Desk Pets: Desk Pet Starter Kit
- kindlittleexplorer
- Aug 15, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 18
Desk Pets are the latest craze, and I couldn’t resist jumping on board! After seeing teachers use them for classroom rewards and behavior management, I knew they’d be a fun and motivating addition to our homeschool.
Wanting to encourage positive behavior and keep learning exciting, I swapped out the traditional treasure box for Desk Pets. They’ve been a game-changer, making schoolwork more engaging while inspiring my kids to stay on track!
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What are Desk Pets?
Desk Pets are miniature animals that students can collect, care for, and earn through good behavior. Traditionally, teachers have used small animal-shaped erasers, but 3D-printed animal fidget toys are also starting to trend. These make a fun alternative because they double as a stress-relieving fidget, which can help students focus while still enjoying the Desk Pet reward system.
Eraser Desk Pets vs. 3D Printed Desk Pets
When Desk Pets first became popular, teachers mainly used mini erasers shaped like animals. They’re colorful, affordable, and come in big variety packs, which makes them perfect for setting up a classroom adoption center or reward store. Students love collecting them, and they’re easy to find at Amazon, Target, Dollar Tree, or Five Below.
But now, another trend is growing: 3D printed animal fidget toys! These Desk Pets are just as fun as erasers, but they come with a bonus—they double as a fidget toy. For students who like to keep their hands busy, 3D printed pets can help them focus, self-regulate, and stay engaged while still feeling rewarded.
Here’s a quick comparison:
Budget-friendly and easy to find in bulk
Lots of variety (animals, food, and accessories)
Great for younger elementary students who love collecting
More durable than erasers
Can be custom-made with different animals, colors, and designs
Work well for older students who might prefer a toy that doubles as a stress-relieving fidget
Teachers with access to a 3D printer can make their own classroom Desk Pets using free files online, or you can find ready-to-go 3D printed desk pets online. Whether you stick with erasers, try out 3D printed fidget pets, or even mix both, the Desk Pet system works the same—it’s all about making learning fun and rewarding!
Everything You Need to Set Up Your Own Desk Pet System:
This is what I used for our homeschool pet store and adoption center:
Desk pet homes- Free printables at the end of the page, or shop our larger collection of Desk Pet Homes and more here.
Food and accessories for the desk pets
Where to Buy Desk Pets (Erasers and 3D Printed Fidgets)
One of the best things about Desk Pets is that you can find them in so many places, both online and in stores. Whether you prefer the traditional mini eraser pets or want to try the new trend of 3D printed animal fidgets, there are plenty of options for teachers and parents.
Mini Eraser Desk Pets
You can find animal-shaped erasers almost anywhere:
Amazon – Great for bulk packs with pets, food, and accessories (Click Here to Shop).
Target & Target Dollar Spot – Seasonal erasers and smaller sets.
Dollar Tree & Dollar Store – Budget-friendly and fun variety.
Five BelowÂ
These are affordable, easy to collect, and perfect for setting up a classroom adoption center or reward store.
3D Printed Desk Pet Fidgets
If you want something more durable and unique, try 3D printed animal fidget toys. These double as fidgets, helping students stay calm and focused while still enjoying the Desk Pet system. You can find them here:
Etsy – Many small shops sell adorable 3D printed Desk Pets in lots of colors and styles.
Amazon – Some 3D printed fidget animals are starting to appear (Click here to Shop).
3D Printing Files – If you or your school has a 3D printer, you can download free or inexpensive STL files online to print your own pets.
Both erasers and 3D printed fidgets work perfectly with the Desk Pet reward system. You can even mix them together so students have the fun of collecting erasers along with the novelty of a fidget pet.
The reward system I set in place:
How to Earn Desk Pet Dollars: At the end of each day, if the child completes all their schoolwork, they will receive one "desk pet dollar" to use at the pet store or pet shop. With their dollars, they can buy food and accessories for their pets.
How to Earn Pet Adoption Points: At the end of each day, if the child did their best, paid attention, and overall demonstrated a positive learning attitude, they earn a pet adoption point. Five points entitle them to adopt another pet.
Our pet store opens at the end of each school day. At the end of the day, the kids can look forward to using their desk pet dollars to purchase a new habitat, food item, or toy for their new pet. My kids love it!
Desk Pet Homes
I wanted to create something that would add more fun to the desk pet adventure. I created several different homes and habitats for students to choose from when they head to the classroom "pet shop".
While the free downloadable Desk Pet homes are cute and double as a classroom activity if you have the students cut out and put together their own desk pet homes, some opt for using small plastic containers for students to store their pets and accessories. These are great ideas because they can double as storage to safely put away their pets and accessories. 3D printed pets fit nicely inside small plastic containers or printable homes, too!
Click here to download my Desk Pet Pack, which includes homes, desk pet money, labels, and pet desk points punch cards.
Give us a shout-out and show us how you use Desk Pets in your classroom or homeschool by tagging us (@kindlittleexplorers) on Instagram.
Desk Pet Holiday Themed Habitats
Holiday-themed Desk Pet Homes that include Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving themes. Each holiday has two unique homes to choose from. Kids will love having the option of a holiday-themed desk pet home. They would look so cute in elementary classrooms!
Click here to download your FREE Holiday-themed desk pet homes!
Custom Designed Desk Pet Homes
I'm delighted to offer customizations for the Desk Pet Homes. There is a $5 fee for this service, which covers the additional time and resources required to tailor the product to your specific needs. Contact me at admin@kindlittleexplorers.com
Give us a shout-out and show us how you use Desk Pets in your classroom or homeschool by tagging us (@kindlittleexplorers) on Instagram.
For more fun classroom activities and inspiration check out these fantastic posts:
Birthday Themed Desk Pet Homes (Click Here)
Valentine's Day Desk Pet Homes (Click Here)
St Patrick's Day Desk Pet Homes (Click Here)
Easter Desk Pet Homes (Click Here)
Back To School Desk Pet Homes (Click Here)
Are Desk Pets Effective?
Desk pets worked out really well for us. My kids enjoyed them, and they were looking forward to them every school day. My goal was to keep my students excited and motivated to complete their school work on time, maintain a good learning attitude, and try their best.
I would say, that they did just that In order to earn their cute little pets and buy their desk pet accessories. In my opinion, Desk Pets make an excellent positive reinforcement strategy and a fantastic alternative to treasure box rewards.
They can be so much fun in young elementary grades and may help strengthen the classroom community. Students will love pretending to head over to the pet shop, making this a great idea to add dramatic play into the classroom.