If you have a tween girl, you probably already know: squishies are a thing.
My 11-year-old is currently very into them, and apparently there is a big difference between a good squishy and one that does not make the cut.
So instead of pretending I know what I'm talking about, I brought in an expert.
We went through a LOT of squishies together, and she helped me narrow them down to the ones she would actually want herself, give to a friend or be excited to open at a birthday party.
Some are cute. Some are oddly satisfying. Some are completely ridiculous—which, according to my daughter, makes them even better.
Here is my 11-year-old's Squishy Edit.
1. Crunchy Mango Squishy 🥭
This one immediately made the list.
Unlike a traditional soft squishy, the Crunchy Mango Squishy has that extra sensory element that makes squeezing it incredibly satisfying.
And apparently the sound is part of the appeal, too.
HER TAKE: It's the texture.
MY TAKE: This feels a little more interesting than a basic stress ball and would make such a fun tween birthday gift.
2. Butter Stick Squishy 🧈
Yes. It's a stick of butter.
And that is apparently exactly why it's good.
I love the completely random humor of this one. It looks like a miniature stick of butter but is actually a squishy stress toy.
Sometimes the best tween gifts are the things that make absolutely no sense to adults.
HER TAKE: It's funny.
MY TAKE: This is exactly the kind of inexpensive little gift I'd add to a birthday bag or stocking.
3. Slushy Apple Squishy 🍏
This is another one that made the edit because of the texture.
The clear, slushy apple has a completely different feel from the traditional slow-rising foam squishies, which makes it especially satisfying to squeeze.
I also love the bright green apple shape.
HER TAKE: Very satisfying.
MY TAKE: A great choice for the kid who loves fidgets, sensory toys + anything squishy.
4. Giant Strawberry Squishy 🍓
We had several strawberries to choose from, but we only needed one really good strawberry in the edit.
Go big or go home.
The oversized size is what makes this one fun. It feels more substantial than a little stress ball and has that slow, satisfying squish tweens love.
HER TAKE: Bigger is better.
MY TAKE: This feels like an actual birthday present while still being an easy, affordable gift.
5. The Pig Squishy 🐷
We couldn't eliminate all the animals.
The pig survived the edit because it's just really cute.
It's simple, pink + incredibly squishy—and exactly the sort of thing I'd add to a tween gift basket alongside lip balm, candy or a gift card.
HER TAKE: Adorable.
MY TAKE: An easy little add-on gift that almost any tween girl would think was cute.
6. The Bear Squishy 🐻
Another animal that earned its spot.
The bear has that cute, slightly kawaii look that makes these little squishies feel almost collectible.
And let's be clear: at this age, cute matters.
HER TAKE: Cute + satisfying.
MY TAKE: Another good one to keep in the birthday-gift stash.
7. The Duck Squishy 🐥
The duck is just fun.
It's colorful, silly + different enough from the food squishies to earn a place in the edit.
This is also the kind of small gift that works for birthdays, sleepovers or stocking stuffers.
HER TAKE: The duck stays.
MY TAKE: Apparently that's all we need to know.
8. The Highland Cow Squishy 🤎
I may have influenced this selection because I think the Highland cow is ridiculously cute.
But my daughter approved it, so it officially makes the edit.
If you're looking for something a little more gift-y than a traditional stress ball, this is a fun option.
HER TAKE: Cute.
MY TAKE: I'd put this in a gift bag with a few tween beauty favorites and call it done.
Why Do Tweens Love Squishies So Much?
I actually asked my daughter this.
The answer is basically: because they're satisfying.
There's something about squeezing them, stretching them and feeling the different textures that's just fun. Some are slow-rising, some are slushy, some are crunchy—and then there's apparently the added benefit of collecting the cutest ones.
They also hit a really interesting age sweet spot.
Tweens are starting to move beyond traditional toys, but they're definitely not finished wanting fun things. Squishies feel more like fidgets, collectibles + little accessories than toys for younger kids.
And that's probably exactly why they work.
The Mom Hack: Keep Tween Gifts on Hand
This is the part I'm taking away from our Squishy Edit.
If you have an 11-year-old, you already know how this goes:
"Mom, I have a birthday party tomorrow."
Great.
I've started keeping a running list of inexpensive things tween girls actually want so I'm not reinventing the wheel every time another invitation arrives.
Squishies are perfect for that.
Keep a few on hand and pair one with a lip balm, candy, cute socks or a gift card. Put everything in a fun gift bag.
Birthday gift: done.
They're also great for:
Birthday gifts • Stocking stuffers • Sleepover surprises • Easter baskets • Tween gift baskets • Little rewards • Just-because gifts
My 11-Year-Old Gets the Final Say 💕
I've spent nearly 20 years buying and merchandising products, but I know when I'm out of my area of expertise.
For squishies, my 11-year-old is the buyer.
She helped me sort through the options, eliminate the ones that weren't worth it and pick the ones she'd actually want herself.
And I have a feeling this won't be her last Dear Lucy Edit.
SHOP MY 11-YEAR-OLD'S COMPLETE SQUISHY EDIT →
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As always, we only include the things that make our edit.
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