The Essential Back-to-School Checklist

Some people love when it’s time for back-to-school shopping because they get excited about the potential and opportunities that lie ahead with each new beginning. Others, however, may not be so thrilled about getting everything together all at once especially if you have waited until the final hour to start your back-to-school shopping. But with growing children and changing curricula, we can’t avoid the necessity of the school shopping experience. Our kids need all the things to start each new school year so they can stay abreast of their academic studies as well as their budding social lives.

While back-to-school shopping can sometimes feel overwhelming with confusing supply lists and even more confusing kids’ fashion trends, the shopping will be easier if you know exactly what to look for and what essentials your child will need for the year. Hopefully, this essential back-to-school checklist will help to ease your shopping experience as you prepare for the new school year.

Everyday Wear

Whether your child’s school requires a uniform or allows them to wear whatever they like, clothing is always important. Some articles of clothing may be carried over into the next year, however, our children grow quickly and styles change even quicker, necessitating the need for new clothing at the start of each new school year.

We want our kids to look suitable for school while also expressing their individual style, but we also want them to be comfortable to help facilitate more effective learning. Casual and comfortable clothing like Tween Leggings or sweatpants are ideal for school and often cost less than designer jeans. Buying designer clothing for a growing child seems like a waste of money when it will be outgrown before the next school year. No child really needs designer clothing anyway. At least not until they can afford it themselves or have stopped growing.

 Changing Temperatures

Just as every new school year comes around at the same time each year, the seasons change on their own general schedule with the weather shifting and temperatures changing throughout the course of the school semesters. It is important to be proactively prepared with all of the essential outdoor gear like coats, boots, gloves, and hats for sudden climate changes, dropping temperatures, or unpredictable storms.

Winter coats and snow boots will cost less if you can purchase them when they are out of season. Depending on where you live, cold weather gear may already be considered off season before the season ever really sets in, especially since retailers try to stay one season ahead to maximize sales. If you can’t find reasonable prices at retail establishments, outlet stores are a great source for high-quality seasonal apparel. Outlets will offer deeply discounted prices on the previous year’s styles to make room for the new merchandise in retail stores. And if you prefer to shop green, thrift and consignment shops are also wonderful places to find all sorts of gently used seasonal wear.

Taking Notes

There have definitely been considerable changes in supply needs since the days when I was a school kid. While I arrived in school armed with a notebook and pen to scribble down class notes as legibly as possible, students in contemporary classrooms are much more tech-oriented, relying instead on laptops or tablets for taking notes electronically. With the increase in remote learning and homework expectations, it is a good idea to research the best child-friendly notebooks before making the investment.

It is an inevitability that your child will eventually require a laptop to keep up with their academic demands, so it is never too early to start shopping for these devices. Our children don’t necessarily need the best laptop of all time. A basic system that allows them to research and write reports for their school projects would be sufficient and ideal for their needs.

Books and Things

Depending on your specific school requirements, your child will also need notebooks and possibly even textbooks. If the teacher prefers to teach directly from textbooks, your student will need to have the necessary items for the very first lesson to ensure they don’t fall behind right from the start.

Besides notebooks, textbooks, pens, pencils, other supplies are also essential for the first day of school. Many teachers and schools will provide supply lists of all the items your student will need during the school year. Even if they don’t use all of their supplies as often as expected, being prepared with them on hand is helpful for when they might need a certain item.

Lunch Time

Packing your kids’ lunches is a great way to save money throughout the school year, but sending them to school with a brown paper bag is not cool. It is also not very environmentally friendly. Most kids, especially younger ones, prefer a lunch box featuring their favorite superhero, Disney character, or sports team.

Allowing your child to choose a lunch container that appeals to them inspires them to express their own personal style as well as encourages them to eat their lunch, which is crucial if your child is a fussy eater. Proper nutrition is so important to keep your child energized and focused on learning throughout the school day.

After-School Activities

If your child participates in lots of after-school activities, you may consider offering them the independence and responsibility that a personal cell phone provides. While modern-day parents have differing views about an appropriate age to get a cell phone, it is a personal choice for each family to decide if a cell phone makes sense for their children.

Kids don’t need the newest, flashiest, most expensive devices available on the market, especially with many brands offering kid-friendly smartphones that allow for phone contact without internet access. Many of these kid-friendly devices are also constructed with a higher durability designed to withstand the heavier wear and tear and chance of breaking when in the hands of children.

Back to School

We all want our children to excel in their classes every year. By preparing them adequately at the start of each new school year, we are setting up them up for a better learning experience, ready for whatever school (and life) lessons come their way.

My kids just started school on Tuesday this week, armed and ready for learning, personal growth, making new friends, and enjoying new experiences. May all the children (and teachers) have a successful and safe school year!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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