16 School Supplies That Were Basically Toys
Even the most focused student found it hard to resist fidgeting with certain school supplies. Some items were clearly built to be useful but secretly doubled as toys in disguise.
- Tricia Quitales
- 6 min read
Some school supplies were designed for productivity but ended up being irresistible distractions. Students often found clever ways to turn everyday items into entertainment during class. These objects blurred the line between learning tools and playful gadgets. They served their purpose but were definitely more fun than functional.
1. Scented Markers
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They were supposed to make writing and coloring more fun, but they became instant sniff-objects. Students would pass them around the room just to take turns smelling grape, watermelon, or licorice. The scents were so strong that you could identify a color by smell alone. Classwork often took a backseat to the olfactory experience. Teachers pretended not to notice, but everyone knew what was going on.
2. Mechanical Pencils with Stackable Lead Cartridges
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Each pencil came with a series of tiny, interchangeable lead capsules. The temptation to pull them out and rearrange them during a boring lecture was hard to resist. When one piece was lost, the whole system broke down, which added to the chaos. Many students played with the pieces like miniature building blocks. It was more of a puzzle than a tool.
3. Erasers Shaped Like Food or Animals
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These erasers rarely erased anything effectively. They looked like tiny burgers, pandas, or sushi rolls and were often traded like currency. Students kept them in pencil cases like collectibles. Most stayed untouched for actual use because no one wanted to ruin their cute shapes. They brought more joy than any standard pink eraser ever could.
4. Gel Pens in Neon or Glitter Ink
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Bright colors and sparkly ink made every note look like party decorations. While intended for creative writing or art, they quickly became a source of distraction. Kids would write invisible messages in silver and admire the way the ink shimmered under classroom lights. Pages turned into colorful canvases instead of homework. They added fun but little academic value.
5. Pop-A-Point Crayons
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These crayons featured tiny colored tips that stacked inside a single plastic holder. As soon as one tip dulled, you popped it out and inserted it at the back. The satisfaction of clicking each piece in place was hard to ignore. Kids ended up assembling and disassembling the crayon more than they actually used it to color. It was like building a toy every time.
6. Pencil Toppers
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From squishy animals to spinning propellers, pencil toppers had one job: to entertain. They added weight and flair to your writing tools but were better suited for play. Many would squeak, bounce, or light up when touched. Students often had pencil-top battles or used them as distractions. Writing became secondary to whatever the topper was doing.
7. Mini Staplers
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Small enough to fit in your palm, mini staplers were often more fun than practical. They looked like toys and sometimes came in bright colors or novelty shapes. Students loved testing them on random papers or trying to staple without running out of mini staples. It became a quiet but persistent way to fidget during class. Most teachers tolerated it as long as nothing important was getting stapled.
8. Rolling Erasers
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These erasers came in plastic cases with a roll-out mechanism, like a tape dispenser. You could wind them up, click them into place, and pretend they were miniature gadgets. Instead of erasing, kids rolled them in and out for fun. They were more about the mechanism than the function. Students often ran through them without ever using them seriously.
9. Ruler Slap Bracelets
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Combining utility with novelty, slap bracelet rulers were wildly popular. You could measure something, then slap it onto your wrist in one quick motion. Most of the time, kids skipped the measuring part altogether. The sound and snap of the bracelet made it a top distraction. It spent more time on arms than on paper.
10. Multi-Color Click Pens
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These pens came with multiple ink colors packed into one pen barrel. Each button released a different color, turning note-taking into a rainbow-coded game. But switching colors became more entertaining than writing itself. Students clicked through them endlessly, causing more noise than progress. The fun outweighed their usefulness in most cases.
11. Mini Highlighters
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These tiny versions of regular highlighters were often brightly colored and came in sets. Their small size made them adorable, and kids liked lining them up or collecting all the colors. They were rarely used for serious studying. Instead, they became part of a desk display or were swapped like trading cards. They highlighted more friendships than textbook pages.
12. Binder Clips in Cute Shapes
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Heart-shaped, star-shaped, or smiley-faced binder clips added flair to your schoolwork. Technically, they were for organizing papers, but kids used them as desk toys. They were clicked open and closed repeatedly, attached to sleeves, or even turned into makeshift action figures. They made paperwork more fun but also more distracting. Their real purpose was often ignored.
13. Pencil Cases with Secret Compartments
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These bulky cases had buttons that opened compartments, sharpeners built-in, and hidden sections. Students showed them off more than they used them. Each button press felt like opening a secret treasure chest. Organization became secondary to the novelty. It was a toolbox designed for play rather than productivity.
14. Shaped Paper Clips
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These paper clips came in animal shapes, stars, or musical notes. They held the paper together, but the kids spent more time bending and admiring it. They were more of a collectible than a supply item. Teachers sometimes found them scattered around like little metal toys. Their charm outshone their actual function.
15. Magnetic Locker Mirrors and Accessories
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While technically for lockers, these items were all about decoration. Mirrors, mini whiteboards, and tiny shelves were installed with care but often became part of in-between-class play. Students would rearrange them constantly or show them off like interior designers. The locker turned into a mini playroom. The supplies inside were sometimes forgotten entirely.
16. Pen Erasers with Slide-Out Brushes
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These dual-function erasers came with a tiny brush to sweep away pencil shavings. Kids loved sliding the brush out and giving their desk a dramatic swipe. The brushing became the focus, not the erasing. It felt like playing with a tool from a spy kit. Its design encouraged distraction more than correction.