Tweens Put $8 Snacks and $23 Squishies on Back-to-School Wish Lists
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
Tweens Put $8 Snacks and $23 Squishies on Back-to-School Wish Lists
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
Summary
Six children aged 9 to 12 told the Guardian their back-to-school must-haves range from sour snacks and mechanical pencils to fuzzy notebooks, keychains and character-themed gear.
Squishies stood out as the clearest craze: kids named NeeDoh toys, Minecraft jelly cubes and other sensory items, with one saying any squishy would do.
Practical basics still featured heavily, including new pencils, matching supply sets, backpacks, lunch boxes and water bottles—often framed as a way to stay prepared for stricter school expectations.
Style and identity shaped many picks, from Steph Curry shoes and roller-skate sneakers to Sanrio sweaters, soccer jerseys, baggy jeans and lip gloss.
The wish lists sketch a Gen Alpha back-to-school mix of utility, aesthetics and collectible comfort items, with prices in the report running from about $4 to $80.