7 Great Back to School Gifts for Kids: Fun and Functional Gift Ideas

Heading back to school is an exciting time for kids—and the perfect opportunity to surprise them with a few fun and functional gifts to kick off the new year! Whether you're looking to add a little personality to their lunch routine or help them feel more confident and prepared in the classroom, we've rounded up seven great back-to-school gift ideas for kids that are as practical as they are adorable. From a patch-covered lunchbox to a whimsical toaster-shaped nightlight (yes, really!), these picks are sure to bring smiles and make the transition back to school a little brighter.

Back to School Gifts for Kids:

1. Customizable Insulated Lunch Box

One of our favorite back-to-school finds is this Insulated Lunch Box with 6 Patches that’s as fun as it is functional. It comes with a set of six colorful patches that your child can mix, match, and arrange however they like—making their lunchbox totally unique. Whether they’re into smiley faces, stars, or hearts - or all of the above - there’s a patch to suit every personality. Not only does it keep food fresh, but it also gives kids a chance to express themselves and stand out in the cafeteria crowd. It’s a practical gift with a playful twist!

DIY Twist: Make your child's initials or name pop with stick-on or sew-on varsity letters. As the grand finale, have the child select a few favorite stickers or pins to place on the outside as well.

Why it's Perfect: Personalization prevents confusion in school and introduces a bit more excitement into lunchtime. This thoughtful gift is all about functionality with a touch of personality!

2. Animal-Shaped Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Stay hydrated in style with an adorable animal-shaped Bestie Bottle 16oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle—perfect for school days, sports, or weekend adventures. Kids can choose their favorite from a fun lineup that includes a bunny, cat, dog, dino, sheep, or unicorn, each with a cute pop-on animal head that doubles as a cap. The twist-off top underneath reveals a built-in silicone straw, making it easy for little ones to sip on the go. Made from durable stainless steel, these bottles keep drinks cool all day long—no matter how busy their schedule gets. As a back-to-school gift, they’re both practical and playful—something kids will love to show off in the classroom or on the playground.

DIY Twist: Have your child customize the outside of the bottle with their favorite fun stickers or vinyl decals, and/or draw their name or fun characters using metallic paint pens.

Why it's Perfect: This reusable bottle will keep beverages chilled for hours and the DIY element will make your child proud to show off their handiwork.

3. Llama or Flamingo Zippered Pouches

Add a pop of personality to your child’s school supplies with our Llama Zippered Pouches or Flamingo Zippered Pouches. These cute and compact pouches are perfect for holding small essentials like erasers, paper clips, bookmarks, and more. Their slim design makes them easy to tuck into any backpack or desk, while the fun animal shapes add a bit of flair to the school day. It’s a great back-to-school gift that keeps kids organized—with a little extra charm!

DIY Twist: Personalize the pouch even more by attaching a cute keychain with their first initial or fun charm like a heart, star or smiley face.

Why it's Perfect: A cute pouch adds smiles to their everyday organization and gives kids an easy way to get their things ready and organized at their fingertips.

4. Smiley Face Corduroy Pouch

Brighten up their school day with our colorful Smiley Face Corduroy Pouch! Available in a variety of cheerful colors, these handy pouches are perfect for holding pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and other classroom essentials. Not only do they keep supplies neatly organized, but their happy design is sure to bring a smile every time your child reaches for them. It’s a fun and functional back-to-school gift that adds a little joy to their daily routine.

DIY Twist: Add personalization through embroidering their name or initial or sewing on varsity letter patches on the outside. Attach a cheerful pom-pom keychain to the zipper for added enjoyment.

Why it's Perfect: The rich color and texture is soft to the touch, and the smiles bring joy throughout their school day.

5. Lavender-Scented Essentials Kit (Pack of 15)

Keeping clean and germ-free at school has never been more important, and our Lavender-Infused Sanitizing Wipes make it easy, and enjoyable. These compact, travel-friendly packets are perfect for tossing into a backpack, lunchbox, or purse, making them a thoughtful and practical back-to-school gift for students, teachers, and parents alike. With a refreshing lavender scent and powerful sanitizing formula, they add a touch of calm while keeping hands and surfaces fresh throughout the day. It’s a smart, stylish upgrade to the usual school supply kit.

DIY Spin: Customize the packet of lavender-scented sanitizing wipes by drawing hearts, smiley faces, or anything else fun with a permanent magic marker.

Why it's Perfect: Both useful and thoughtful, this gift makes the kids feel confident and demonstrates your concern for their health.

6. "Grumbalina" Book Series Gift Set

Encourage a love of reading and being excited about going back to school with this delightful book series called Grumbalina. The first book in the series, Grumbalina and the Day Everything Changed, tells a delightful tale of a fairy learning her place in school and is the ideal back-to-school book.

DIY Touch: Make a bookmark at home with cardstock, ribbons, and stickers. Personalize it with the child's favorite color, or theme of preference, and include a hand-written note indicating how much you believe they're going to love the book-and going back to school.

Why it's Perfect: A great book and a home-made bookmark are the ideal pair that makes a perfect gift for encouraging imagination and learning.

7. Homework Nightlight with a Twist

After a long day at school, doing homework, and reading before bed, make bedtime relaxing with this cute Toaster Night Light. This charming night light not only adds a touch of fun to your child’s bedroom decor but also provides a soft and soothing light to help them feel safe and secure at night.

DIY Twist: Personalize the nightlight by adding decorative stickers to it or by painting small designs with a puffer pen to suit the child's favorite color scheme or theme.

Why it's Great: A non-traditional toaster design brings in a touch of playfulness, yet helps emit calmness. This present makes going back to school and getting good sleep each week even more fun!

Make Back to School Extra Special

These Back to School Gifts for Kids send them off on a good note for the upcoming school year. All of these items, with or without the DIY elements, make amazing and practical gifts that will be cherished and adored all year long. For more back to school gift ideas, check out our entire Back to School Collection at Pretty Lovely Gift Boutique. Sending positive vibes for a great new school year ahead - to students, their parents, and teachers!

Holiday Gift Guide for Kids: Unique Gifts for their Wish List

As visions of sugar plums dance in their heads, kids everywhere are gearing up for the holiday season and already thinking about their wish lists.

The joy of watching others open a special gift tops the list as one of our favorite holiday moments. It’s even more heartwarming to experience children’s reactions when they open something truly special.

From adorable water bottles to tooth fairy pillows, we compiled a holiday gift guide for kids that includes our best-sellers and are certain to make their holidays even brighter! The best part about these gifts is that they are high quality, made in the USA, and your kids will not “outgrow” them for years! Order by Wednesday, December 18th to receive in time for the holidays.

Custom Neon Signs A variety of fonts, colors, and sizes available; prices vary, starting at $126

Kids of all ages would love a cool custom neon sign with their name, a favorite sports’ team, a favorite quote or a fun message!  These neon signs can be customized, adding a pop of color and personality to any space – a baby nursery, a kids’ room, a playroom, and more!  Our personalized neon name signs are easy to install, come with a remote control for easy on/off and dimming, and add a unique touch of style to any space.

Bestie Bottles $30.00

These adorable 16-ounce bestie water bottles available in various animal styles are perfect for school, vacations, and on-the-go! Features include a vacuum insulated, stainless steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for 12 hours with a condensation free exterior; includes a bendy straw inside and leak proof lid. Easy to clean and soft to the touch.

Smiley Face Corduroy Pouch

$8.50

Kids love smiley faces and these adorable Smiley Face Corduroy Pouches! Available in a delightful array of colors—cream, tan, blue, green, gray, and black—these pouches are the perfect blend of style and functionality. Can be used to hold toys, snacks, school supplies and much more!

3D Laser Cut Models - Various Styles $12.50

Keep busy with these unique 3D Laser Cut Models which are available in various styles for anyone who loves to build – children or adults. It’s a great parent/kid activity and promotes spacial reasoning. Choose from train, mermaid, bigfoot, cat, or dog. Made in the USA.

Kits include:

• Baltic birchwood cutouts

• Barrel binding screws

• Thumb screwdriver

ZipString (as seen on Shark Tank) $30.00

Another way to keep the kids (and the adults) busy is with the new Zipstring Interactive Toy. It is the perfect entertainment for all ages! This innovative toy combines the fun of a yo-yo with the flow of a zip line, creating a unique and exciting experience for users to perform tricks and stunts with ease. Simply put the string into the groove on the handle and press the button to start the ZipString flying.

Sidewalk Chalk $20.00

Add a touch of magic to your child's outdoor playtime with our Rainbow Unicorn Horn Sidewalk Chalk! This whimsical set includes three pieces (two rainbow and one gold) that will bring any sidewalk or driveway to life. Each chalk piece is shaped like a unicorn horn, making it simple for little hands to create beautiful masterpieces.

Perfect for kids' birthday parties or as a fun stocking stuffer, this chalk set is sure to spark creativity and imagination in children of all ages. Let your little ones' artistic skills shine as they draw rainbows, unicorns, and more with our enchanting rainbow unicorn horn sidewalk chalk.

Freeze Dried Candy - Various Flavors $12.99 ea

Kids love freeze-dried candy so it's fun to try all different kinds and brands. Our assortment of Sweet Stash flavors will satisfy any sweet tooth, from classic favorites like bursts (starbursts) and caramel bursts (caramel M&M's) to fun and unique options like wild berry crunch (wild berry skittles) and sour worms (sour gummy worms). Make a gift basket of all flavors and share amongst the family too! Everyone will love trying them!

Tooth Fairy Pillow & Hardcover Book $42.50

And last but not least, depending on the age of your child, celebrate their first lost tooth “inch stone” with this adorable Tooth Fairy Pillow & Book Set. Each box includes one tooth pillow character and the hardcover book, 'The Tooth Fairy's WORST/BEST Day Ever.’ The set also includes a FAQ section that educates kids about losing teeth and the Tooth Fairy's responsibilities, as well as a Lost Tooth Tracker where kids can write down the date when they lost each tooth. It's a super cute way to celebrate this time in life and the plush animals are soft to cuddle with at night.

One of the most challenging parts of gift-giving for children is finding something they, or their friends, do not already have. These gifts are unique and sure to bring happiness to any kid this holiday season! Pretty Lovely Gift Boutique is your solution for finding the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Trending Stuffed Animals 2024: For Kids and Adults Alike

As we get closer to the holidays, we wanted to share some of the trending stuffed animals of the year thus far. Stuffed animals are more than just cuddly companions; they’re becoming a trend in home decor, gifts, and even self-care. With a range of adorable options available, let's explore some of the cutest and most sought-after stuffed animals that are capturing hearts this year!

Jellycat Aesthetic Stuffed Animals

First up, we have the ever-popular Jellycat aesthetic stuffed animals. Known for their whimsical designs and irresistibly soft textures, these plush companions are perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of charm to their space. One standout in this category is the Jellycat-inspired Soft Plush Bunny Stuffed Animal that come in a variety of colors to match any palette. With its floppy ears and squishy body, this bunny is not only a delightful baby gift but also a stylish décor piece for adults. Their loveable charm makes them a favorite for all ages, and they’re perfect for snuggling up with during a cozy night in.

Teddy Bears

No stuffed animal collection is complete without a classic teddy bear. Enter Scruffy the Brown Bear Stuffed Animal—the ultimate cuddly companion for kids and adults alike. Scruffy has a vintage vibe that makes him irresistibly huggable, and his well-loved appearance adds a touch of nostalgia to any plush collection. Whether as a comforting friend during a tough day or a special gift for a loved one who is not feeling well or in the hospital, Scruffy the Brown Bear is available to spread warmth and joy.

Plush Toys

For those looking to celebrate seasonal fun, our Easter Bunny Soft Plush Peeps made a big splash this year! These vibrant, soft plush toys come in a variety of pastel colors and are perfect for Easter baskets, springtime decor, or just brightening up your, or a friends’ day. Great accent décor for kids rooms, playrooms, and more.

And who could forget the whimsical Conversation Hearts Plush Toys? These charming little treats are not just for Valentine’s Day—they’re a delightful way to express love and friendship all year round. Their bright colors and playful phrases bring a smile to anyone’s face, making them perfect for gifts or just as a cheerful addition to your home. Your pets would definitely like these too.

Plush Pillows

Finally, let's talk about the enchanting Tooth Fairy Pillow & Book Sets. These aren’t just your average plush pillow toys; they serve a special purpose! With a pocket for lost teeth (in their mouth) and a whimsical design, these pillows create magical moments for children during their tooth-losing phase. The accompanying book is a story about The Tooth Fairy’ Worst BEST Day Ever; and her friends that step in to help her during a very bad day. These pillows are not just about the practicality; it’s about making memories and adding a sprinkle of magic to bedtime routines.

Conclusion

In 2024, stuffed animals are more than just toys—they're stylish décor, seasonal fun, and magical companions that create lasting memories. Whether you're drawn to the aesthetic charm of Jellycat-inspired bunnies, the nostalgic embrace of Scruffy the Bear, or the playful spirit of Easter Peeps and Conversation Hearts, there's a stuffed animal for everyone this year. And let’s not forget the enchanting Tooth Fairy Pillows, which are sure to make bedtime a little more special for little ones.

As you explore gifting your loved ones the world of plush toys this year, remember that these cuddly friends can bring comfort, joy, and a touch of whimsy to our lives. Happy gifting!

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At Pretty Lovely Gift Boutique, we are passionate about finding the perfect gift for any occasion. We believe that gifts should be thoughtful, personal, and memorable. That's why we've carefully curated a collection of unique and beautiful gifts that are sure to delight you and your loved ones. Visit our website for stuffed animal toys, general gift ideas, and holiday gift ideas. Also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to stay up-to-date on what's new this season.