Really Cool Products Not on Your Kid’s School Supply List

These kid-approved products are almost too cool for school.

The start of school is just around the corner. While most busy parents have likely crossed all of the traditional school supplies like pencils and glue sticks off the back-to-school supply list, you might be missing a few super cool additions to your child’s school desk, backpack or locker.

We’ve uncovered some splurge-worthy items that are sure to come in handy.

Hand sanitizer holder

Photo Credit: Bath & Body Works
  • Cost: $4.95-$12.95

Bath & Body Works has a full range of adorable holders for small hand sanitizer bottles, ranging from dinosaurs and happy burritos to pink gummy bears and hard rhinestone cases. These easily hook onto any backpack.

Blue light blocking glasses

Photo Credit: Amazon
  • Cost: $9.99

Many assignments and classroom lessons which use technology create exposure to blue light, which can cause eye fatigue and headaches, leading to sleep disruption. Blue light blocking glasses are affordable, non-prescription glasses designed to reduce the effects on a child’s eyes.

Collapsible water bottle

Photo Credit: Target
  • Cost: $24.99

Kids can stay hydrated the sustainable way with this 20-oz water bottle that collapses down to a small sphere to fit perfectly inside an already crowded backpack or locker. We especially love the leak-proof cap.

Stasher bags

Photo Credit: Amazon
  • Cost: Starts at $9.99

Whether your student is hauling a snack to school, carrying cash for a book fair or simply wants to organize their supplies, Stasher Bags are a great reusable option for any of these scenarios.

Bento-style lunch boxes

Photo Credit: Target
  • Cost: $27.99

Designed for kids on the go, these bento-style lunch boxes have five compartments that are the perfect size for sandwiches or salads, and quick snacks like fruit or veggies. There’s also a small compartment for dipping sauces. Our favorite part? These are dishwasher safe!

Rocketbook smart reusable notebook

Photo Credit: Amazon
  • Cost: $19.97

We can’t get enough of the Rocketbook smart notebooks. Ideal for high schoolers who are technology obsessed, after writing in the notebook with the included Frixon pen, they can simply upload their handwritten notes to a cloud service using the free Rocketbook app. You don’t have to waste paper either! Once a notebook is full, it can be wiped clean by dampening the cloth that’s provided.

Desk Pet Erasers

Photo courtesy of Amazon

  • Cost: $9.98 for 34 erasers

We all make mistakes — might as well make cleaning them up look cute! Your student will love having one of these adorable “desk pets” watching them as they work and learn. When they need to erase, the animal-shaped eraser will be the perfect tool to clean up any mistakes. 

Erasable highlighters

  • Cost: $10.50

We all go a little highlighter crazy sometimes. Because it’s easy to make mistakes, we love these erasable highlighters, which feature one side for highlighting and the other for erasing. The set of six comes in every color of the rainbow.


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Chicago Parent Editorial Team
Chicago Parent Editorial Team
Since 1984, the Chicago Parent editorial team is trained to be the go-to source for Chicagoland families, offering a rich blend of expert advice, compelling stories, and the top local activities for kids. Renowned for their award-winning content, the team of editors and writers are dedicated to enriching family life by connecting parents with the finest resources and experiences our community has to offer.
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