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Toy Insider reports that senior editor James Zahn appeared on Arizona’s Family On Your Side to discuss the squishy-toy craze in 2026. The accompanying product notes describe four items, including light-up fidget toys, a Minecraft-themed slime kit, plush crackers and a NeeDoh advent calendar; pricing and age guidance are listed for three.
Toy Insider senior editor James Zahn appeared on Arizona’s Family On Your Side to discuss what the toy publication describes as the 2026 squishy-toy craze, according to a report from The Toy Insider. The report’s product notes identify four featured items, giving shoppers examples of sensory toys and, for three products, listed prices and age ratings.
The products listed include SQZY Gel Gems, described as pyramid, dodecahedron and cube-shaped fidget toys with built-in LED lights that flash when handled. The Toy Insider says children can stretch, squeeze and squish them, but the supplied product notes do not provide a price, manufacturer or age rating for these items.
A Minecraft Mini Creeper Butter Block is presented as a slime kit in a Creeper-head container. Its product details list a $6.99 MSRP, an age rating of 4+ and WECOOL TOYS as the manufacturer. The notes describe 50 grams of lime-scented Butter Cloudz compound and included bingsu beads. The source also gives a conflicting ounce equivalent, so the gram figure is the clearer quantity.
The other listed items are Emotional Support Cheez-It, a $16.99 set of five removable, four-inch plush crackers rated for ages 8+ and made by Relatable; and the 2026 NeeDoh Advent Calendar, priced at $29.99 and rated for ages 3+, from Schylling. The calendar has 24 doors, according to the product notes. The Toy Insider discloses that it participates in affiliate programs that may earn revenue when readers buy through its links.
What Shoppers Can Learn From the List
The report gives families a concise look at different products being presented under the squishy and sensory-play trend, from a hands-on slime kit to soft plush toys and an advent calendar. The listed prices and age ratings can help shoppers compare options, but they are product details in The Toy Insider’s report, not an independent safety assessment or a recommendation for every child.
Age labels matter when choosing toys for children, and families should check the packaging and current manufacturer guidance before buying or using a product. The included affiliate disclosure is also relevant: The Toy Insider says it may receive revenue from purchases made through its links, a commercial relationship readers can weigh when considering product coverage.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Segment and Its Product Notes
The Toy Insider’s article is centered on Zahn’s appearance on Arizona’s Family On Your Side. It says he discussed the year’s squishy-toy craze, then provides descriptions and purchase links for products featured in the segment. The source does not give the broadcast date, a transcript, or a detailed account of what Zahn said on air.
The phrase “taking 2026 by storm” is The Toy Insider’s characterization of the trend, not a sales statistic or an independently documented measure of popularity. The supplied report includes no market data, survey results or comparison with prior years. Its focus is a selection of toys rather than a broader assessment of the toy market.
““Off Squishy toys are taking 2026 by storm!””
— The Toy Insider
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Details the Report Does Not Provide
The source does not state when the television segment aired, provide a full transcript, or identify the specific remarks Zahn made beyond the general topic. It also does not establish whether the products remain in stock, whether prices vary by retailer, or how widely the toys are selling. The broad description of a craze is not supported by figures in the supplied material.
Product information is incomplete for SQZY Gel Gems: there is no listed age rating, price or manufacturer. The Minecraft kit description gives a quantity of 50 grams alongside a parenthetical ounce figure that does not appear consistent, so shoppers should confirm the quantity on the product packaging or retailer listing. The report itself does not offer independent testing or safety findings.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Check Listings Before Buying
Readers seeking more information can consult the original segment and current manufacturer or retailer listings for product availability, specifications and age guidance. The Toy Insider’s article links to purchase options, but it does not announce a follow-up broadcast or provide a schedule for additional coverage.
Before purchasing a child’s toy, shoppers can check the package for the recommended age and small-parts warnings, confirm details with the manufacturer, and search the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database. The supplied report names no recalls or safety incidents involving the featured products; it also does not describe a recall check.
NeeDoh advent calendar sensory toy
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What was the Arizona’s Family segment about?
James Zahn, a Toy Insider senior editor, appeared on On Your Side to discuss squishy toys in 2026, according to The Toy Insider. The source does not include a full transcript or the broadcast date.
Which toys did the report list?
The product notes name SQZY Gel Gems, a Minecraft Mini Creeper Butter Block slime kit, Emotional Support Cheez-It plush toys and the 2026 NeeDoh Advent Calendar.
What prices and age ratings are listed?
The report lists the Minecraft kit at $6.99 for ages 4+, the Cheez-It plush set at $16.99 for ages 8+, and the NeeDoh calendar at $29.99 for ages 3+. It gives no price or age rating for SQZY Gel Gems.
Does the report establish that squishy toys are a major market trend?
No market figures are supplied. The phrase describing toys as taking 2026 “by storm” is The Toy Insider’s characterization; the article provides no sales data or comparison with previous years.
What should families check before buying?
Check the product’s current packaging and manufacturer information for age guidance and warnings, and search the CPSC recall database. The supplied report does not document an independent safety review or a recall check.
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