Back to school is here, and with my oldest going into Grade 6 and my youngest starting Grade 1 it’s going to be a big year. With 5+ years of back to school experience behind me I’m a veteran at buying backpacks and making lunches and even making sure I empty those lunches into the compost bin every night. Here is my list of backpack essentials for kids as they go back to school.
The first day of school is important and stressful – for parents AND kids, and preparing for it goes a long way in making sure that day goes by smoothly.
18 School Backpack Essentials
So here’s my checklist of what will be in my kids’ backpack come Tuesday.
- Lunch box – lunch of course with two healthy and FILLING snacks. I believe in more rather than less till the routine settles down a bit. And think of the teachers – would you want 20-odd “hangry” kids in the room along with you?
Please my latest post on being earth-savvy and packing a school lunch that kids will actually eat.
2. Lunch bags need to be easily and independently opened especially for younger kids. See my ultimate guide to back to school tips here for what to consider before you buy.
3. Don’t forget the cutlery! I have, many times and I never hear the end of it. Thanks to kind teachers who always seem to have an extra fork.
4. Water Bottle – metal or glass are best options. Don’t be afraid of glass – the new ones come with silicon covers and are really tough to break.
5. Hat – even though the weather will be cooling off in Toronto, a sun hat is still essential because kids spend a fair amount of time outdoors as part of their DPA (Daily Physical Activity) and recess.
6. Sunscreen – see hat, above.
7. A change of clothes in a clear zip lock bag for younger kids. There will be accidents on the first day and unless you’re ready for a phone call in the middle of the day, don’t forget this.
8. Indoor shoes
9. Pack of sticky notes – I don’t know what’s with sticky notes but my kids love them, and my youngest insisted on a pack even in JK though she didn’t really use them the entire year.
10 – 15. Pencil bag with 2 pencils, a pen, a sharpener, an eraser, one sharpie and a glue stick. There are a number of earth-friedly options.
16. Crayons especially for the younger ones. Keep the scented ones away from school in consideration of allergies, and who wants the additional bubblegum-sniffing distraction?
17-18. For older kids – a binder with a notebook and if it’s matching then you know your kids will be delighted.
Final tip for back to school
Everything MUST be labelled. My kids’ school has a lost and found table where all lost items eventually end up. I can’t tell you how many times our lunch bags and shoes have been returned safely only because they’re labelled. Mabel’s Labels are dishwasher and washing machine safe, and will set you up quite nicely for the new school year.
My list of school backpack essentials may sound like a lot and you have to consider the weight of the backpack and how comfortable your child will be. Sadly they will need many more things as the year starts and stationery lists get longer. A practice run wearing backpacks over the weekend will help especially with younger kids.
* Expired*
Back to School Giveaway worth $160
And to get us all organized with back to school essentials Staples Canada and Mabel’s Labels are offering one lucky reader this lovely giveaway valued at more than $160+. This contest is open to all Canada (except QC) over the age of 18. Terms and conditions apply. Last date September 6, 2016
Disclaimer: I was provided with free product as a part of writing this article, and the giveaway is sponsored by Staples Canada and Mabel’s Labels. The narrative and opinion as always is all mine!
Fab giveaway! I would love to win and donate to a local kids charity in town!
SO much great back to school stuff here! My daughter could really use that insulated lunch bag and she would love the locker mirror.. she’s at that age where she needs to keep looking in the mirror haha
I think I’ll always love this time of year and buying school supplies, even when there’s no school to go to 🙂
What an awesome assortment. Thanks for the chance to win! My kids start back tomorrow and they are so excited!
School supplies are so expensive. Thanks for having a great giveaway.
Fantastic giveaway!!! Great article!
Thank you for the amazing giveaway!!
WOW, this prize package includes a great variety of awesome products!
This is a very nice prize for back to school.
So many kids go to school without supplies, what a nice donation this would make
Water bottles are so important for school! My kids can stay focused and learn better when they have had plenty of water to drink…don’t forget those water bottles! I like the glass ones with silicone on the outside too!
Thanks for the great giveaway! Would love for my boys
Very nice. Thanks for the chance.
This is a great useful giveaway!
Amazing tips! I agree with the labelling 100% I’ve had things return home after lost because of the labels! Thanks for the chance!
thanks for the great list of hints. there’s so much to be done right now it’s nice to have reminders.
I love the foxes!
What an awesome collection of school supply necessities !! These things would be a huge help with the kids going back to school.Thank you so much for the great giveaway and chance!! 🙂
I love that fox bag
Spot on with the back pack essentials! Fingers crossed for the giveaway!
love it
Great giveaway! Also, I love your blog name. It’s fantastic!
Thanks for the chance.
What a great list of hints! I agree about the sticky notes- love those things!
We could use all of those ,nice prize 😉
Thanks so much for the chance. All these items would be a great help for my son! Thanks!
Each and every item would be so useful.
Wow! What a great prize! My daughter would love to win this. Anything that she doesn’t need, I would use in my classroom.
Back to school can be so expensive, this is a great giveaway to help with that!
Would love to win this for the grandkids.
What an incredible package. Thanks for running this giveaway!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Perfect! I’ve been a fan of Mabel’s Labels for 10 years! The labels really hold up.
Got to agree with you…..label everything!!! Great post and contest!
awesome giveaway thanks for the chance to win , would come in handy for back to school for my Grandson 🙂
What a fanastic giveaway.. everything you need to get your kids ready for school!!
That fox backpack is super cute! 🙂
thank you this is an awesome giveaway that my 2 kiddos would definitely appreciate
Great giveaway, love a few of the items in your pictures! Definitely would come in handy for Back to School!
thks is amazing
This is such a fantastic prize- thank you! I love Mabels Labels, they make my life so much easier!
Awesome giveaway! I have 4 in school this year (grades 1, 2, 4 and 12) and we could definitely make good use out of everything. Thanks for the chance.
Thank you! THis would be so useful for my children’s back to school.
This would be awesome to win. Back to school stuff is getting so expensive now.
What an awesome giveaway!
This would be so perfect for our BTS needs! Thank you so much and fingers crossed!
Back to school supply shopping is always our favorite part of back to school. We always drop into Staples!
We love school supplies!!!
such great items for back to school!
Thanks my grandchildren would be so happy to share this great giveaway
wow that’s pretty amazing, thanks for the chance
Yes, labeling EVERYTHING is important! And Mabel’s Labels would be a great help with that. Thanks for the great giveaway.
It has everything you could need to start off a great year… great contest
thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
What a great giveaway! thanks so much for this opportunity 🙂
Awesome giveaway! Back to school supplies are so expensive this would really help!
I’ve gifted Mabels Labels to several of my kids friends as a birthday gift and they are well received by the parent and child equally!
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
Great giveaway for back to school. would help out so much because it gets so costly at this time of year
This is a fabulous giveaway , thanks for the opportunity
Great giveaway! Lots of useful items first back to school!
Thank you for the chance, I’d love to win! 🙂
Yea, we label everything here too. Everything I had was labelled as a kid too!
Great back to school kit!! We go through a lot of post it notes and printer paper during the school year.
what a fabulous back to school giveaway
Awesome giveaway! Useful items for sure!
Thanks for your fabulous giveaway 🙂 it would be LOVELY to win 🙂
It would be terrific to win this BACK TO SCHOOL Prize Pack.
My nieces could use this stuff to help them head back to school in style.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
Awesome! That’s a great prize pack!
Oh my word. My newly minted 4 year old is off to JK next week, and she loses EVERYTHING. We need to label ALL THE THINGS!!
Great giveaway.Hope to win.
Lots of great stuff.
Thank you for the amazing giveaway
Thanks for a great giveaway!!!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year hehe
Would come in handy for sure! My boys are to young for school however my 6 year old niece or 4 year old nephew would definetly benefit from this!! Thank you so much for the chance! 🙂
With a house filled with ADHD peeps who *may* have a little trouble keeping track of their stuff, we could really use more labels and some extra supplies!
This looks like an awesome set of great products to get ready for BTS.
Amazing giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity.
With both my girls and myself going to school this year this would be a huge help!!
You’re right, a water bottle is totally a back to school essential. We keep a few extras at home so that there is always one on hand.
What a fabulous prize pack. We love Staples.
Awesome! Thanks so much for the giveaway! *Fingers crossed*
This would be great to win. There are so many things. What my daughter dosn’t need we will donate at christmas for children.
Amazing, thanks for the chance!
awesome products – thanks for the chance to win
Thanks for the chance. This is just right for my kiddo who is starting middle school and getting her own locker in school.
This is a great giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity.
Happy Back To School to all the Kiddies. 🙂
Awesome giveaway, thank you
Great prize, especially with back to school right around the corner.
Such a great giveaway! Would love to win! Thank you so much!
Thank you for hosting this great giveaway!
Thanks for an amazing giveaway 🙂
This is a great giveaway. It has a great assortment.