Back to School Shopping Tips

Although most children love summer vacation and say that they hate school, for some reason the majority of them love getting their school supplies. However, many of us have to wait for a specific list of needed supplies before we know what is required. Many school districts have remedied this problem by distributing the lists early. If your children's school doesn't distribute the supply lists early, there are still essentials that you can purchase to get them started.

Backpack
Of course a backpack should be one of the first items on your list. Typically, students are given things to bring home their very first day of school and it is best they have somewhere safe to carry these items. Older students receive books that need covering and both older and younger students get administrative paperwork for their parents to fill out. When selecting a new backpack steer clear of messenger bags, because they can tend to cause shoulder pain. Rolling bags are great if your kids will use them, but if they won't stick with a standard backpack. If your children won't reuse a backpack and their old one is still in good shape donate it to goodwill, so a less fortunate child can use it.

Lunch Box
A lunch box is another important element of a child's school day. Most elementary aged children need a lunch box, unless they buy their lunch daily. A good lunch box should be insulated to keep your child's lunch fresh. It should also have a wide enough opening to fit larger lunch items like a thermos or a small tupperware container. Lunch boxes should also be made of a material that can easily be wiped down in the event something spills on the inside or outside of them.

Clothing
It is not entirely necessary that you run out and spend a ton of money on new school clothes, unless your child's school requires uniforms. That being said a few new items can start the year off on the right note. Considering that school starts when the whether is still warm your child will still be wearing mostly summer clothing. However, a fresh new pair of sneakers is always a good idea and a nice outfit to start with on the first day. Being that you have to spend so much money on supplies, waiting until it gets closer to the whether changing to buy fall clothes might be more sensible.

Supplies
Although most teachers provide a very specific list of what will be needed for their classroom, there are certain items that are always requested. Number two pencils will always be on that list and I usually stock up on them and keep extras handy at home for when my daughter runs out mid year. Younger children always need glue and scissors. Again, I buy extra glue both in the bottle and in glue sticks for homework and mid year classroom replacements. Elementary aged children usually need markers and crayons as well. Some teachers ask for tissues, so I usually grab a box of them before hand.

The more supplies that you can purchase ahead of time the better. On the first day of school when your child brings home their teachers list you can get whatever else you haven't pre-purchased. Going out after school starts can be hectic and the crowds at the stores are abundant so the less you have to buy then the better.