Back to School Supplies

We can’t be the only ones who get more excited about shopping for back to school supplies than our kids, right? There’s something about a fresh start to the school year with fresh gear that makes us feel like we have a bit more control in our kids having a good year (even when we don’t!). This school year is again shaping up to be different and some of these things won’t be necessary for virtual learning, but if your kids are headed back in person at some point, you’ll want to be prepared. We know there are a lot of products out there, so rather than inundating you with a bunch of options in each category, we’re just going to share what’s been tried and true in our households. Take a look at our picks for some ideas!

Backpack

If your kiddo is a preschooler, you won’t want them to be overwhelmed by a full-sized backpack. These cute Skip Hop backpacks are sized appropriately for young kids and work well for things they might need to bring to and from preschool. When they need to start carrying full-sized textbooks and papers though, you’ll want to graduate to a bigger backpack. For young elementary aged kids, we like the Mackenzie backpack from Pottery Barn (check the size chart, but for little ones, size “Small” works well). They are thoughtfully and durably made, with tons of storage and cute designs!

Lunchbox

If your kid has had the luxury of having hot homecooked meals, it might be a tough wake-up-call when they are faced with cold lunches (by the way, who else has a kid who refuses to eat a sandwich without disassembling it??). Omiebox might be the solution for you, as it’s a bento box that has an insulated compartment for hot foods while the other compartments stay cool. If your kid is not so picky about having hot food, this Bentgo bento box is a great option (it even has a removable ice pack). We love using these little containers for snacks because stainless steel is durable and non-toxic (and we can cut down on the waste of individual plastic packaging). 

Water Bottle

This Yeti water bottle is really effective at keeping drinks cold and is super durable. However, it’s a bit on the heavy side, so if you’ve got a younger child, we’d recommend this Munchkin insulated straw cup. If you don’t need the insulation and want something really lightweight, this CamelBak straw cup is a solid choice. 

Masks

We’ve loved using the Old Navy ones this year, as they fit very well and come in really cute designs (their stock does seems to be really low right now). However, with a more transmissible variant floating around, we upgraded to the Gap contour masks that have a lot of the same features (multiple layers, adjustable ear loop, cute designs), but also include a nose wire and a filter pocket. 

Labels

Kids are notorious for misplacing things, so help teachers (and your pocketbook) out by labeling their items (some preschools actually ask you to label every single thing you bring in). We’ve had no problems with Name Bubbles—their clothing and dishware labels have stayed on through many washes thus far! 

Headphones

These will come in handy for virtual learning, especially if you’re also trying to work from home. Even if your kids are going back to school in-person, it might be more sanitary to have their own headphones, if teachers allow it. We’ve enjoyed using these because they are comfortable, adjustable, and have a volume limit feature.   

Happy shopping and here’s hoping for a safe, healthy, and productive new school year!