The Squishy Toy Craze On Arizona’s Family On Your Side
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Toy Insider Senior Editor and Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn appeared on Arizona’s Family’s On Your Side to discuss the 2026 squishy toy craze. The accompanying product notes list four featured items, including light-up fidget toys, a Minecraft-themed slime kit, plush crackers and a NeeDoh advent calendar.

Toy Insider Senior Editor James Zahn appeared on Arizona’s Family’s On Your Side to discuss the squishy toy craze, according to a Toy Insider report. The accompanying notes identify four products from the segment, spanning light-up fidget toys, a slime kit, plush toys and a holiday countdown calendar; the report does not provide sales figures or independent evidence measuring the trend’s scale.

The Toy Insider report says Zahn, who is also editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, joined the Arizona’s Family program to talk about squishy toys in 2026. It describes the craze as taking the year “by storm,” a characterization from the publication rather than a quantified market finding. The source does not give a broadcast date, a transcript, or further detail about what Zahn said on air.

The product notes list SQZY Gel Gems in pyramid, decahedron and cube shapes. They are described as geometric fidget toys that can be squeezed, stretched and squished, with built-in LED lights that flash during interaction. Another listed item is the Minecraft Mini Creeper Butter Block, a slime kit in a Creeper-shaped container. The notes describe it as containing lime-scented Butter Cloudz compound and bingsu beads, and list a $6.99 suggested retail price and an age recommendation of 4 and older.

The other products are Emotional Support Cheez-It, a basket-style plush set with five removable crackers, and Schylling’s 2026 NeeDoh Advent Calendar. The Cheez-It set is described as having four-inch plushies with embroidered expressions, a $16.99 suggested retail price and an age recommendation of 8 and older. The calendar is described as offering 24 days of sensory toys, including Teenie NeeDoh products and holiday editions; its listed suggested retail price is $29.99, with an age recommendation of 3 and older.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published in 2026; the source does not…
The developmentToy Insider editor James Zahn discussed squishy toys on Arizona’s Family’s On Your Side, with product notes identifying four items featured in the segment.

What the Featured Toys Offer

The segment’s product list shows how retailers and toy makers package tactile play in different formats: fidget toys with lights, scented and textured slime, character-themed products, plush collectibles and a seasonal calendar. For shoppers, the details offer a practical starting point for comparing the products, including the stated prices and age guidance. These are manufacturer or editorial product descriptions, not findings that the toys produce a particular therapeutic or developmental benefit.

The story also connects a local television consumer segment with a national toy publication’s editorial coverage. That can help families learn about products being marketed around sensory play, but the source provides no information on local availability, current selling prices or whether the products are in stock. Its affiliate disclosure says The Toy Insider may earn revenue from purchases made through links on its page, a relevant consideration for readers evaluating its product recommendations.

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Inside the On Your Side Segment

The source is a Toy Insider article about Zahn’s appearance, rather than a full transcript or independently reported account of the broadcast. Its main supporting details are product descriptions and retail information. The report identifies the segment as part of Arizona’s Family’s On Your Side programming but does not describe any consumer complaint, product test or investigation tied to the appearance.

The product notes include manufacturer names for several items: WECOOL TOYS for the Minecraft slime kit, Relatable for the Cheez-It plush set and Schylling for the NeeDoh calendar. The Toy Insider discloses that it participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue when readers buy through links. That disclosure applies to the purchasing links on its page; it does not establish that the broadcast itself was sponsored.

““Toy Insider Senior Editor/Toy Book Editor-in-Chief James Zahn joined Arizona’s Family On Your Side to talk about this year’s massive squishy toy craze.””

— The Toy Insider

What the Source Does Not Establish

The report does not state when the segment aired, provide video or a transcript, or quote Zahn directly. It is therefore unclear which products were shown or discussed on air, beyond the items listed in the accompanying notes, and whether the segment included additional commentary.

The source also offers no sales data, survey results or market research supporting its description of a 2026 craze. Product prices and age recommendations are listed as editorial product facts, but the article does not establish whether prices have changed, whether each item is currently available, or whether the claims about product contents have been independently checked. No therapeutic benefits are established by the material provided.

How Readers Can Check Product Details

The Toy Insider page directs readers to product links for more information, while its affiliate disclosure explains that purchases through those links may generate revenue for the site. Shoppers can check current prices, stock and age guidance with retailers and manufacturers, since the listed suggested retail prices do not confirm what a buyer will pay today.

No follow-up broadcast, additional reporting or future milestone is announced in the source. More detail about the segment would require the broadcast date, a recording or a transcript from Arizona’s Family.

Key Questions

What was the Arizona’s Family segment about?

Toy Insider editor James Zahn joined On Your Side to discuss squishy toys, according to The Toy Insider. The source does not include a transcript or a full account of the broadcast.

Which products were listed with the segment?

The product notes list SQZY Gel Gems, a Minecraft Mini Creeper Butter Block slime kit, the Emotional Support Cheez-It plush set and Schylling’s 2026 NeeDoh Advent Calendar.

Does the report prove squishy toys are a major market trend?

No. The Toy Insider calls the craze “massive,” but provides no sales figures or market research to measure its scale.

Are the listed prices guaranteed to be current?

No. The article gives suggested retail prices for some products, but does not confirm current retailer prices or availability. Shoppers should check with sellers for up-to-date information.

Does The Toy Insider earn revenue from purchases?

The publication says it participates in affiliate programs that may generate revenue when readers buy through links on its page.

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