Photo by Dennise Arriaza
Written by Dennise Arriaza
There seems to be a craze for fidgets! There are many different fidgets that people have been obsessed with in the last decade. A fidget can be defined as, ”something (such as a toy) that is designed to be held and manipulated (as to decrease stress and anxiety).” For example, slime was at its peak popularity in 2016, with there being many slime challenges, and recipes. During that time we also saw a rise in squishies, with there being different varieties like paper squishies, slow rising and water squishies.
Recently there has been an online trend of squishies, particularly Needohs. Per their company website Needoh describes their toys to, “be perfect for all ages offering a tactile experience that stimulates the senses making them ideal for focus, calming or just plain fun!” These stress toys are not just being used by children but also by young adults. Many people on campus can be seen carrying or owning some type of fidget. The Ice cubes seem to be very popular among people since they are small and easy to carry.
Dani Ramirez, third year psychology major, on her thoughts on fidgets. Ramirez expressed how, “They are super satisfying to squish and I like how there are different squish types to NeeDohs, the Jelly Hops are more on the medium side but some are more tough or softer”. When asked how she uses fidgets Ramirez answered, “I like fidgets because they give my hands something to do when I am feeling anxious or stressed, or when I just want something to fidget with that does not require too much of my attention”.There are other students whom also use different types of fidgets on a daily basis.
Student Steven Mynott, Senior, English major shares his thoughts on fidgets, “I like to play with my Tech Deck stateboard when I’m at my desk. For me it’s just a way to destress and take a quick little break. I think it helps me to break up the day and mentally reset so I can clear my mind and move on to the next task that I have to work on,” said Mynott.
Fidgets are more than toys but can be tools used by anyone. With the increasing popularity of the variety of all these fidgets, consider if you want one and which one is best for you. After all they are used for play or stress relieving purposes the possibilities are endless.
