t see all the issues that come with the frenzy but she saysthat she might go buy one from Amazon for herself.
“If they’re being used as they’re supposed to be used then I’m in favor. Teenagers do crazy stuff.”
Both Doctor Bischoff and Mr. Steineman seconded her response, saying that they are very fun and help those who need them to keep their hands busy or help focus. Mr. Steineman did make sure to point out that, “They are not good for sophomores who throw them at each other or up on the ceiling,” and that, “banning depends on the choices the children make.”
Colonel Scrocca says that he’s seen the various varieties of Needoh in his classrooms and they are minor distractions at most. He says that his own house is, “full of squishy things.”
Mrs. Hellickson has to agree with Colonel on that one. Mrs. Hellickson keeps her own small stash on her window ledge by her desk and a larger collection at home for her kids. The Hellickson family goes so far as to name the Needohs they own, giving names like Dew Drop, Gum Drop, and Sticks To The Ceiling. Her family loves it when the Needohs get nice and cold.
She says the best time is, “when delivered by Amazon,” because, “they are freezing and amazing.”
Although they are all fun and games, the teachers agree that it is their own responsibility to manage Needohs in their classroom. I have seen Needohs in my own class both on the ceiling and on the desk of their owners. Mrs. Keske takes it farther than any other teacher at CDH by a total banning of Needohs from her classroom. Her response when asked was that, “They’re disgusting. It’s also concerning the queening of rubber objects in my classroom. No need to further elaborate on that.” She says that the reason for the ban is that enough was enough and she was tired of seeing them tossed around. I tried inquiring if these were issues because she teaches underclassmen but she says, “It’s not because they’re younger. These are very mature kids.”
During our discussion we also talked about the cleanliness of passing around Needohs at school. She says that she’s seen hair and other foreign objects stuck to them. To end our talk she made sure to point out that she has, “a very small, hard, heart, especially for Needohs.”
Despite the hatred from Mrs. Keske, CDH students seem to love them. Seniors Claire and Emma Kennefick say that they, “really like them.” Emma likes them because, “They’re fun and satisfying. It’s like a stress ball but more fun.” While Claire says, “I think it’s funny because it was a really big thing a few years ago and now it’s back again. I really want one but can’t buy one anywhere.” The same issue of demand can be seen by other students too. Junior Izzy Carlson says, “They’re nice but I know the price will rise because there’s so much demand. Last year there was a wave of craziness and then everyone started getting them around Christmas.”
Maya Schulte ‘27 says something similar, going on to say that her younger brother is even stealing them from her to sell at school. Unfortunately he is not making a profit. Despite it all, Needohs will stay until the end of the school year. Pretty soon it will be like every other past childhood trend that now only gives nostalgia. We can enjoy them until there are too many bubbles and the price hits too high. I think we can all agree to say thank you for one more strange obsession that will become an icon of 2026.
