The Ultimate Back to School Checklist You Need to Have

Back to School Is a Bittersweet Time for Most Families

If you are looking for a back to school checklist, most likely you or someone in your family is gearing up to get ready to go back to school.

Back to school is a bittersweet time in our household. On one hand, we’re not ready to give up our lazy, summer mornings that come after late, energetic sleepovers from the night before.

However on the other hand, back to school allows for a new year of excitement and starting fresh. Your children will be making new friends and enjoying new clothes. There is even some respite for us, the parents at home.

In any case, one of the appealing things about going back to school (as a mom anyway), is learning what everyone is into. For starters, is my middle schooler still obsessed with Hamilton, I wonder? Meanwhile, are the boys still into Star Wars and Dinosaurs these days?

Going back to school shopping is a great way to connect and bond with your child. They can express themselves and their interests by picking their favorite clothes and themes, giving insight to what’s trendy for them at the moment.

Conversely, back to school shopping can also be a tiring and stressful time in your life. For example, I don’t look forward to the crowds and the frenzy back-to-school shopping brings. Because I have a budget to stay within, getting the best deals are important to me, especially when you have multiple kids (or a large family like I do) to buy things for.

School Supplies Are Slightly Different for Each Child

We’ve compiled a basic back to school checklist for you to save time. This checklist should hopefully create a stress-free shopping experience for you and your student. If you prefer to get your things online, I’ve linked the items to Amazon for a smoother shopping experience.

In addition to this back to school checklist, I encourage you to research with your child’s teacher first to make sure you are not missing anything. Again, this is a generic, basic list that should help you jump-start the year with the main items needed for school (but might not cover everything).

Of course, remember to tweak it to cover yours or your child’s needs based on their grade and age, etc. Teachers will tell you that some items are required, while other items are only optional.

If you have the means to donate school supplies, you can ask teachers for their “wish list” for their classroom. Certainly, any donation helps by giving kids the materials they need to have a successful school year!

Basic Back to School Checklist: What They Will Need for their Classes

• Pencil case
• #2 Pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Erasers
• Scissors
• Markers (or washable markers might be helpful depending on age)
• Coloring pencils
• Crayons
• Highlighters
• Dry erase markers
• Index cards
• Post it notes
• Glue sticks
• Composition notebooks
• Pocket folders
• Boxes of tissues
• Chromebook / Laptop (Try finding a renewed one if budget is tight!)
• Binder (Check to see if the size needed is 1 inch 1.5 inches, or 2 inches.)

Back to School Checklist: What Is Needed for the Student

• Water bottle
• A backpack
• Lunchbox
• Hand sanitizer
• Sandwich bags (There’s reusable options too!)

In addition to the list, don’t forget to see if your state has a tax-free week where you can take advantage of your back to school purchases.

Back to School Checklist for High Schoolers

Undeniably, the older kids are still going to need the basic school supplies. As has been noted above, that list includes:

• Pencils, markers, and books
• Physicals
• New clothes and shoes
• Backpacks and or lunchboxes

Also, did you know that Amazon offers a program just for students? (I just learned about this, too!) It’s called Prime Students, and it includes a lot of added features to really enhance your student’s journey through school.

At the present time, if you are a student (or your child is old enough for their own account), you can sign up for Prime Student and receive discounts and deals such as:

• Prime exclusives
• Early access to deals
• Books with Prime reading
• Delivery with Prime delivery
• Enjoy Prime video
• Listen to Prime music
• 6 months of LinkedIn premium
• Free food delivery on Grub hub +
• Travel discounts on Student Universe and more

As a result of signing up for Prime Student, you can enjoy a free trial, and then prime monthly fee is discounted off the regular price after that.

Lastly, many other places also provide student discounts, such as cell phone services, school programs, and travel industries. So, be sure to check out other student discount programs that you can take full advantage on!

Back to School To-Do List

Getting ready for back to school is not just about a list of physical items you need to purchase. For instance, it’s also about preparing yourself and your student for a prosperous start by making sure you handle everything on your to-do list before school starts.

Therefore, here are some other things to keep in mind when getting ready for school:

Kid’s Physicals

Does your child need a physical to go back to school? Check with your state’s regulations to see if they need one to start school. If so, make sure you schedule one with their doctor or local pharmacy.

Scheduled Bedtimes

When it comes to preparing for back to school, getting everyone on schedule begins with having a set bed time. Try to train your bodies for earlier bedtimes (if you’ve been ignoring the clock all summer). For the most part, bedtime at my house tends to be, well, a mere suggestion. 😑 We are getting better though!

It’s horrible how bedtime hits and that’s when everyone all of a sudden remembers how thirsty they are, or about the clothes they forgot to fold and put away earlier on in the day.

Having a set bedtime helps everyone wake up in time to leave for school or catch the school bus in the morning without feeling groggy. Adjusting a few nights before school starts with a set bedtime will help the mornings go by without a hitch.

Clean Out Closets

Another advantage of getting ready for back to school, is taking the time to clean out closets. Things the kids have outgrown or worn out this last summer can be thrown away or donated if it’s still in good shape. Make some room in dressers and shoe racks for new clothes and shoes to take on the adventurous school year ahead.

Checklist for the Younger Ones at Home

If you have multiple children, there are some things I highly recommend you have for the young ones at home who aren’t quite ready for school, but are impacted nonetheless.

Medicine

Unfortunately, the start of a new school year usually means new germs. Getting sick is a normal part of childhood. With the older kids going to school, make sure you are prepared for sniffles and coughs by having children’s medicine on hand.

I highly recommend this medicine, as it does not include all the unnecessary artificial dyes and ingredients, and touts to leave out all artificial sweeteners, preservatives, parabens, alcohol, and no common allergens. It is also certified gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

Nursery Updates

Having the kids back in school leaves a huge void of entertainment for the younger crowd in my household.

Here are some things that help me keep the younger ones amused at home while the older ones are away at school:

1. Baby Gate – Using a baby gate will keep the baby in their designated area for playtime. (This is a lifesaver if you have a baby camera in their nursery to keep an eye on them, especially if you are a work from home mom.)
2. Darkening Curtains – Having a dark room is great for nap time. Make the best of a quieter house by being able to nail down your baby’s food and sleep schedule routine. Use darkening curtains for a peaceful, dark environment to soothe your little one to sleep.
3. Play Pen – A play pen or a play yard is amazing to have to keep your child safe and entertained while you stay productive getting through your daily tasks.
4. Age Appropriate Toys – Educational toys with music and bright colors will help keep your baby or young toddler entertained while the others are at school.
5. Jogging Stroller – Okay, mamas. This item is technically for us, LOL. I actually received a jogging stroller as a gift from my aunt. I use it to walk my eldest to school, while getting some fresh air with the baby. Walking my child to school is a great reason for us all to get outside and exercise!

New School Year, New Habits!

As of the beginning of this school year, I’ve tried really hard to get my night-owl, reality-TV-and-Netflix-watching self up earlier. Undoubtedly, as a Christian mom it’s important for me to try and squeeze in morning worship before the kids go to school. But, sometimes it can be difficult to make that happen with the rush of things and there are some days I struggle to get morning worship done.

In any case, having a daily devotional book really helps me stay on track with making sure Jesus is at the center of our day. As we gather in the morning getting ready for the day to start, I love pausing for a few minutes while every one munches on their breakfast. We read and pray over one another before we all leave for the day. If you haven’t done worship (especially in the mornings), I challenge you to try! You will see a huge improvement in your family’s communication, behavior, and even daily gratitude.

In Conclusion

Back to school is a great time to start fresh. Begin by using a basic back to school checklist to prepare for the new school year ahead. Again, keep in mind that this blog only covers some generic suggestions for some basic back to school needs. Not to mention, it’s important to follow up with the teacher!

Next, declutter and donate old clothes and shoes that no longer fit to free up space for new clothes and shoes. Remember to include Jesus in your daily routines to have your focus remain on Christ throughout the rush of the busy day!

I hope this blog post has helped you prepare for back to school. How did you find back-to-school shopping? Was it stressful, or a piece of cake? Let me know in the comments below if you shopped online or in person.

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