With the increasing popularity of fidget toys, Needohs have been frequently seen throughout the school, sparking a conversation amongst teachers and students about whether they are class appropriate or a distraction for students.
Accommodation specialist Samantha Watson has noticed the rise in popularity of Needohs, even though she is not a fidgeter herself.
“If I have something in my hands or around me, I am focused on that thing and not what’s going on around me,” Watson said. “However, I know that there are a lot of people who have something to fixate on that actually increases their ability to focus on whatever else is going on.”
Watson has also seen students distracting each other with Needohs, which has the potential to become a classroom issue.
“I think if anything becomes a distraction for other students or for the teacher themselves, then at that point that students’ need for that fidget toy is overridden by the fact that it’s becoming an issue in the classroom,” Watson said.
According to Watson, as long as students remain respectful and follow the rules of having fidgets, there should be no conflict in the classroom.
From a student perspective freshmen Lilly Coyle and Blakely Ronck both enjoy having Needohs in class and think they should be allowed.
“I just like to play with them, and it keeps me from distracting myself more,” Ronck said. “I think if you have more than one Needoh, then maybe you can stop there.”
Coyle and Ronck both share the belief that Needohs have the potential to become a disruption, but it should not override the ability to fidget during class.
“Unless you’re throwing it across the room or anything, I feel like one is fine to just squish in class,” Coyle said.
English teacher Rebecca Savuto has a bin of different kinds of stress balls and fidgets in her classroom.
“I think that for students who need it or adults who need more regulation, especially those with ADHD, having something quiet and something that’s not distracting, that can help keep their hands occupied,” Savuto said. “I think [it] reinforces positive behaviors when learning.”
Savuto believes stress balls are beneficial to students when used the right way in a classroom environment. She suggests that students should use fidgets that are small, quiet, and not share them in the middle of class.
“I mean, certainly there was, like the clicky one that I have that would not be the best choice for a classroom environment because it’s loud and it would be distracting, and then fidget toys can become distracting when people try to share them in the middle of class,” Savuto said.
English teacher Kathy Judge has had fidget toys cause disruptions in her classroom.
“People will throw it across the room, or you’ll see the hand reach out to grab for someone to hand those over,” Judge said.
Although Judge has mainly noticed freshman with Needohs, her seniors have been more discrete with their fidgeting.
“Seniors know about them, but it’s very rare that I noticed them fidgeting with them in class,” Judge said. “So they’ve got them, but I haven’t been distracted. I’ve been happy.”
Judge admits there are exceptions for having a Needoh in class, such as high level of anxiety or hyper activity.
“Those are a genuine way that they can remain focused and grounded,” Judge said. “Even though it is just a trend right now.”
