As families prepare for the 2025 back-to-school season, one thing is clear: kids are no longer just along for the ride; they’re driving retail decisions. According to Deloitte’s 2024 Back-to-School Survey, 62% of parents say their children influence them to spend more, especially when it comes to clothing and self-expression choices like first-day outfits (Deloitte, 2024).
While parents still handle the budget, kids are now the co-pilots, pointing out what they want, why they want it, and how it reflects who they are.
Kids Curate the Cart
Whether in-store or online, today’s kids bring strong preferences shaped by their digital lives, classroom culture, and peer influence. From character-covered backpacks to “cool” sneakers trending on YouTube, kids play a major role in shaping what ends up in the cart.
Retailers that understand this dynamic are adjusting product design, messaging, and experience to resonate with both young shoppers and the adults who enable their choices. The most successful brands aren’t just selling products—they’re helping kids feel confident and seen as they step into a new school year.
Practical Tips: Building Trust Through Involvement
To foster this confidence and trust, involving kids in the shopping process is key. Here’s how both parents and retailers can support this:
For Parents:
- Let them build the list: Involve kids early to teach prioritization and give them a sense of ownership over their choices.
- Set a budget and offer options: Empower kids by letting them choose from a curated selection within a set budget, teaching discipline alongside autonomy.
- Talk through needs vs. wants: Turn shopping into a learning moment about value and intentional decision-making.
For Retailers:
- Design with kids in mind: Use kid-friendly colors, characters, and features—while still meeting parents’ expectations for quality and durability.
- Collect feedback: Use surveys, reviews, or small test groups to understand what resonates with both kids and parents.
- Make it fun: Gamified shopping features, AR try-ons, or interactive displays can turn buying into an engaging, memorable experience that builds loyalty.
Shopping with Heart: The Emotional Factor
Even amid economic uncertainty, parents continue to invest in products that help their kids feel confident and prepared. Deloitte reports that 57% of parents consider a first-day outfit “worth the splurge,” highlighting the emotional value tied to feeling ready and accepted.
In today’s retail landscape, emotional impact sits alongside price and practicality. Shopping for school supplies and clothes has become a way families set the tone for a positive, empowered school year.
GoNoodle: Where Confidence Starts
Since 2014, GoNoodle has turned screen time into purposeful play. Trusted by 86% of U.S. elementary schools, GoNoodle helps kids develop focus, confidence, and emotional resilience through movement, mindfulness, and learning—all aligned with national standards.
Kids who regularly engage with GoNoodle carry that confidence into everyday choices—from what they wear to how they show up in class and beyond. It’s not just a content platform—it’s a tool for helping kids feel ready, brave, and seen.
The Back-to-School Advantage
Back-to-school is about more than supplies. It’s about helping kids thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
GoNoodle supports this by helping children feel strong, silly, smart, and self-assured—ready to take on the day, and the checkout line, with confidence.
Ready to connect? Let’s talk about how GoNoodle can help retail and CPG brands build trust with families and drive meaningful impact this school year.
Connect with us to learn what's possible.
