It’s that time of the year again! Back-to-school shopping can be both easy and fun if you make sure to prepare a list ahead of time. A list and a plan will reduce your stress level and make shopping fun for your kids. Your school may have sent you a list to help you prepare for the new year. If not, you can still get your little ones what they need at prices you can afford with these simple checklists.
Kindergarten
Summer is coming to an end and it’s finally time to send your little one off to school. Make it a success by getting your child everything he or she needs to start the school year off confident and prepared. We’ve also added a short list of optional items for classroom use. Many schools run out of these important supplies halfway through the school year, and greatly appreciate help from parents if there’s room in the budget.
Necessities:
- Book bag/backpack
- Lunchbox or insulated lunch bag
- School supply box
- Crayons
- Water-soluble glue (no glue sticks)
- Safety scissors
- Washable markers
- Pair of gym shoes (to keep at school)
Optional:
- Big box of facial tissue
- Package of baby wipes
- Disinfectant surface wipes
- Roll of paper towels
- Closable baggies
- Paper plates
First and Second Grade
By the time your child reaches first and second grade, he or she is getting accustomed to making new friends, learning new things, and adjusting to the school calendar. Make sure when you pick out school notebooks and book bags your child has a chance to choose ones that reflects his or her individual style. He or she will want to give a great first impression at the beginning of the year, and you can help by providing as many options as possible to pick the “perfect” items.
Necessities:
- Book bag/backpack
- Lunchbox or insulated lunch bag
- School supply box
- No. 2 pencils
- Pink erasers
- Crayons
- Water-soluble glue or glue sticks
- Safety scissors
- Washable markers
- Pocket folders
- Wide-ruled spiral notebooks and/or notebook paper
Optional:
- Box of facial tissue
- Disinfectant surface wipes
- Antibacterial hand soap
- Roll of paper towels
- Closable baggies (gallon or quart)
Grades 3 – 5
Your child may still be your baby, but during this time he or she is going to want to pick out products that show maturity and independence. A big kid now, these are your child’s last years of elementary school before the big jump to middle school. At this stage children start learning how to use a ruler and erasable ball-point pens. Necessities: - Backpack or book bag
- Lunchbox or insulated lunch bag
- Binder
- Pocket folders
- Wide-ruled spiral notebooks and/or notebook paper
- Small zippered bag for pencils
- Erasable ball-point pens (blue or black)
- No. 2 pencils
- Red felt-tip pen
- Highlighters
- Box of colored pencils
- Crayons
- Glue sticks
- Pointed scissors
- Ruler
- Box of gallon-size closable plastic bags
- 3 x 5 index cards
Optional: - Clorox disinfectant wipes
- Boxes of Kleenex
- Roll of paper towels
Make sure to pick up extras of items your kids might go though rapidly. Before school starts is the perfect time to stock up on underwear and socks. Some other must-haves include juice boxes, bulk snacks and brown paper bags for lunches. Buying these things in advance can make your child’s (and your) transition into the school year that much smoother. |
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