This fall, gen Alpha heads back to school.
As the adults in their lives, you can’t stop them from calling you “unc” or prepare them for AI’s infiltration of their classrooms. Yet you can equip them with the right back-to-school essentials – whether a new pencil case or the toy of the moment.
We interviewed six kids aged nine through 12 (many of them the children of Guardian staff!), asking them what made their back-to-school wish list or what they’ve already grabbed for the year. And we tapped the opinion of a few spunky eight-year-olds – because they’ll be tweens soon enough.
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Sour and spicy snacks
Warheads Candy none-selected
I want some popular food because I know they have snack rooms. It would be a fun treat to have, like sour Warheads, Pringles and Takis. Leo, 11
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New pencils
Etsy Personalized Pencils none-selected
Something I’m looking forward to buying are new pencils. I’m just excited to see what I have to get for the new school year. I was accepted to go to this middle school that starts in 5th-grade. (Note: We’ve linked to personalized pencils for a less common gift, but you can also get your tween classic No 2s.) Axel, 10
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Steph Curry basketball-style shoes
Under Armour Kids’ Curry 13 ‘ Mane’ Basketball Shoes none-selected
I want new shoes because mine are getting pretty banged up. The shoes that I need to get replaced are some Steph Curry basketball shoes. They had foam at the bottom that put back energy into you so that you can run faster. Copper, 9
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Cinnamoroll sweater
H&M Pile Sweatshirt with Motif none-selected
I definitely want to wear the Sanrio Cinnamoroll sweater. I don’t know if it’s possible to get it. Lily W, 9
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NeeDoh squishy toy
NeeDoh Nice Cube Squish Toy none-selected
I really like my round NeeDoh. My friends have the square one; I have the round one. Lily D, 8
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... or if that’s sold out, a regular squishy
Rapean Store Butter Squishy Fidget Toys none-selected
I collect squishies. The big ones or the NeeDohs. I don’t care as long as it’s a squishy. Dion, 9
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Minecraft Jelly Cube Squishy
Minecraft Jelly Cube Collectible none-selected
I have too many squishys to share. I have an ice cube. I have fake gumdrops. I want the Minecraft jelly cube or glitter dumpling. Leo, 11
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Matching school supplies set
Four Candies Pink School Supplies Kit none-selected
Something I kind of want this year that I didn’t have last year is matching and clean school supplies because a lot of schools, especially my school, get mad if you don’t bring pencils. This isn’t particularly me, but a lot of people want matching stuff, like backpacks and pencil cases and even outfits because a lot of things are just about aesthetics and stuff. I don’t know. I’m not really that into that sort of thing. I just want to be kind of prepared for school. Eva, 11
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Mechanical pencils
Bic Mechanical Pencils none-selected
Some stuff to write with in case they don’t have sharpened pencils or the teachers are not prepared in general. Not to outsmart them but to say, “I’m more self-aware.” I like mechanical pencils because they’re more advanced than regular pencils. Leo, 11
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Roller skate shoes
Roller Skate Shoes Anefun none-selected
I want those. You get to run and then you just glide. Lily W, 9
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Soccer jerseys
Adidas Spain 26 Home Kids Winner Jersey none-selected
I have many jerseys. The jersey I’m wearing right now is Erling Haaland. Axel, 10
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The novel Fantasy League by Mike Lupica
Fantasy League by Mike Lupica none-selected
It’s called Fantasy League. I just started reading it. Dion, 9
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Oyyn baggy jeans
Oyyn Baggy Jeans none-selected
The most popular thing I wear is jeans. Lily W, 9
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‘Plain’ clothing
Abercrombie Essential Popover Hoodie none-selected
I think a lot of plain things are kind of coming more back in style, like people are wearing plainer shorts or, I mean, shirts and plainer outfits overall. Eva, 11
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Fuzzy-covered notebook
Diary with Lock none-selected
I want a fuzzy book. I want the alpaca one. I want that book for classes. Lily D, 8
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Hello Kitty stickers
Hello Kitty Stickers none-selected
A clipboard with my favorite stickers on it. My favorite are Cinnamoroll stickers. Not cinnamon roll like the thing you eat, Cinnamoroll from Hello Kitty. Lily W, 9
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Jansport backpack
Jansport SuperBreak Plus Backpack none-selected
I’m bringing my dad’s high school Jansport backpack. So many pockets. Lily D, 8
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Lip gloss
Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Oil Jelly none-selected
I’ll be wearing lip gloss. Whatever is in my house. Dion, 9
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Cute keychains
Plush Keychain none-selected
A bunch of keychains. I gave my friend one of my keychains I got from the movies. They can be stuffie keychains, backpack keychains, book keychains. I probably have 20. Lily D, 8
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Five Nights at Freddy’s lunch box
Five Nights At Freddy’s Celebrate Lunch Box insulated Video Game Lunch Bag Tote 12in none-selected
I like the game. I like Freddy Fazbear. Copper, 9
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… and a Five Nights at Freddy’s water bottle
Five Nights at Freddy’s water bottle none-selected
I want a new water bottle. Copper, 9
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
Explore the Filter
