As the kids get ready to go back to school, it’s time to start making the shopping list, planning school lunches, and getting everything ready to make the transition into the new year as easy as possible. Here are our top ten must-have supplies to pick up before the new school year starts.
1.) Bento Box
These handy containers have compartments for each food item, so it’s easy to pack healthy and make lunchtime fun. These are an upgrade from boring peanut butter sandwiches or unhealthy school lunches. Here are some easy bento box meals that are as perfect for the office as they are the school cafeteria.
2.) USB Flash Drive
Keep a few of these on hand to make it easy for your student to transfer documents between computers at school and home.
3.) A High-Quality Backpack
The type of backpack your child carries matters. A study from the American Physical Therapy Association found that 55 percent of children surveyed carried backpacks heavier than 15 percent of their total body weight, the maximum safe weight for children recommended by most experts. Physical therapists recommend the following features when selecting a backpack:
- A padded back to reduce pressure on the back and prevent the pack’s contents from digging into the child’s back
- Compression straps on the sides or bottom of the backpack that, when tightened, compress the contents of the backpack and stabilize the articles
- Reflective material so that the child is visible to drivers at night
4.) Weekly Planner
It’s never too early to start teaching good time management habits. No matter your child’s age, a planner will always be helpful for keeping track of homework, school functions, PTA meetings, and more.
5.) Pencil Case/Bag
Keep writing utensils and coloring accessories safely stored in a convenient pouch or carrying case. You can even find pencil pouches with holes for a three-ring binder to make it easy to keep track of every item.
6.) Gym Bag
You don’t have to invest in a full-size equipment bag for the student that’s just attending P.E. or only starting out on an afterschool sports team. A small duffel bag or drawstring knapsack will be more than sufficient to cart home dirty athletic clothes to be washed.
7.) Book Covers
If your student is at the level where they have to take home textbooks, it’s probably a good idea to either invest in a set of book covers or make your own from sturdy parcel paper. You never know when a spill or other messy accident might ruin the cover of a book, so it’s best to be prepared and avoid the expensive cost of replacing a text book.
8.) Mini Emergency Kit
This is mostly for older children, but an emergency kit can be a lifesaver. Depending on the child, essential items could include feminine hygiene products, tissues, adhesive bandages, safety pins, earring backs, nail polish remover, a stain remover, lip balm, dental floss, mending kit, breath freshener, travel deodorant, etc.
9.) Locker Upgrades
Upgrade your older student’s locker with shelving, a magnetic strip for keys and other odds and ends, a magnetic mirror, or this DIY locker organizer.
10.) A Reusable Water Bottle
Your student will stay hydrated throughout the day, plus it’s a great alternative to juice boxes, soda or sugary sports drinks. Plus, with a shatterproof glass water bottle from Glasstic, you can use different liquids without worrying about their smell or taste lingering in the container, avoid BPA and other chemicals, and get the purity of glass without the danger of the bottle breaking.
Want a chance to win a Glasstic bottle to see the difference yourself? Visit our giveaways page to sign up! Don’t forget to shop our back to school sale, going on through the end of August.
