Sensory toys and other fidgets have been popular for years. Stress balls, specifically the line Nee Doh, have grown significantly in popularity. Nee Doh is a viral line of sensory toys made by the company Schylling. Some of their products, such as the Nice Cube, Nice Berg, Dream Drop, and Gumdrop, have become must-haves for fidget connoisseurs, but why? What makes fidgets popular in general, and why do we keep coming back to them? 

Stress Ball Appeal

Starting with the appeal of any stress ball-type fidget, these toys come in a wide variety of stiffness, stretchiness, and stickiness. These kinds of toys are known for helping with stress/anxiety, improving focus, and satisfying sensory needs. These toys work by engaging your body. Repetitive motion can help calm your nervous system and give you something to focus on when you feel overwhelmed or anxious. Some people who struggle with focus can benefit from doing something mindless, such as squeezing a stress ball while listening or thinking to prevent restlessness. Stress balls can also help with releasing frustration. In some cases, if a person feels a need for release, sometimes squeezing a stress ball can safely reduce urges to hit or throw. 

Nee Doh Specifics 

One of the most popular stress ball lines taking over the sensory toy world is Nee Doh. Nee Doh stress balls are bright & colorful fidgets that meet a wide range of sensory needs. These toys range from stiff gel cubes, to moldable dough cats, to watery, glitter-filled gems. Because of their viral nature, these fidgets can be difficult to obtain and can even get pricey based on rarity. The most popular Nee Doh product is the Nice Cube, which is a stiff, gel-filled fidget meant to resemble an ice cube with its clear blue outer layer. The Nice Cube regains its shape after molding and comes in a bigger version, which is called the Nice Berg. One of the main reasons why this sensory toy line has become so popular is because of the wide variety of fun and dependable “stress balls”. Some other examples of toys in the Nee Doh line are 

• The Fuzz Ball, a typical stress ball, except the outside is covered in a soft velvet-like fuzz. 

• The Gumdrop, a thick, gumdrop-shaped stressball with a textured outer layer made to mimic the classic gumdrop candy. 

• The Dream Drop, a glittery, teardrop-shaped stressball with a “splat” shape base for display and extra interactive fidgeting. 

• The Snowball Crunch, a noisy and powdery stress ball made to mimic snow inside a slightly fuzzy outer layer.

• The Chicka Deedos, this one is my personal favorite. It’s a colorful chick-shaped, dough-filled squishy with a separate harder shell for the chick to sit in. 

Making Your Own Stress Ball

If a person wants a stress ball without paying the Nee Doh price, there are others out there, but making your own can also be fun. Homemade stress balls can be complex, or as simple as balloons with flour inside. There are endless possibilities for what you can fill homemade stress balls with. Some other filler options are rice, clay, hair gel, glue, sand, beans, or slime. Some non-balloon options for the outside are latex gloves, Ziploc bags, or premade stress ball “skins” that you can purchase and seal yourself.

The Right Stress Ball For You

If you don’t already have one, you probably decided from the last few paragraphs that you need a stress ball. Deciding between making or buying one really depends on a few simple things. If you’re on a budget, crafty, or just prefer to be cautious of your buying/consumption habits, then using household objects to make your stress ball at home is the way to go. If you’re infatuated with the Nee Doh trend or are compelled by any of the specific Nee Doh products, then buying one might be the way to go. Overall, homemade stress balls are less expensive and more customizable, but can be less durable. On the other hand, Nee Dohs are more expensive but are trendy, extremely satisfying, and tend to be more durable. Regardless, stress balls and other fidgets are fun and can really help with anxiety, focus, sensory needs, and more. Happy fidgeting! 

Edited and Reviewed by Zoe Carter