What Texas Kids Really Want This Back-to-School Season

Pencils, notebooks and new backpacks! I love back-to-school time. While many students across Texas are probably dreading saying goodbye to summer vacation to head back to classrooms, I love when school supplies are out, I get to stock up on new pens and planners; however, this year, it doesn't look like these basic back-to-school supplies are on the top of student's lists!

If your kid hasn’t already asked for a Stanley, a Labubu, or a fresh pair of Adidas, give it a minute. Back-to-school shopping in 2025 isn’t just about notebooks or pencils anymore, it’s about brand-name water bottles, blind-box collectibles, and hype gear that’s already sold out in half the state. As the new semester approaches, parents are on the hunt for what’s trending, and this year’s list looks more like a TikTok haul than a school supply order form.

What Kids Actually Want for Back-to-School 2025

According to a recent CNBC report, this year’s back-to-school wishlist is stacked with a mix of hype, function, and a little chaos. And yes, Texas kids are just as dialed in.
Labubu dolls are leading the pack. These weird-cute creatures from Pop Mart are popping up on backpacks, TikTok, and resale sites faster than you can say “out of stock.” CNBC says they’re flying off shelves at $50–$70 a pop, with resale prices climbing even higher.

In Houston alone, some shops are selling hundreds a day.

READ MORE: Labubu Dolls Are the Hot New Toy Trend in Texas

Also making the list? The forever-hydrated Stanley tumbler, now officially a back-to-school flex item. CNBC’s data shows moms and teens alike are throwing these into the cart before actual school supplies. Bonus points if it matches the outfit.

And rounding out the top three: Adidas gear, which keeps holding strong with Texas kids who want to look fresh while following the dress code (sort of).

But this isn’t just about fashion or fandom. As CNBC points out, nearly 60% of parents let their kids help decide what to buy, meaning these trends are very much kid-driven.

So what have we learned? In 2025, back-to-school in Texas is less about spiral notebooks and more about snagging the last Labubu off the shelf before it ends up on eBay for triple the price!

Whether you're shopping in a packed Houston mall or bargaining with a reseller on an El Paso Facebook group, just know: you're not alone. The great Texas back-to-school scramble is real, it’s branded, and it comes in the form of grinning creature.