We asked tweens what is on their school wish list this year – including squishy toys, roller skate shoes and water bottles

• Back-to-school sales are unusually early this year. We found the 15 best deals for students and parents

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This fall, gen Alpha heads back to school.

As the adults in their lives, you can’t stop them from calling you “unc” or prepare them for AI’s infiltration of their classrooms. Yet you can equip them with the right back-to-school essentials – whether a new pencil case or the toy of the moment.