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When I sent my oldest off to kindergarten, I thought I had back-to-school shopping figured out. New backpack? Check. School supplies? Check. First-day outfit? Obviously.
But now that I have a 5th grader and a kindergartener, I’ve learned that the items that truly make the school year easier aren’t always the ones on the official school supply list. They’re the things that help mornings run smoother, keep our home organized, and save me from those inevitable last-minute “we need this tomorrow” moments.
Over the years, I’ve built a back-to-school checklist of practical essentials that I like to have ready before the first bell rings. From health supplies and lunch box extras to organization tools and little things kids (and parents) use every single day, these are the back-to-school must-haves I know will make the year ahead run a little more smoothly.
There are plenty of things you don’t think about until the first “Can you pick me up from soccer?” call—or the first time your child walks home from the bus stop. If a first connected device is on your radar this school year, planning ahead now is something your future self will thank you for.
The new Verizon Gizmo Watch 4 gives kids the excitement and independence of having a device of their own while helping families stay connected with voice or video calling and messaging to a parent-approved list of trusted contacts. Features like School Mode and watch removal detection make it especially helpful for busy school days. The Verizon Family app gives parents a convenient place to manage approved contacts, customize settings, and check in throughout the day. Plus, for a limited time, you can get Gizmo Watch 4 on Verizon on us with a new watch line.*
Between lost jackets and mystery water bottles, labeling everything is key. Stock up on waterproof, dishwasher-safe, and laundry-safe labels. Stick them on everything: water bottles, lunch boxes, books, and hoodies.
A few things to keep in mind when ordering:
Think about anything extracurricular that might need labeling too, like dance wear, sports equipment, and sports uniforms.
If you have more than one kiddo, consider using your family’s last name only, and that way you can stick to one style, which is often cheaper and easier to manage.
Running to the store to restock glue sticks is the last thing you need to worry about during busy school nights. Because no matter how old your kids get, they’re still likely to forget about a project or a missing folder until the afternoon before. Get ahead of it by keeping an emergency stash of notebooks, folders, construction paper, glue, and pencils (cause how do they always lose all their pencils a month into the school year?!).
The lunch box gets all the attention, but it’s the little extras that make packing lunches easier day after day. My favorite addition has been the lunchtime jokes; they make for a great icebreaker with new friends at lunchtime! Speaking of ice, these packs are the first to get lost throughout the year, so I always like to have extras on hand.
Extra water bottles (because one will always disappear)
Say goodbye to mid-year replacements and stock up on durable, leak-proof kids’ water bottles and tumblers now. And then when you think you have enough, get another one. (Or two!) Kids use (and lose) water bottles at an alarming rate, and there’s nothing worse than going to make school lunch for the day and realizing you were down to your last water bottle, and that one ended up having a sleepover in the classroom.
Homework and last-minute projects have a way of sneaking up on everyone, especially during those first busy weeks of school. Creating a small homework station with basic supplies means kids know where to find what they need, and you aren’t searching through junk drawers at 8 p.m. Plus, a portable thermal printer is also surprisingly helpful for printing labels, school forms, project materials, and quick assignments without worrying about ink.
The amount of paperwork, notices, flyers, and permission slips that come home in the early weeks of school can be kind of insane. Grabbing durable and nice-to-look-at magnets can make your fridge look more like an organized family hub than a busy eyesore.
Also consider creating Between permission slips, classroom announcements, fundraiser flyers, and important dates, having a designated place for everything keeps the kitchen counter from becoming a paper mountain.
Consider creating a file system for important papers, a fridge command center, and a backpack drop zone.
Show your little one how much you admire their work while cutting down on counter or fridge clutter by having blank, ready-to-use interchangeable frames. These options make it easy to display and switch out their masterpieces as they come home. Plus, you’ll want to have an artwork storage system ready when the projects start piling up.
Health essentials to have ready before school starts
The first few months of school often bring sniffles, scraped knees, bug bites, and the inevitable classroom germs. Having fever reducers and other medications on hand is a no-brainer, but you should take this time to stock up on the other must-haves like Pedialyte Freezer Pops, Boogie Wipes, and more to be ready when the inevitable first school sickness strikes.
It’s the unglamorous essential you’ll be so glad you grabbed. While the basics might sound like a no-brainer, I truly believe you can never have enough—especially if your washer or dryer likes to eat little socks like mine does. (Or if your potty training is still a work-in-progress.) Back-to-school shopping is mostly fun, which means often these items are left in the dust behind cute new dresses, cozy hoodies, and shiny new sneakers.
From lunch spills to grass stains and art projects, school clothes go through a lot. Keeping a stain remover in your laundry room, purse, or car can save favorite shirts and prevent last-minute outfit emergencies.
If your child has ever lost a jacket, lunchbox, or backpack, you know the lost-and-found struggle is real. For older kids especially, a tracker can provide extra peace of mind for expensive items.
Though gift-giving is my love language, let’s be real—sometimes there’s a doubleheader or a last-minute invitation, and you need something to give that’s sure to please everyone. Keep a small stash of under $25 gifts kids will love—puzzles, craft kits, books—ready to wrap.
Pro tip: Some might call this tacky; I call it economic, but another way to easily stock up on these is regifting any double gifts that come your way during the holidays or birthdays.You’ll thank yourself later when those party invites come home crumpled at the bottom of a backpack.
Make sure you have batteries of all sizes on hand for anything that might come your way. We’re so used to USB-powered or other chargeable devices that batteries are often overlooked. So grab a multi-pack of batteries and be ready for calculators to help with math homework or flashlights needed for the “Reading Day Campout” at school.
Pro tip: Store them in a battery case with a battery tester so you’ll always have a stash.
Erin is an NYC-based writer with a BA in Journalism from Quinnipiac University and two master’s degrees in education. She is a proud mama to a little girl and a lifestyle, beauty, wellness, and trends reports writer. Beyond The Everymom, Erin’s editorial work has been featured in publications like Bustle, Allure, Byrdie, The Everygirl, TeenVogue, BRIDES, Sunday Edit, and TODAY.
Alina Orozco is the Commerce Editor at The Everymom, where she combines her editorial experience with a love for finding products that make everyday life easier and more stylish. To The Everymom, Alina brings over 10+ years of editorial publishing and digital storytelling experience, as well as snippets of her real-life mom style, making fashion trends accessible and fun for every mom. She now lives in a cozy beach town in Southern California with her husband and their two boys, but she’ll always be a Philly girl at heart.
*$179.99 purchase w/ new watch line on $10/mo Gizmo Watch service plan. Less $180 promo credit applied over 36 mos. Promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR.
Products included in graphics linked within the article.
This post contains sponsored inclusions of Verizon and Staples but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.
