Your Ultimate Back-to-School Shopping Guide

Let’s have a Smooth Back-to-School Season

When I was a student, one of the things that got me most excited about going back to school was shopping for new school supplies. I loved the look, feel, and smell of brand-new notebooks and notepads, colorful pens, fun pencil holders/organizers, and shiny new clips and binders. The thought of using new school supplies always added to the excitement of going back to school.

Inspired by those cherished memories, and now as a mother of three boys—who have all grown and flown the nest to college—I’ve crafted “Your Ultimate Back-to-School Supply Guide.” This blog post captures the joy and excitement of finding just the right items to kick off the school year—whether for your kids or perhaps to indulge your love for beautiful stationery.

Now more than ever, there’s a dizzying array of options for school supplies. It can be tempting to buy anything and everything that you find cute or cool, but it’s best to stick to the simple and the basic.

Going back to school is also an excellent opportunity to teach kids how to get organized, so when you’re out shopping, help your kids pick out items that make the learning experience fun and productive.

I’m sure your school provided you with an essential list of what your child will need, so here are some school supplies to help you and the kids get organized both at home and in school:

It’s never too early to start teaching kids the value of organization. Introducing them to simple and effective organizing tools sets them up for success in their academic journey.

Planners and organizers are for more than just adults. Kids need this, too, to keep track of important dates, project deadlines, school events, and the like.

When they write things down in a calendar, they learn to be organized—a life skill they will thank you for later.

Digital or traditional, it’s never too early to start teaching kids the value of organization. Keeping track of important dates, project deadlines, and school events is crucial.

Returning to school means accumulating papers and other school documents for you and your kids.

Help your kids get organized by having them use file folders efficiently. Teach them how to manage files, label the folders, and neatly organize them in a visible and easy-to-reach spot in their room. If there’s a place in their room for all files, they can line up all the file folders with labels so it’s easier for them to use what they need anytime.

You’ve probably seen them all – flash drives of all shapes, sizes, and designs. Flash drives are a must-have for every student, from food to superheroes to geometric styles. Make storing files fun for your kids with fun, funky flash drives of their choice.

To avoid losing these small gadgets, attach them to a keychain or keep them in a gadget organizer.

To avoid clutter in your kids’ study desks, teach them how to organize using tray organizers.

Tray organizers with compartments enable your kids to separate their school supplies and help keep their desks tidy.

Tray organizers are great tools for productivity—you save time looking for supplies when you have them all neatly arranged in one place!

Reading new books and materials is one of the best things about returning to school.
As a kid struggling with numbers, I loved poring over my recommended reading books and learning new languages.

Keep highlighters handy to make studying and reading more fun. Removable flags and sticky notes will help your kids write notes and stay organized inside their books and textbooks without having to write on the book pages.

Highlighters now come in various colors, so it’s always fun to pick your favorites to make studying a more “colorful” experience!

Once school begins, there will be a lot of paper, so binders and folders are a must-have.

Also, because you don’t want your child carrying all the weight for no reason, I suggest you create a filing system by color using folders and binders.

The folders stay in your child’s backpack and are used as “mail.” As the paperwork comes home, file them in the binder of the respective color.

This is the same system I used in college, keeping all my notes organized by subject and minimizing the weight in my bag.

Folders

Organize the papers that come to and from school by selecting a color per subject for each folder. For example:

• The blue folder for English
• Orange folder for Science
• Green folder for Math
• Red folder for Spanish and so on.

Binders

At home, replicate the color system you created for your folders with binders. Following what we did with the folder above, you’ll have:

• The blue binder for English
• Orange binder for Science
• Green binder for Math
• Red binder for Spanish, etc.

Create sections inside each binder for tests, written projects, etc.

Consider adding a portfolio case or filing box for thicker documents like projects and essay collections.

To avoid piles of artwork and projects, digitalize the best work as the year passes. At the end of the year, you can recycle everything, knowing you already saved what you like most.

As an adult, I couldn’t live without Post-Its. Your kids can also use this nifty invention in school to remind them of tasks or things to do. Post-its are also great for writing down inspiring or motivational reminders!

They can post these on their books, desks, notebooks, and other school supplies to remind them to do great work!

I particularly love these transparent sticky notes for studying and keeping my notes inside my books.

 I love Bento boxes because they have food compartments that allow you to provide a variety of choices for your kids and how you can put everything in one place.

Bento lunch boxes make packing your kids’ lunch fast and easy and help prevent spills. Without having to use several containers for soups, desserts, or sauces, bento lunches are definitely a great way for kids to eat and go!

These days, functional gadget organizers are a must-have for kids’ bags to prevent clutter. With a good tech organizer, you can keep all gadgets, like tablets, laptops, and smartphones, secure and organized.

They provide an excellent storage solution for chargers, flash drives, earphones, and other gadgets. With a trusty gadget organizer, they won’t have to fumble through their bags for the needed gadgets!

Bonus Tip

Portable Chargers – Ensure devices are always ready for use, a must-have in today’s digital learning environment.

In today’s bustling world, the right environment can significantly enhance students’ ability to concentrate and absorb information.

Noise-canceling headphones are a perfect back-to-school accessory. They are especially beneficial for students who are easily distracted by background noise or have sound sensitivities. These headphones help create a personal oasis of quiet, making it easier to focus on studies and homework.

Whether studying in a noisy cafeteria or at home with siblings playing around, noise-canceling headphones can boost concentration and productivity.

As students load up on textbooks, notebooks, and tech devices, the weight in their backpacks can quickly add up, potentially straining their backs and shoulders.

Ergonomic backpacks are designed to alleviate this problem by distributing weight evenly across the body. These backpacks often feature padded straps, proper back support, and multiple compartments to balance the load.

Investing in an ergonomic backpack for your child can help prevent posture issues and back pain, ensuring they can carry their school essentials comfortably and safely.

Hydration is crucial for maintaining focus and energy throughout the school day. Equipping your child with a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter is not only an eco-friendly choice but also a practical one.

These water bottles ensure that students can always access clean, safe drinking water, no matter the source. Plus, using reusable bottles helps reduce plastic waste, teaching students the importance of environmental stewardship from a young age.

In conclusion, back-to-school shopping for supplies can be an exciting and productive time for both parents and kids.

Parents can instill important life skills and create an environment that fosters organization, creativity, and productivity by choosing the right school supplies and teaching kids how to stay organized.

So, embrace the back-to-school shopping process and remember that it’s not just about getting the items on the list but also about creating an environment that prepares students for success.

These items will make the first school day much easier for you and your kids! What are your back-to-school must-haves? Let me know in the comments below.