My heart says we are still in the thick of summer but my head knows it’s time to get ready for back to school. Besides the supplies you are required to buy (best to get those lists checked off now!), here are ten things I recommend to get you ready for the year ahead.
- Gear so you can Label Everything: I love these labels that are assorted sizes and best of all, they stay put on everything from water bottles to backpacks to extra clothes.
- Thermos: Keeps food hot or cold. Tip for hot food: warm the thermos up with warm/hot water (dump the water out) and then place food in. Do not place near the ice pack in the lunch bag.
- Travel Hand Sanitizer: Clip it onto backpacks or lunch boxes. Genius!
- Grab and Go Breakfast Ideas: If your family is like mine, there will be days where the morning doesn’t even allow enough time for cereal. Make (or if you’re me, BUY) something that be eaten on the go. Stock up your pantry or freezer with quick-serve breakfast options.
- Notes of Encouragement: If you find time over the next couple of weeks (don’t laugh too hard at the thought of having extra time ever), write some notes that you can then stick into your child’s lunchbox sometimes.
- Reusable Snack Bags: I don’t like the thought of plastic baggies getting thrown away each day. These snack bags are perfect and can be washed and reused basically forever.
- Backpack with side pockets: I was clearly not thinking when I went backpack shopping and bought one with no pockets for things like water bottles. I made an extra trip back to Toys R Us to exchange it. Learn from my pain.
- An “Extras” baggie: In each of my kids’ backpacks is a spare change of clothes. My daughter’s also has spare hair rubber bands and clips because somehow those are constantly lost.
- Lunch Bistro Type Box: For only $7, this one is my favorite because it holds a whole sandwich plus other items like fruit, crackers, string cheese etc. All while keeping them separated.
- Homework/Paper Organization: Homework and forms to sign and papers to keep. It is one of the things I am least looking forward to. Mine typically ends up in one giant pile I then have to sift through. This year, I am attempting to start out more organized. A homework basket for my son (my daughter doesn’t have homework yet), another for things I am supposed to read (let’s be honest I am killin’ it at life if I actually get to that stuff) and another for things that are supposed to be signed and returned to school. It all sounds so simple. Until the first day of school comes and the papers explode from their backpacks.
What back-to-school essentials do you buy for your family?
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