The Ultimate Shopping List of Cute School Supplies for the 2022 - 2023 School Year

Nothing takes the sting out of back to school for your kids than buying some aesthetic school supplies. By aesthetic, I mean those super cute school supplies that kids just go crazy for. 

Why Aesthetics Matter When It Comes to School Supplies

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Who cares if my kid’s folder is cute? All I care about is whether it holds paper and doesn’t gouge my pocket book. Okay, I get it, but hear me out. Aesthetics matter with school supplies and here’s why.

I remember becoming obsessed with my school supplies each year. Literally obsessed. Spending hours searching for and picking out adorable backpacks and notebooks that matched. Each notebook depicted the character engaged in some extra cute activity. In some ways, these characters became my friends, and when I was in kindergarten helped me feel less scared and lonely on my first day of school and also more calm. Whenever I started to have anxiety, I would pull out my notebooks, for example, and suddenly feel my mood lighten. I even imagined myself with the characters--in a happier place. In some sense, they provided a much-needed buffer from a scary new world and allowed my imagination to grow and develop.

Similarly, I had to have the cutest lunchbox, especially as I moved on through elementary school. Why? Because it was cool having the lunchbox everyone else wanted, and I loved getting constant compliments on it. Girls would come up and ask, “Where’d you find that?” And I’d grin and of course not tell them. Like this, my lunchbox automatically gave me a certain amount of prestige--dare I say clout in the lunchroom. You can still see the impact of those adorable school supplies on me now. While parents often worry about social pressure and stress on their kids, they often don’t realize how little things like school supplies can make social life easier for kids in preschool and elementary school. 

In this respect, having aesthetic school supplies not only helped me adjust to school when I was little, but also helped me gain confidence and build relationships in school. The cuter the supplies were, the happier I became when I looked at them and the more kids were attracted to them--and by extension me. Happy are attracted to happy kids. Understanding this fundamental idea can be very comforting for those parents of toddlers who are just starting preschool, kindergarten, or first grade and feel nervous and unsure about leaving their child alone in a new place with total strangers. 

For these reasons, I suggest that while function is important in school supplies--the aesthetics of your kids’ bookbags, binders, folders, notebooks and pencil pouches are just as important. The more you can personalize these cute and adorable school supplies the better. So as you begin shopping for your kids’ list of school supplies this year, look for form as much as you do function. 

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up the cutest school supplies for the 2022/2023 school year. And we mean “designed” or drawn with an eye toward supreme cuteness :)  All of these school supplies are so cute, you can’t help but say “aww” out loud when you look at them. 
So without further ado, I give you the aesthetic school supplies for the coming year . . .

The 2022 - 2023 Essential Cute School Supplies List 

1. Cutest Tablet

What better way to get your kid excited about the digital world than this adorable toddler tablet. With this tablet’s trusty Penguin by their side, kids will be able to develop a passion for all things digital, becoming lifelong learners. 

2. Cutest School Supplies Set

Kids love unicorns, but not all unicorns are created equal. Girls will love this adorable white unicorn backpack and matching lunch bag at a reasonable price. Even better- - you can personalize the set with your little one’s name, which is so important for kindergarten, first and second grade.

3. Cutest Lunchbox

What kid doesn’t love a cute teddy bear, especially Rilakkuma? This playful and adorable lunch box has a sweet teddy bear face and is a perfect lunchbox for toddler boys.

4. Cutest Backpack

For parents of little ballerinas or for parents who simply want to encourage their little one to “dance in the rain,” this is a seriously charming backpack that will help your little girl feel like a star.

5. Cutest Notebook

When I was a kid, one of my absolute favorite notebooks was one with a baby koala on it. This notebook captures that essence. Not just cute, but so sweet. Your child will fall in love with it - spending hours practicing writing in it.  And there are just so many benefits your little one can gain from journaling.

6. Cutest Pencil Case

This pencil case is just the cutest ever! It comes in two colors and its minimalist design ensures your little one can go to school in style! 

7. Cutest 3-Ring Binder

Okay, I’m the last person who would ever think that bunnies and strawberries go well together, but after seeing this adorable binder, I’m a believer! With this charming 3-ring binder, kids can write their ABCs and have loads of fun :) 

8. Cutest Gel Pens

With multiple packs of characters to choose from, you can’t go wrong with this “gang” of pens, which includes a diverse cast of characters from foxes, to fries and even dinosaurs. This pack of gel pens are sure to make learning to write a blast!

9. Cutest Erasers

Seriously, have you ever seen such a cute eraser set? OMG! Your kids will be writing while dreaming of milk and cookies!

10. Cutest Highlighters

Your kids will thank you for making this sweet choice for highlighters. We all know kids scream for ice cream and these highlighters will get them loving reading and writing. 

11. Cutest Drawing Pencils 

Okay, if you want to inspire your little one’s inner artist, purchasing this mini bear drawing pencils set might just be the easiest way to do it. Can you just imagine what a kick your kids would get out of drawing with their little bear pencils at their side? 

Buying even a few of these supplies on our cute school supplies list will really give your child joy and help them approach the impending school year with passion and delight. We hope you love our list of aesthetic school supplies and if you think we’ve left something off the list, please do let us know in the comments :)