Back-to-School Shopping for First-Grade Students

There are a slew of articles in parenting magazines and on the Internet this time of year advising you on back-to-school bargains, fashions and supplies. If you have a young one transitioning from kindergarten to the first grade; the back-to-school shopping takes on the importance of a life milestone; however, back to school shopping at this age should be kept simple, economical, and within your school guidelines.

Most schools publish a list of back to school supplies that a specific grade requires. I looked up back to school supplies for a first grade in Hermiston, Oregon, one from Springfield, Missouri, and one rather generic example that was suggested by a retailer. Then I got creative and looked up lists from coast to coast....they were all pretty basically the same.

Back to school supplies for first grade students generally just add a few items to the familiar Kindergarten supplies list.

If your child still has a sharp looking backpack that fits, you may not have to get another one to go back to school this year. If the kindergarten model is no longer serviceable you will want to get a quality backpack that is not to big.

My family has always bought tons of those yellow number two pencils for going back to school with, and there were always extra left in the school supply drawer in the hall at the end of the year. Check to see if you have some left from last year and set them aside for that first day of school.

I think a brand new box of crayons is an absolute must even if you have shoe boxes full of used, partially used, or broken ones around. NOBODY goes back to school without new crayons.

My brother and sister and I always got a brand new bottle of Elmer's glue apiece for going back to school each fall; sometimes a little one if money was tight and then another little one later in the year. The back to school lists I looked at recommended an eight ounce bottle for the first grade. They also recommend eight or more glue sticks. Remember for the budgets sake that you do not have to get eight glue sticks for the first day of school. One will do to start back to school, and then you can get more as they are needed. That advice will apply to any back to school item that is requested in multiples.

One back to school list I looked at required rounded scissors for kindergarten but specified pointed ones for first grade. I personally think first grade is still too young for sharp pointed scissors but check with your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns. This is another item that you may not have to buy if your child still has scissors in good repair.

A box of Kleenex was on every back to school list from kindergarten to college and so was antibacterial wipes or baby wipes. I would advise that you find non-alcohol and non-scented or non-allergenic wipes.

Most lists ask parents to provide a small school box for the back to school supplies to be stored in to help keep backpacks, desks and other work areas organized. You can find these at The Dollar Store, or (in the Northwest); Bi-Mart Stores have a good supply of colorful and serviceable "pencil boxes". Of course any drug store, most grocery stores and Wal-Mart have them this time of year as well. The trick is to find the least expensive place to get them.

Some back to school lists wanted Prang or Crayola brand water colors. I think the reason they specified these two brands has to do with the possibility of toxic ingredients in some lesser known brands. A savvy mom will check this out carefully. Check with consumer reports to see if lead or arsenic or any other contaminant has been found in the paints you intend to buy.

All the back to school lists requested parents to supply a box of zip-lock bags. Some of the lists ask for small ones, some ask for quart or gallon size ones. Check your lists to see what is requested by your child's teacher.

For a first grade student you should be able to get those back to school supplies for around twenty to twenty five dollars. Check with your dollar store and then with other discount stores; Wal-Mart is always a low price option, but so are many other stores.

I have one last piece of advice. To keep within your budget and avoid stress, and scenes, do not take your child shopping with you. You will know your child's favorite colors and styles so just go and get the back to school supplies yourself and avoid the demands and pouts that the overload of tempting colors and varieties of merchandise provoke. Shopping for clothes and shoes is the appropriate time for your child to go with you and make some choices of their own.