13 School Supplies Every ’80s Kid Had in Their Backpack
The 1980s were a time when hair was big, music was radical, and school supplies were an expression of your true self. If you were a kid in this iconic decade, your backpack was likely a treasure trove of colorful, quirky essentials that made school just a bit more bearable.
Let’s take a trip to the past and explore the must-have school supplies of every ’80s kid.
1. Trapper Keeper
Nothing beat the satisfying rip of Velcro from a Trapper Keeper. With bold designs screaming 1980s flair, these binders kept papers, folders, and secret notes neatly organized.
Electric blue and neon pink patterns stood out like a beacon in any classroom. A true style icon, the Trapper Keeper turned organization into a vibrant expression of personality.
2. Lisa Frank Notebooks
Rainbows, unicorns, and dolphins exploded across Lisa Frank notebooks, making note-taking a vivid adventure. Each page invited doodles, every margin a canvas for creativity.
Flipping through those joyous illustrations felt like diving into a world of pure happiness. These notebooks brought a burst of vibrancy to the dullest school days.
3. Erasermate Pen
The Erasermate pen promised erasable ink, a small miracle for homework blunders. Though smudges lingered, it felt like a leap in pen technology.
Friends’ envy flared when one hit the desk, its promise of wizardry undeniable. This tool sparked a quiet revolution in the world of writing.
4. Pee-Chee Folders
Yellow Pee-Chee folders, with athletic sketches, begged for doodles and stickers. They cradled homework, notes, and the occasional secret letter.
Scribbles and decals turned each one into a unique masterpiece over the school year. These folders doubled as portable art, gathering memories with every use.
5. Yikes! Pencils
Bright colors and zany patterns defined Yikes! pencils, making writing an adventure. Each one seemed to cheer you through tedious tasks.
Choosing a favorite daily sparked joy, their vibrant energy lifting even the dullest math homework. These pencils brought a playful edge to schoolwork’s monotony.
6. Rubik’s Cube Keychain
The Rubik’s Cube keychain was the perfect desk distraction. This miniature version of the iconic puzzle added a touch of challenge to any day. Twisting and turning during boring lectures, it was a microcosm of focus.
I spent hours trying to solve it, the small size making it both portable and endlessly entertaining. It was like a secret brain workout, hidden in plain sight among my school supplies.
7. Flair Pens
Flair pens, with their bold colors and smooth flow, turned every sentence into a masterpiece. They were the artist’s choice for note-taking, adding flair to the mundane.
I used them to write colorful notes and underline key facts, each color representing a different subject. They were a rainbow in pen form, transforming the drab pages of textbooks into vibrant displays of creativity.
8. Metal Lunchboxes
Metal lunchboxes were the pride of every ’80s kid, showcasing favorite TV shows and movies. Lugging around a ‘Star Wars’ box made lunchtime a galactic adventure.
Mine was a bit dented from countless falls, yet it held up, keeping my PB&J safe. The matching thermos was an added bonus, a sip of comfort during the chaotic school day. Each lunchbox told a story, a piece of pop culture carried daily.
9. Ruler with Stencil Edge
The ruler with a stencil edge was multifunctional genius. It measured, underlined, and added creative flair to any project with its stencils.
Tracing letters and shapes during study breaks offered a welcome escape from algebra woes. This simple tool opened endless possibilities, turning plain papers into art with measurable precision.
10. Cartoon Character Erasers
Cartoon character erasers made mistakes fun with their playful designs. Shaped like Garfield or Snoopy, they turned mundane erasing into a delightful task.
I collected these whimsical rubbers, each one a piece of my childhood cartoon world. They didn’t erase perfectly, but that wasn’t the point. They added character to my pencil case and a smile to my face during long study sessions.
11. Calculator Watch
The calculator watch was a nerd badge of honor, combining time-telling with arithmetic prowess. Its tiny buttons were a tech marvel, making math delightfully wrist-bound.
I flaunted mine during math class, solving problems with a flick of the wrist. It was a gadget of the future, a promise of technology’s wonders, even if the buttons were too small for adult fingers.
12. Fuzzy Pencil Toppers
Fuzzy pencil toppers injected whimsy into writing, with their bright colors and playful shapes. They perched atop pencils, ready to inspire creativity.
Twirling one during class often tickled the nose, sparking giggles. Each topper became a conversation starter, adding a dash of fun to the serious school day.
13. Giant Crayon Bank
Finally, the giant crayon bank was a savings strategy with style. These vibrant, oversized crayons held coins, teaching thrift in a playful way.
I saved diligently, every coin a step closer to that coveted toy. The bank’s cheerful presence was a reminder of goals, a splash of color in the daily grind. It was childhood’s piggy bank, in crayon form.