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Back-To-School Essentials That Will Get Your Kids Excited About Returning To Campus

This year, students are actually going back to school (hurray!), which means they’ll need supplies, and lots of them. Making the process of picking out everything from clothes and shoes to pencil cases and lunch boxes a team effort is a great way to help your child feel prepared and excited for the coming year.

Elisse Gabriel Senior Writer & Editor

I can still remember the shift from carefree days of summer to back-to-school season when I was a kid, waking me up from the comfortable summer groove and into a tummy-rumbling awareness that the return to school was right around the corner. What helped me quell the nervous anticipation was the preparation — getting all the things we needed — from clothes and shoes to a new lunchbox, notebooks, pencils and pens. Part scavenger hunt, part day with Mom, the process of shopping for back-to-school items was exciting, giving me a sense of control just before returning to a class full of kids, most of whom I hadn’t seen since the previous June.

What makes this year different

Considering the fact that the past school year was held largely at home, returning to campus carries with it far more weight than before. This time around students will actually be going back to school, a big shift from simply rolling out of bed and opening up a laptop.

Since children will be traveling to and from home, more supplies will be needed than when they simply attended classes via Zoom. Giving your kids the opportunity to choose what they like (rather than you deciding for them) will help them get excited about the transition from home to school.

Backpacks, water bottles & lunch boxes

Make the journey to and from school especially fun with a backpack that brings a smile, whether it’s one that glitters, shimmers or smiles back at you, like Jem & Bea’s Kids Eco Backpack. Since children will likely need to bring lunch and snacks with them, have them choose an insulated lunchbox with ample space for lunch, a standard water bottle and snacks like State’s indigo patchwork Rodgers Lunch Box, or Planet Box Rover’s Stainless-Steel version, which includes compartments for both a sandwich and snacks.

Pens, pencils & art supplies

Choosing writing implements and art supplies is especially fun. Sure, there are the required #2 pencils and other standards, but have fun with pens, crayons, and erasers. When you’re done, pick a special case to store them in, like My Little Shop’s personalized Liberty of London Pencil Case.

Folders, notebooks & planners

The selection of folders and notebooks are more colorful than ever. Find out what the teacher wants in terms of type of folders and subject notebooks (for example, whether they should be single-subject, wide-ruled, etc.), then let your child decide. Look out for recycled options, which save trees while offering another opportunity to teach your child about conservation. Younger children will likely not need a homework planner, but you can use a dry erase board to create a list, either with symbols if they’re pre-readers or simple words, to indicate what’s expected of them before and after school.

Clothes, shoes & accessories

A brand new outfit helps little ones get excited to return to school. Select something comfortable, like Hart + Land’s organic drawstring shorts, a fresh pair of sneakers, or personalized pieces like Hart + Land’s sweatshirt or Levi’s denim jacket, both of which are sure to become wardrobe favorites. If you can, save these items for the first day or week of school. Knowing something special awaits will help promote a positive sense of excitement as the the return to school draws near.

A little “lovey,” just in case

If your child is especially concerned about leaving home, separating from you or going to school, provide them with something soft or soothing that can fit safely inside their backpack, like Maileg’s Ballerina Mouse or a soft, velvety scrunchy they can hold in their palm or wear in their hair. You can even write them a note to tuck into their pocket or cut out a small photo and tape it inside their planner. More than anything, help your child feel at ease, assuring them that what’s most important is not what they wear or what they have but who they are inside.