Oyyn baggy jeans and a Jansport backpack are among the things gen Alpha wants for this back-to-school season. Photograph: Courtesy of: Amazon; Urban Outfitters; Tower 28; Nordstrom; Walmart; Adidas; Etsy; Getty Images View image in fullscreen Oyyn baggy jeans and a Jansport backpack are among the things gen Alpha wants for this back-to-school season. Photograph: Courtesy of: Amazon; Urban Outfitters; Tower 28; Nordstrom; Walmart; Adidas; Etsy; Getty Images The Filter US Back to school Squishies and ‘a fuzzy book’: 21 things tweens want for back-to-school season, according to tweens We asked tweens what is on their school wish list this year – including squishy toys, roller skate shoes and water bottles
Back-to-school sales are unusually early this year. We found the 15 best deals for students and parents
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Lauren Gould Fri 31 Jul 2026 21.15 CEST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .
This fall, gen Alpha heads back to school.
The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more .
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.
Warheads Candy from $8.95 $8.95 at Walmart $8.99 at Amazon View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy of Amazon $8.95 at Walmart $8.99 at Amazon 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
Warheads Candy from $8.95 $8.95 at Walmart $8.99 at Amazon New pencils Etsy Personalized Pencils $15.98 $15.98 at Etsy View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy of Etsy Now $15.98, originally $19.98 at Etsy 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
Etsy Personalized Pencils $15.98 $15.98 at Etsy Steph Curry basketball-style shoes Under Armour Kids’ Curry 13 ‘ Mane’ Basketball Shoes $71.97 $71.97 at Dick’s Sporting Goods View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods Now $71.97, originally $99.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods 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. Co pper, 9
Under Armour Kids’ Curry 13 ‘ Mane’ Basketball Shoes $71.97 $71.97 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Cinnamoroll sweater H&M Pile Sweatshirt with Motif $29.99 $29.99 at H&M View image in fullscreen Photograph: Courtesy of H&M $29.99 at H&M I definitely want to wear the Sanrio Cinnamoroll sweater. I don’t know if i…