From fidget spinners, to pop-its, to the newest edition toy; Nee Dohs. These squishy, stress-relieving, sensory toys are taking East classrooms by storm.

This newly trending fidget is becoming more accessible in places like Target, Walmart and Learning Express. The fidget toy goes for about $5-15, depending on the size and color.

Freshman Dominique Salas keeps a Nee Doh in her school bag and is practically at a loss of words when explaining how much she loves her recently received gift.

“It’s just the texture of it is just beautiful, and when you hold it, it’s just like really nice,” Salas said. “I actually have four.”

Nee Dohs aren’t just used in school or while studying, East students have bought more than one so they are able to use them during various parts of their day.

Senior Jasmine Gallegos has two Nee Dohs, one that stays in her car as well as one that she keeps in the bag she takes to school. Jasmine Gallegos has even had a negative experience with one popping, despite this, she bought another one following the disaster.

“I use it all the time; at my house, at school, and while I’m driving, also while I’m parked,” Gallegos said.

Because Nee Doh’s are becoming so widespread, these sensory toys have the potential to become a distraction.  People are using them all the time and it is becoming more for “the trend” rather than real focus help.

Madhura Rede, a chemistry teacher at East, worries about the integrity of the sensory toy in a school setting.

“It helps some of the kids who really need the fidgets,” Rede said, “But, this has turned into a toy more.”

This fidget toy has risen in popularity immensely and taken over East. Because of the amount of students beginning to bring their trendy toy to school. Concerns about the Nee Dohs effect on classroom focus have started to arise. Will it end up being a helpful toy or another classroom distraction?

Written by seniors Ashley Gumm and Hayden Mulacek. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.