"With summer days coming to a close, it officially marks the start of gearing up for a new school year. For parents that are preparing for their child’s first day of kindergarten, we know you might be feeling a whirlwind of emotions—ranging from excitement to maybe a touch of nervousness. We’ve all imagined what this day would feel like, and now that it’s finally approaching, it’s time to grab some kindergarten must-have items for your little one.
We can only hope that this day will be picture-perfect, but what we know for sure is that it’ll undoubtedly be a memorable day that you’ll cherish forever. You deserve to feel prepared and supported going into this new chapter for you and your kiddo. And what better way to cope with all the first day of school jitters than with some back-to-school shopping?
While we know these things won’t make or break your child’s first day of school, there are a few items out there that can help you feel more prepared and encourage smooth sailing. If you’re unsure where to start, our editors have put together a list of items that made our kids’ first day of kindergarten that much more special. To make your first day of school prep a bit easier, take a look at our editors’ tried-and-true kindergarten must-have items below.
Kindergarten Must-Have Items
I’m more of a last-minute preparation kind of person, so the day before my daughter started kindergarten, I was looking for a cute, printable first day of school pennant we could easily DIY at home for those first day of school photos. This printable bundle includes preschool through 12th grade so you can create your own tradition. — Kathy Sisson, Editor This was a great way to prepare my kiddo for the new school year. It really helped with easing her into the exciting experience and transition to kindergarten. Additionally, it can also serve as a keepsake! — Nyla Montanez, Social Media Editor Reading "The Night Before…" books has become a back-to-school tradition for our family. We started with pre-school and now I just ordered the second grade version. Kindergarten was by far our favorite and got many reads before school started and throughout the first few months of the school year. — Roberta Correia, Editor-in-Chief A personal water bottle was a MUST on my list because let’s be real: Kids can get a little icky with the water fountains. This bottle is leak-proof, so it ensures none of their belongings get damaged due to spills. Plus, my daughter really loved picking out the design—there are so many cute options. — Nyla Montanez, Social Media Editor 20+ colors and patterns available My kindergartener could definitely be described as a “picky eater”, but she had some tried-and-true favorite school lunches—the catch was they needed to be kept cold. This Bentgo Chill Lunch Box comes with a removable ice pack we’d refreeze at the end of every day. Plus, the box was dishwasher safe for easy daily cleaning. — Kathy Sisson, Editor 8 colors available Per the teacher’s request, everything had to be labeled. These are the best labels IMO because they’re waterproof and have held up after multiple washes. You can use them on everything, including water bottles, sneakers, clothes, backpacks, and more. — Nyla Montanez, Social Media Editor At our kindergarten orientation, all the teachers agreed Velcro shoes and easy-to-pull-on boots were going to be everybody’s friend (imagine getting 20+ kids ready to go outside for recess). I loved these Plae sneakers because we could throw them in the washing machine after the inevitable muddy recess or art project mishap. Plus, they come in so many fun color combinations so my daughter could show off her personal style. — Kathy Sisson, Editor 16 colors and patterns available Kindergarten was officially the year that Spiderman took over my house (he hasn't left yet—my son says he is actually Spiderman, don't tell anyone!). To make the first day special, we invested in a quality backpack that has plenty of room to grow with him. — Roberta Correia, Editor-in-Chief 3 sizes available; customizable
