The NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar looked like such a fun way to count down to the holidays. It’s bright, colourful, festive, and filled with little surprises that make opening each day’s compartment exciting. I especially liked the idea of getting different colours, textures, and retro-inspired designs instead of the same squishy repeated over and over. Unfortunately, while the calendar is undeniably cute, some of the toys didn’t quite deliver the satisfying squish I was hoping for. I enjoyed the experience overall, but I have a few reservations, particularly about the tiny size and the feel of some of the toys.
Key Takeaways
- Bright, colourful, festive packaging makes the calendar fun to open.
- Each day brings a different surprise, with varied colours, textures, and designs.
- The retro-themed toys are a particular highlight.
- Many pieces are only a little over an inch tall, so the squish isn’t as satisfying as with full-size NeeDoh toys.
- Some items feel more like firm silicone toys than the soft, stretchy squishies I expected.
- It’s a fun, screen-free holiday activity, especially for NeeDoh fans.
- I wouldn’t pay inflated reseller prices for it.
What Is the NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar?
The NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar is a holiday-themed advent calendar featuring small NeeDoh-style sensory toys hidden behind individual doors. Instead of opening a traditional chocolate calendar, you get a little toy surprise each day as you count down to Christmas.
The appeal is the variety. The calendar features different colours, shapes, textures, and designs, including retro-inspired pieces that give it a playful, nostalgic feel. NeeDoh is known for its squishy sensory toys, which are popular because of their soft, squeezable textures. For people who enjoy fidget toys, the idea of getting a different one each day is particularly appealing.
However, the advent calendar format also means the pieces are much smaller than many regular NeeDoh toys. That distinction matters because size and texture play a big part in how satisfying a squishy feels.
Why I Wanted the NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar
What attracted me to this calendar was the combination of the holiday theme and the daily surprises. I love the idea of having something fun to open each day during the Christmas countdown. It’s a simple activity, but there’s something enjoyable about not knowing exactly what you’re going to get next.
I was also interested in the variety. I didn’t want a calendar filled with essentially identical toys in slightly different colours. I wanted different shapes, interesting textures, and those soft, stretchy squishies NeeDoh is known for.
The retro-themed designs were another selling point for me. They add a little nostalgia and make the calendar feel more interesting than a collection of ordinary fidget toys.
My expectations were pretty straightforward: a cute festive calendar, fun surprises, and lots of satisfying squishies. The calendar delivered on some of those things better than others.
My Experience With the NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar
The Calendar Is Bright, Colourful, and Festive
One of my favourite things about this calendar is its overall presentation. It’s bright, colourful, and immediately feels festive. It has that playful look that makes you want to open it and see what’s inside. As an advent calendar, the presentation is important because part of the fun is the anticipation of discovering a new surprise each day.
I also like that the toys aren’t all exactly the same. Getting different colours, shapes, and textures makes the experience more interesting, and there’s a little excitement in discovering what each compartment contains. That variety is one of the reasons I think the calendar works well as a holiday treat. Even when an individual toy isn’t particularly impressive, the experience of opening something new is still enjoyable.
I Love the Retro-Themed Surprises
The retro-themed items were a highlight for me. They add a nostalgic touch that makes the calendar feel more playful and distinctive. I appreciate it when a product has a theme that carries through into the actual items rather than relying entirely on festive packaging.
These pieces helped make the calendar feel like more than just a random assortment of tiny toys. There was a sense of variety and personality, and I enjoyed discovering the different designs.
For anyone who likes retro-inspired toys or appreciates a little nostalgia in their collectibles, this is one of the more appealing aspects of the calendar.
The Biggest Disappointment Is the Size
My main complaint is that the pieces are tiny. They’re only a little over an inch tall, which is considerably smaller than the full-size NeeDoh balls many people are familiar with. I understand that an advent calendar needs to contain small surprises, and I wasn’t expecting every compartment to hold a giant toy.
Still, size makes a difference when you’re buying something specifically for its sensory experience. A larger squishy gives you more material to squeeze, stretch, and manipulate. These little pieces don’t offer quite the same deep, satisfying squish. Some are fun to handle, but others feel too small to deliver the experience I associate with NeeDoh.
This is particularly noticeable if you’re already familiar with the brand’s regular squishy toys. If you’re expecting that same substantial, soft, stretchy feeling in every compartment, the calendar may not meet your expectations. I think the small size is understandable for the format, but it’s still something I’d want to know before buying.
Not Every Toy Has That Classic NeeDoh Squish
The size wouldn’t bother me quite as much if every toy had the texture I was hoping for. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I was expecting more of those soft, stretchy, super-satisfying squishies that NeeDoh is known for. Instead, quite a few of the toys were just okay. Some felt more like firm silicone toys than traditional squishies, and squeezing them simply wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped.
That difference matters because the texture is a huge part of the appeal. When I reach for a squishy, I want something that feels good to squeeze and gives me that satisfying resistance and softness. A toy that feels comparatively firm doesn’t provide quite the same experience.
I wouldn’t say every item was disappointing. There was enough variety to keep things interesting, and some of the designs were genuinely cute. But the overall collection felt inconsistent in terms of how satisfying the toys were to handle.
I found myself wishing there had been more of the classic soft, stretchy textures and fewer pieces that felt like firmer silicone toys.
The Daily Surprise Is Still Fun
Despite my complaints about some of the toys, I still enjoyed the concept of opening a new surprise each day. That’s what makes this calendar a little complicated to judge. The individual toys don’t all impress me equally, but the experience itself is fun. There’s something satisfying about the daily countdown, especially when the calendar contains different designs rather than repeating the same item.
It’s also a screen-free activity, which I think is a nice bonus. Whether you’re buying it for yourself or for a child who enjoys sensory toys, it offers a simple way to add some excitement to the holiday season without another app, game, or screen-based activity.
I can see the appeal for families who enjoy Christmas countdown traditions, as well as collectors who like discovering unusual little toys. Just keep in mind that part of what you’re paying for is the advent calendar experience, not necessarily a collection of full-size NeeDoh toys.
Be Careful About Paying Reseller Prices
Another thing I’d strongly recommend is avoiding ridiculous scalper prices. The calendar is cute, and I understand why people might want one if they enjoy NeeDoh toys. However, the small size and inconsistent textures make it difficult for me to justify paying a huge markup.
At an inflated price, I would expect the actual toys to feel more consistently satisfying, not to open compartments and discover that several pieces are merely okay. If you can get the calendar at a reasonable retail price, I think the festive experience and variety can make it worthwhile. But when the price climbs far beyond what the product originally costs, the value becomes much harder to defend.
It’s a fun novelty, not something I’d pay almost any amount to get my hands on.
What I Loved
- The festive presentation: Bright, colourful, and fun for the holiday countdown.
- The variety: Different colours, textures, shapes, and designs make opening each compartment interesting.
- The retro-themed toys: These add a fun, nostalgic element.
- The daily surprises: There’s genuine enjoyment in discovering what’s behind each door.
- The screen-free experience: A simple activity that can make the holiday countdown more engaging.
- The overall concept: Combining NeeDoh-style toys with an advent calendar is a fun idea.
What I Didn’t Love
- The tiny size: Most pieces are only a little over an inch tall.
- The inconsistent textures: Some toys feel firmer and less satisfying than traditional NeeDoh squishies.
- The lack of deep squish: The small pieces don’t offer the same experience as full-size toys.
- Too many average surprises: Quite a few items were just okay rather than genuinely exciting.
- Inflated reseller prices: I wouldn’t pay a huge markup for a calendar with such small toys.
Is the NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar Worth It?
I think it depends on what you’re buying it for. If you’re looking for a cute, colourful advent calendar with daily surprises, different designs, and a festive theme, I can see the appeal. The retro-inspired pieces are fun, and the variety makes opening each compartment enjoyable.
However, if you’re buying it primarily because you love the soft, stretchy, deeply satisfying squish of full-size NeeDoh toys, I would manage your expectations. The pieces are tiny, and some don’t have the texture I was hoping for.
For me, the calendar is more successful as a fun holiday novelty than as a collection of consistently satisfying squishies. I’d consider it at a reasonable price, especially for someone who enjoys the surprise element. But I wouldn’t pay inflated reseller prices, and I wouldn’t recommend buying it solely for the sensory experience without understanding how small the toys are.
Who I Think Will Love It
I think this calendar will appeal most to people who:
- Already enjoy NeeDoh and other sensory toys.
- Love advent calendars and daily surprises.
- Appreciate colourful, festive designs.
- Enjoy retro-inspired toys and nostalgic details.
- Want a screen-free activity for the holiday season.
- Enjoy collecting small novelty toys.
Who Should Skip It
I’d be more hesitant to recommend it if you:
- Want large, deeply satisfying squishies.
- Prefer soft, stretchy textures over firmer silicone toys.
- Expect every item to feel like a full-size NeeDoh ball.
- Are buying it primarily for the sensory quality rather than the advent calendar experience.
- Would have to pay a significant reseller markup to get one.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re interested in the NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar but want to compare other options, consider:
- Full-size NeeDoh Nice Cube
- NeeDoh Classic Ball
- NeeDoh Gumdrop
Conclusion
The NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar is a cute, colourful, festive product, and I enjoyed the excitement of opening different surprises. The variety of colours, textures, and designs keeps things interesting, and I particularly like the retro-themed items.
However, I was hoping for more of the soft, stretchy, satisfying squishies that NeeDoh is known for. The pieces are only a little over an inch tall, so they don’t have the same deep squish as full-size toys. Some are fun to handle, but others feel more like firm silicone toys than the squishies I wanted.
I still think it’s a fun way to count down to the holidays, particularly if you enjoy the theme and the surprise of opening something every day. Just don’t expect every toy to be equally satisfying, and definitely don’t pay ridiculous scalper prices.
Would I Buy It Again?
Probably not at an inflated price. It’s cute, but the small size and inconsistent textures mean I would rather put that money toward a few full-size squishies I know I’ll enjoy.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, with reservations. I’d recommend it to someone who loves advent calendars, novelty toys, and the excitement of daily surprises. If you’re mainly buying it for the squishies, though, you might end up a little disappointed, just like I was.
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