With school starting right around the corner, you’ll need to prepare your kids with all the right essentials. Aside from items like pencils, glue sticks, and tissue, which teachers usually request from parents, other must-haves will make the school year go smoothly. From smart classroom staples to everyday necessities, these back-to-school picks will have your kids head into the year feeling prepared, organized, and ready to go.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Bagpacks with enough storage space
If your kids are school-aged, you know that their bagpacks get bigger as they grow. These Puma ones have enough space for elementary to high school-aged kids to store their Chromebooks, a large folder, their lunches, headphones, and plenty of other miscellaneous things that end up in the bottom of their bags. The side pockets are also big enough to store water bottles. My kids have these, and they’ve held up all year. Get one in all-black or with jazzy pink piping.
Thermos containers to keep food hot/cold
My kids’ schools don’t have a cafeteria, and although we have the option to order lunch, they prefer to bring food from home. Thermos containers are a must for packing food, as they keep items hot (or cold) until lunchtime. The 16 oz is the perfect size for younger kids, but if you have a good eater or a hungry teen, get the 24 oz version.
Bento boxes are awesome for little ones
For younger kids, bento boxes are great for compartmentalizing the main meal and small sides. The Yumbox has four different sections on its removable tray, which makes cleanups easier. Trust me when I say food will not leak from this thing (just don’t put any liquids in there), and the hard case is virtually indestructible.
Wired headphones for their laptops/Chromebooks
Most schools require your kids to bring headphones or earbuds, especially once they start standardized testing. Bluetooth is not allowed in our district, so I always have to buy them a wired set (which somehow always goes missing). This Sony one is around $10, so it makes replacing them easy.
Reusable water bottles put the fun in functional
These days, reusable water bottles are an accessory, so why not have fun with them? I LOVE Owala because they come in a variety of eye-catching colors and sizes. Their FreeSip collection comes with a built-in straw, which you can conveniently open with a push of a button. It’s leak-proof and sturdy so that you don’t have to worry about spills in bagpacks. The new version, FreeSip Sway, has all the functions I love, but with a tapered bottom that fits snugly into a cupholder, making it great for parents during drop-offs and pick-ups.
Durable pencil cases keep writing tools organized
Most schools will send a list of supplies ahead of the school year, with pencil cases one of the necessities. I got this Spacemate one on Amazon for my daughter, and it’s big enough to fit multiple Ticonderoga pencils (why do teachers insist on this brand?), a set of markers, and other random things she puts in there. The multiple pockets help keep things organized, and the material is super sturdy, so this purchase was a win.
Kneaded erasers will save you vacuuming time
Kids erase. A lot. That means finding eraser crumbs everywhere. Do yourself a favor and get these kneaded erasers. They’re every artist’s little secret, as they can be cut, molded to whatever shape you need, and don’t leave residue. Bonus — the consistency is like clay, so your kids may have fun playing with them or using them as fidget toys.
Insulated lunch bags keep food fresh
No one likes the thought of lunch withering away in a hot locker. Insulated lunch containers will preserve the food better than a paper bag. Be sure to get one with a waterproof lining for easy clean-ups.
Reusable ice packs for keeping cold foods cold
Speaking of keeping foods fresh, keep a stash of these reusable ice packs in your freezer. Whenever I pack a sandwich, especially if it has mayo in it, one of these goes right in my kids’ lunch bags. They’re also great for yogurt, anything with chocolate, fruits — you name it.
Any back-to-school essentials we missed? Let us know on the Parenthood Together Facebook group and give us your recs! We love hearing from parents who have lived it and learned from it.
We’re in this together.
