The Holiday Shop Items Kids Can’t Resist (According to PTOs)

Every PTO knows the holiday shop can be unpredictable. One year, a certain item flies off the shelves (rhymes with...Bee-doh). The next year, kids surprise everyone by buying something completely unexpected (a bedazzled ice scraper, anyone? 😂).

So, we asked our community of PTO and PTA leaders: what are the most popular items sold at your school’s holiday shop? The answers revealed a few trends: kids love shopping for gifts that feel personal, items that are fun and trendy, and mystery bags. Below, we round up the most popular holiday shop items sold at schools across the country, according to the PTO Today community! 

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Personalized gifts are always a hit

One theme came through loud and clear: kids love gifts that feel like they were made just for someone special. Popular personalized picks included:

• Mugs with messages for mom, dad, grandparents, and teachers
• #1 trophies for mom, dad, teacher, uncle, etc.
• "MAMA" and "Best Dad" trucker hats
• Ornaments kids can decorate themselves
• Handprint and thumbprint keepsakes
• Personalized plates, aprons, and tote bags

One PTO shared that they skipped some of the typical holiday shop items and instead offered plain mugs and plates for kids to decorate with handprints, thumbprints, and artwork. The project was such a hit that they planned to expand into more customizable items. Kids get to create something unique, and families get a keepsake they’re more likely to treasure. 

Trending items are usually instant bestsellers

Sometimes the hottest holiday shop item isn’t something you’d expect to find on a traditional gift table—it’s the item kids are already talking about! From squishy cubes and viral fidget toys, what’s popular with kids can change quickly. Pay attention to what students are excited about before your shop opens. Adding a few trendy items alongside classic favorites can help build excitement! 

Right now, kids are loving anything that's "oddly satisfying", including NeeDoh (a popular squishy sensory toy), ASMR, anything that's slow rise, stretchy, tiny (and/or collectible), and mystery/blind bag style items. 

Never underestimate the extremely random item (the one that makes you go, "really?!"). One PTO shared that their biggest seller one year was a nutcracker. The next year? An ice scraper. This year? It's capybara anything...and butter (more on that below). As one PTO put it: “The kids always buy the most random items we have first.” And honestly, that’s part of the fun. Holiday shops give kids the chance to make their own choices and find something that feels perfect to them—even if it’s not what adults would pick. 

Mystery bags continue to rank as "best sellers" 

Mystery bags (also called bling bags) are a great fit for a holiday shop because they feel like a "big" gift without needing expensive items. The key is to mix one "wow" item (like a mini Squishmallow) with 2-3 inexpensive filler items (like a mini fidget, a sticker sheet, and a fun key chain). Aim for a retail value of around $8–$12 while keeping your cost closer to $3–$5 per bag.  

PTO Today community favorites

We asked the PTO Today community for their most popular holiday shop items; check out the list of top-selling items below! 

⭐NeeDoh-style squishies and mini mochi squishies

⭐Fidgets and fidget spinners 

⭐Anything "butter" themed, especially butter squishies (Amazon) and butter slime 

⭐Capybara everything: right now, capybara-themed merchandise is trending

⭐Cute foodie items, like food-shaped squishies and miniatures (boba, strawberries, sushi, pickles)

⭐Crocheted emotional support vegetables/animals/bugs (Amazon)

⭐Tiny hands (Oriental Trading)

⭐Crazy socks

⭐Bath and Body Works products (often purchased during the retailer's big sales)

⭐Stanley keychain Chapstick holders 

⭐Backpack "bling": Plush clips (especially capybaras, highland cows, frogs, and axolotls), pom pom keychains, and bag charms let kids personalize their backpacks for just a few dollars

⭐Throwback faves: Gen Alpha is rediscovering '90s classics that feel brand-new to them (and nostalgic to their millennial parents!), like puffy stickers, slap bracelets, mood rings, scented pens/pencils/erasers, and friendship bracelet kits 

⭐Kawaii desk pets (think: tiny emotional support friends for the desk), like tiny ducks, capybaras, cats, and mushrooms

⭐Scratch art 

⭐Puffy sticker sheets

⭐Portable speakers 

⭐"Light up anything"

⭐Color-changing pens

⭐Sensory items, like items with reversible sequins

⭐3D-printed dragons

⭐Stuffed animals

⭐Blankets

⭐Fun novelty items

⭐Jewelry (mood rings in particular), including unexpected fancy accessories, like "gold" watches

⭐Toys for pets (most PTOs agree: kids love shopping for their pets!)

⭐"Ear" pods 

⭐Slime 

⭐Stationary, in particular "tiny" notebooks and matching pens

⭐Keychains

⭐Items connected to kids’ interests are another top seller, like professional sports team items, school spirit gear, and sports-themed gifts 

⭐Baking items

One PTO shared that they collect gently used items donated by their community,  and price every item at $1 to make it affordable to all students.

Ready to plan your school’s holiday shop? Our list of popular school holiday shop providers can help you find companies that provide trending holiday shop merch for your PTO to sell, along with special sign-on incentives  and support.