A popular toy that has become a favorite among studentsisnolongerwelcome at Kingston Middle School. School representatives announced a ban on “squishies,” citing repeated incidents in which the toys have broken open and createdmessesinclassrooms, restrooms, hallways and other areas of the school.
According to school representatives, the toys will be confiscated if they are found on school property. The policy currently applies to Kingston Middle School, while the remainder of the Kingston school district has not enacted a districtwide ban.
The decision comes as squishy and sensory toys continue to grow in popularity among children and teenagers. “It's just anothernightAndI'mstaring at the moon. I saw a shooting star” For some students, the colorful, soft toys are simply a way to relieve stress, occupy their hands or provide a sensoryoutletduringtheday. For school officials, however, the repeated messes have become a different kind of distraction.
The term “squishy” covers a wide range of toys designed to be squeezed, stretched or manipulated. They can resemble animals, food, balls, cartoon characters and other objects.
Some squishies are made from soft foam and contain no liquid or gel. Others have an outer rubber, silicone or thermoplastic shell surrounding a soft filling.
One popular variety, NeeDoh,usesa thermoplasticrubber exterior and can contain materials including polyvinyl alcohol, commonly known as PVA, and maltose. Other squishy products may contain water, glycerin, oils, polymers, foam, beads, clay, flour or other materials, depending on the manufacturer and product.
That means there is no single substance found inside every toy sold as a “squishy.” The problem begins when the outer material tears or punctures.
Once the exterior breaks, the filling can spread onto floors, desks, clothing and other surfaces. School officials said some Kingston incidents have involved the toys breaking in restrooms and even being placed in sinks and toilets.
The result can be a difficult and time-consuming cleanup, particularly when the material spreads into carpet, grout, plumbing or other areas that are not designed to handle it.
Kingston isn't the only school dealing with the problem Schools in other states have also restricted or banned squishy toys after experiencing problems with them breaking or becoming classroom distractions.
R.A. Brown Middle School in Hillsboro, Oregon, announcedabanonNeeDohs, squishies and similar stressrelief toys after officials reported an increase in toys rupturing at school. Officials cited concerns about the contents damaging carpets, personal belongings and school property.
Other schools have chosen different approaches, including allowing the toys only with teacher permission or restricting them when they become a classroom distraction.
Theredoesnotappeartobe astatewideOklahomabanon squishy toys. Instead, policies appear to be determined locally by individual schools and districts.
The contents of squishy toys can also raise safety concerns, particularly when thetoysaredamagedorwhen the product is counterfeit. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned consumers about counterfeit squishy toys and potential hazards involving small parts, lead, phthalates and water beads.
The agency has also warned about social-media trendsinvolvingmicrowaving squishytoys,whichcanresult in serious burns. Poison Control advises consumers to inspect squishy toys for holes, tears and leaks.
While many legitimate products contain materials considered to have relatively lowtoxicityinsmallaccidental exposures, the contents of counterfeit or poorly manufactured products may be difficult to determine. Parents are encouraged to check the packaging and manufacturer's instructions and to discard toys that become damaged or begin leaking.
For Kingston Middle School officials, the issue is more straightforward. The toys may be designed to help students squeeze away stress, but once they rupture, that stress can quickly become someone else's cleanup job. For now, the policy at Kingston Middle School is clear: squishies stay at home. If one makes its way onto school property, school representatives have stated it will be confiscated.