Top 10 Must-Have School Supplies for Your Elementary Student

So you're getting ready to start another school year? One of the most hectic things for my family was always shopping for school supplies - clothing was a snap (everyone got x amount of new outfits, shoes, boots and a jacket), but it was always hard to anticipate what school supplies my children would need for each coming year. This was particularly difficult when they were first starting school, or when they made that jump into middle school or high school.

I often found it easiest to sit down and make myself a detailed list of essential back to school basics, following each grade. I would then go out and buy these basics beforehand, then wait until after the school year started to fill in the gaps - fortunately, most teachers will provide you with a list of needed supplies for their class. This was a great help, as it allowed me to take advantage of many back to school sales, while not going overboard.
Is your child starting kindergarten this year? Here is a handy list of back to school basics for the elementary student. Hopefully this will help you get a jump start on your school supplies...without jumping in over your head.

My Top Ten Essential Back-to-School Supplies for the Elementary Student

1. Backpack - A backpack is a must for most kindergarten and elementary students. Not only does it ensure they have all their school supplies with them, it also gets them in the habit of carrying one and being responsible for it, as well as giving them a way to transport their school work home. I've seen some great backpacks this year, but I must admit that I'm particularly fond of the Disney Fairies backpacks for girls (it's just too cute for words) and I'm really partial to the Deuter Junior Kids Pack for all the great safety features it has. Prices for your average backpacks are usually $15-50, depending on brand name and whether you get features like telescoping handles and wheels.

2. Three Ring Binder - These were commonly referred to as "Trapper Keepers" in my household, as this was the brand we commonly used. To this day, I'm still a big supporter of Mead, Trapper and Five Star school supplies. For a three ring binder, I usually recommend large, strong rings for easy use, but also be sure that they have the opening snaps at either end to avoid painful pinches. Lots of pockets are great and I usually like to fill it with a good quality filler paper.

3. Folders - Chances are that your student is going to need at least a couple sturdy pocket folders, so I usually recommend picking up several of these. If you avoid buying the latest fad folders (one with popular movie characters or singers/bands on them), you can always store extras away for next year. Avoid flimsy paper folders for young students though - even though they can be found for great prices, they rarely withstand the wear and tear of an average elementary student.

4. 12 Pencils - Office Depot offers some great bargains on environmentally friendly pencils and recycled pencils but, in most cases, your elementary student is probably going to clamor for glitter pencils, bejeweled pencils or pencils with designs on them. My trick was usually doling out the Ticonderoga Tri-Conderoga pencils (they're soft on the fingers and sleek black, so they're novel). Then, I used the fancy pencils as rewards for good grades, positive behavior and doing helpful things.

5. Pencil Keeper - If you get your elementary students pencils, you'll definitely want to get them a pencil keeper as well. I recommend a plastic one that will fit in your child's 3-ring binder, but you may want to get a hard plastic box keeper that's a little more sturdy.

6. Erasers - When you go to buy erasers for your elementary student, I always recommend getting a classic Pink Pearl eraser, as well as several pencil topper erasers. Children go through these quickly, so if you find a good deal on them, stock up!

7. Box of Crayons - In most cases, you can usually get away with just a box of 16, though you can find crayons in boxes that are upwards of 70 crayons. I was always fond of the big box of Crayola crayons because they also came with a built-in crayon sharpener.

8. Box of Markers - If you're looking for a great set of markers, for your elementary student, I highly recommend the Crayola washable markers. Not only do they have great color and are long lasting, the simple fact that they're washable makes them invaluable.

9. Glue - Most elementary students end up needing both glue sticks and a bottle of liquid glue, such as the traditional Elmer's Glue. In some cases, you may find a request for paste, but this is usually covered with the glue sticks.

10. Safety Scissors - For your elementary student's back to school basics, you'll also want to add in a pair of safety scissors with blunt tips. Avoid scissors that are made mostly of plastic - while they may seem safer, they often break easily and rarely cut well. A good pair of safety scissors will go a long way.

If you purchase this simple list of elementary student school supplies, chances are that you'll have the majority of your back to school purchases covered. Other helpful purchases may include spiral notebooks, composition notebooks and tape. Teachers also frequently ask for donations of hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap or antibacterial wipes and Kleenex. If you find any of these items at a discount, be sure to pick some of them up and donate them to your child's class - they'll benefit in the end!

Sources:

Experience as a mother of three