13 School Supplies Every ’90s Kid Owned
This listicle shows 13 school supplies that every ’90s kid used and remembers fondly.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Many kids in the ’90s had fun and colorful school supplies that made going to school more exciting. This list shows some of the most popular items, like gel pens, Tamagotchis, and sticker-covered binders. These items bring back memories of simpler times in classrooms and hallways. Readers can enjoy remembering the things that once filled their backpacks.
1. Neon Gel Pens
Emilian Robert Vicol from Com. Balanesti, Romania on Wikimedia Commons
These colorful pens made notes and doodles way more exciting. Kids loved swapping them and writing in bold pink, green, or orange ink. They were fun to use, even if they sometimes smudged all over your hand.
2. Tamagotchi (Virtual Pet)
Museum Rotterdam on Wikimedia Commons
This tiny digital pet had to be fed, cleaned, and played with — right in the middle of math class. It beeped often, and forgetting about it for too long usually meant it “died.” It taught kids responsibility, even if just in a silly way.
3. Sticker-Deco Binders
Jacek on Wikimedia Commons
Binders in the ’90s were like blank slates waiting to be decorated. Kids would cover them in colorful stickers, names of their friends, and popular cartoon characters. It was the easiest way to show off your personality in class.
4. Wooden Ruler
VSchagow on Wikimedia Commons
Almost every pencil case had one of these. It was great for drawing straight lines, measuring things in math class, or sometimes just snapping loudly on your desk. It looked simple, but it lasted forever.
5. Pastel Highlighters
KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels
These soft-colored highlighters made notes look neat and pretty. They were less harsh than the bright neon ones and gave your homework a stylish touch. Some kids used them more for decoration than studying.
6. Character Pencil Case
Douglaspperkins on Wikimedia Commons
Pencil cases often had cool designs like superheroes, cartoon characters, or sparkly finishes. Kids showed them off like trophies and made sure everything matched. Having the right pencil case felt almost as important as what was inside it.
7. Chunky Calculator
Mikhail Nilov on Pexels
These big, colorful calculators were easy to use and made learning math a bit more fun. They clicked loudly and looked more like toys than tools. Everyone knew who had the coolest one based on color alone.
8. Composition Notebook
Jamie on Wikimedia Commons
This black-and-white notebook was sturdy and lasted the whole year. It was used for writing stories, taking notes, or even secret diary entries during recess. The cover always looked the same, but what was inside was totally your own.
9. Scented Pencils
Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels
These pencils smelled like fruit or candy, making writing more enjoyable. Kids would pass them around just to sniff them, even if they didn’t need to write anything. They were cool and made you feel like your supplies were extra special.
10. Mini Pencil Sharpener
George Becker on Pexels
These little sharpeners fit right in your hand and had a tiny compartment to catch shavings. You could use it right at your desk without asking the teacher. Everyone hated it when the lid popped off and spilled everywhere.
11. Printed Lunchbox
Personal Creations on Wikimedia Commons
These lunchboxes had your favorite TV shows or movie characters printed on the front. They kept your food safe and helped you find your lunch in a crowded cafeteria. If yours had a matching thermos inside, that was even better.
12. Eraser Bits
Jem Yoshioka from Wellington, New Zealand on Pexels
Erasers came in all shapes and sizes, but they always ended up breaking into little pieces. Kids would collect them, trade them, or even use them to play games. They didn’t always erase well, but they were fun to have.
13. Side-Pocket Backpack
Carola.Puglia24 on Wikimedia Commons
This backpack had big compartments for books and small ones for treasures like toys or keychains. It went everywhere, from school to after-school hangouts. If it was packed right, you could carry everything you needed in one trip.